Evangelina M. Trajano
Evangelina, fondly known as “Ate Beng” at GreenEarth, is a proud member of the Dumagat indigenous people of the Philippines. The Dumagats are known for their love of tranquility, kinship with their land, and deep appreciation for nature and their ancestors, which they express through their attire, music, and dance. Unfortunately, their ancestral domain in the Sierra Madre is under threat from illegal logging and land banking by opportunistic middlemen.
Evangelina grew up in Baler, Aurora, a municipality renowned for its picturesque waterfalls, lush mountainsides, and panoramic beaches, located 231 kilometers northeast of Manila. Raised by her grandparents, she only reached 6th grade. Her mother, a former member of the New People’s Army (NPA), had Evangelina act as a messenger for the communist group before renouncing the NPA out of fear for her life.
Evangelina’s first husband passed away in a job-related accident at a construction site, leaving her to work as a domestic helper to support their two children. She now lives in Tubigan, on the slopes of the Sierra Madre, with her second husband and their three children. They used to make charcoal and practice kaingin (slash-and-burn agriculture) for a living.
In 2021, Evangelina discovered GreenEarth Heritage Foundation through word of mouth. She and her family moved down from the Sierra Madre to join the foundation’s livelihood program. Grateful for the opportunities GreenEarth provides, she found meaningful work for herself and other members of her indigenous tribe.
Evangelina’s spiritual journey deepened at GreenEarth, a Christian humanitarian organization. She and her family embraced Christ as their Lord and Savior through the work of missionaries in their hometown. The foundation’s preachings, prayer meetings, and weekly worship services have further enriched her faith. Evangelina now leads the Daily Early Morning Devotion for all workers and studied the Bible for six months with the help of missionaries.
At GreenEarth, “Ate Beng” is involved in various tasks, including working in the seedling nurseries, tree planting, and producing the foundation’s certified-organic moringa products at the multi-commodity processing facility. Her story is one of resilience, faith, and a commitment to her community and the environment.