Historical Profile
SANDAWA-APO, A LONG WAY FROM 2006
On April 16, 1986, the significance of forest protection and its wildlife, activated a group of students and professionals whose common objectives are to promote environmental awareness, and to have the members afford a wholesome venue for nature-oriented discipline and responsible mountaineers who gathered together to organize the Sandawa-A
po Mountaineering Club of the University of Mindanao. The name Sandawa-Apo came from the Bagobo dialect meaning, mountain-god. The first motto adapted by the club was “Take Nothing But Pictures, Leave Nothing But Footprints, Kill Nothing But Time”. As years, went by, the other motto was also in use in Sandawan affairs: “Let the Eagles fly, Let Mountains Live for the future generation to enjoy.”
The concerned individuals who organized the club were the following:
Sammy Guadalupe, who became the founding president
B**g Roque and Rey Pe of PI Omicron Mountaineers (Kidapawan and Davao City group)
Danny Sayson and Jun Metilla of Alcantara Mountaineering Club (ALMOC)
Arthur dela Cruz, Bernard Silayan, Henry dela Fuente and Enric Baluyot of Scout Mountaineers of DAvao City (SMDC)
John Hisus of Mt. Apo Climbers of Davao City-Govt. Employees (MACADAC-Gems)
Marites Samson, Charita Labja, Jojo Diosana, Ron Romero, Kenny Pascua, Gilbert Durano and the president then of UM Mindanao Supremen Student Council (UMSSC) Jovito Cadigal. The effort to found had been supported by selected club advisers such as Roger Layson, the Assistant Regional Director of Department of Tourism, Region XI, Ruben Torres – a faculty member of University of Mindanao and Libertad Duran, then dean of the UM Forestry Department. On July 24, 1986 the club was recognized as the first environmental campus organization in the University of Mindanao. Also on the same year in August 28, the first acceptance of one hundred five (105) pioneering members was held at the Coral Reef Resort in Samal Island where the induction of the first set of officers was also held. On April 17, 1987, Sandawa-Apo Mountaineering Club (SAMC) was accepted as member of the National Mountaineering Federation of the Philippines (NMFP) during the 8th NMFP Congress and Climb at Mt. Kitanglad, Malaybalay, Bukidnon. From there, the Sandawans would go on to attend the various federation climbs in as far as Luzon and Visayas region. Moreover, in that same year, SANDAWA-APO earned citation and plaque of appreciation from different private and government agencies for its active involvement in various socio-civic activities such as “Support the Philippine Eagle Conservation campaign, the 1st Apo Duwaling Festival and the 1st Linis Apo. This was capped by a message from then President Corazon C. Aquino for our involvement in environmental awareness campaign. Aside from these, the slogan “No to Drugs: Yes to Sports” was partly our initiative along with the Zero Basura Movement. Because of such, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources awarded us with the certificate of appreciation for our participation in environment-related issues. Following the founding of the mother chapter, The AdDU chapter would follow soon after with JOHN IRENE DELCAMPO as its 1st president. Soon, the club decided to expand the membership and opened up to other schools and universities in Davao City including some sectors of the out-of-school-youths specifically, the Agdao chapter. At this time, in 1990s, the club incorporated the term ecology to its name. Thus, SANDAWA-APO MOUNTAINEERING and ECOLOGY CLUB came to being with University of Mindanao pioneering the usage where RICHARD YRAY, WARLITO SALUCOT, TISOY BILLONES and ALLAN BONCATO would changed hands as presidents. DANNY SAYSON had become the Vice-President of the founding prexy, Mr. Guadlalupe.
Not long after, the Holy Cross of Davao College chapter was established in year 1990 when the pioneer members were accepted at Babusanta Beach Resort at Talicud Island. It did not take long for chapters to open up in University of Southern Philippines (USP), Rizal Memorial Colleges (RMC) Joji Ilagan-Bian Career Center, Davao City High School (DCHS), Agdao Chapter, Fatima Chapter, San Pedro College (SPC), Davao Doctors College and the University of Southern Mindanao (USM-Kabacan). Today, SAMEC has chapters in Cebu and Kidapawan cities. During, the Mt. Halcon Climb in Mindoro, SAMEC in collaboration with local government unit of Maragusan, bagged the hosting rights of the 19th MFPI Climb and Congress in October 1997 where it marked the 1st time in MFPI history that the usual post-evaluation meeting of club presidents to assess our hosting was never conducted as the conduct was rated Outstanding by the participants themselves. As a result, we have been extolled for promoting Maragusan as the eco-tourism destination by the Maragusan LGU. For the next year or so, SAMEC began to assume lead roles in environment-related endeavors. REY SUMAGAYSAY, the one-time USP chapter president and now-owner of EDGE Outdoor Shop became the MFPI Vice President for Mindanao and had the privilege to be the 1st president of Mountaineering Federation of Southern Mindanao (MFSM). SAMEC found itself honored when the Watershed Management Youth Council of Davao earned the Ten Outstanding Young Men (Group Category) for its advocacy to the protection of watershed resources in Davao. SAMEC was and is a member of the council under the steerage of Davao City Water District. In November 30-December 2, 2006, SAMEC hosted the Mindanao Forum and Climb held at Cawa-cawa Pool Spring in San Isidro, Davao Oriental. From the simple mountaineering goals, SAMEC has diversified and metamorphosed into a responsible group. From tree planting, it is now into tree growing and this is best exemplified by our involvement in the GREEN Philippines Project initiated in August 2006 by then DENR Sec. Angelo Reyes making us the only mountaineering club in Southern Mindanao to be involved in the noble goal. Perhaps, the most fulfilling and the most ambitious project launched by the group is the segment of the “SANDAWA-APO Community-Assisted Initiative” which is the Akyat-Aral Project which demands our utmost concern and sustainability to bring school supplies and like-items to the Bagobo community in Panipasan, Marilog District. SAMEC has gone a long way and a long way more to go with the advent today of the Global Warning Age where not only ourselves are threatened but the entire mankind as well. It is in this aspect that we position to be an agent of change; a catalyst to bring awareness to the widest sector of our community regarding this threat to our environment. Must we wait when there are no more eagles flying? ..no mountains liveable for the future generations? It would be better if we remember well that we did not inherit this world from ancestors but we just borrowed it from our children. We aspire to be proactive regarding environment-issues and chart our destiny as one of relevance that as we cross history we would not be consigned to oblivion. But that we rise actively to counter the challenges of the next 20 years and more.
