In Upper Sinumaan, Talipao, Sulu, a humble bamboo structure, known as the Wellness Center, is emerging as a beacon of hope and healing. This two-story facility, born from a vision inspired by faith and perseverance, serves the community by addressing their health challenges with care, unity, and collaboration.
The health and well-being of the Upper Sinumaan community have been facing challenges for more than two decades, such as limited healthcare access and prevalent preventable diseases, which are not merely individual issues but systemic problems rooted in societal structures.
Recognizing this, a dedicated radiologic technologist felt a divine calling in January 2023. Inspired by Isaiah 60, he envisioned a holistic healing sanctuary to address the community’s health needs. This vision birthed the Wellness Center, a project blending his medical profession with a deep commitment to serving the underserved.
“The Wellness Center is more than just a building,” he shared. “It’s a keloid in my heart which feels like opening an old wound as it happens every time I witness people dying in the field. This Wellness Center becomes an answered prayer, a chance to alleviate the suffering of these people, our brothers, who are dying needlessly.”
His journey to Upper Sinumaan became his turning point. Witnessing preventable deaths, particularly a child’s loss to untreated parasites, during a medical mission solidified his decision. Despite earlier dreams of joining the Bukidnon Jungle Clinic falling through, he found a new purpose in Sulu.
Wellness Center’s construction began in March 2023, fueled by personal sacrifice and relentless dedication. The radiologic technologist sold his car to fund the initial stages, facing numerous obstacles, including limited resources and a community plagued by tuberculosis and cancer. By June, the roofing was underway, but the project faced financial challenges.
In July, the decision was made to stay in Upper Sinumaan, recognizing the potential for a devastating epidemic. Feeling isolated and vulnerable, he sought solace through prayer. Before concluding his supplication, Ama Salip, a respected Tausug elder, approached him and, despite language differences, offered assistance with the roofing. To facilitate communication, Ama Salip enlisted the aid of his friend Ama Salam, who, with the help of volunteers, learned to understand both Filipino and Cebuano. Ama Salam, also a Tausug man became a great helping hand to the Wellness Center Team, selflessly dedicating his time and energy to building the center.
“We owe much to Bud Bunga and Upper Sinumaan. Their willingness to help, despite their struggles, is remarkable, especially Ama Salam who helped us greatly with the construction. He even resigned from his work just to lend us a hand,” he said.
By August, bamboo walls, known as “tiadtad,” were finished, offering ventilation and privacy. Materials like large bamboo stems came from Bud Bunga, a nearby sitio once marked by a 21-year war in Sulu but now transformed into a partner community, where the first Peace Formation and Learning Center was established.
In September, the family room was nearly finished, with plywood walls and a sliding plywood door. The Wellness Center is designed to address more than just physical ailments. The Family Room, nearing completion in September, will teach families natural remedies and NEWSTART principles. An L-shaped cooking table, located just beside the Family Room, will host demonstrations on preparing oil-free and MSG-free meals. The Massage Room below the Family Room offers culturally sensitive physiotherapy exclusively for ZPM guests due to cultural sensitivities, especially in Talipao, Sulu, while nearby tents will accommodate patients. There is also an Upper Room, a space for prayer and worship for spiritual healing, recharging, and revival. The open layout ensures sunlight and fresh air flow, symbolizing the Center’s mission to bring light and life to the community.
The journey from “battlegrounds to playgrounds” reflects the transformation of Upper Sinumaan and Bud Bunga. Once havens for terrorist camps, these areas now thrive thanks to partnerships with the 6th Special Forces Company and local villagers from 2022 to 2023.
By November, with support from ZPM Adventist Mission, donors, and volunteers, the Center had progressed significantly. A 200-watt solar light illuminates the area at night, a testament to the community’s resourcefulness and determination.
The Wellness Center team, which includes a midwife, a SULADS missionary, and a volunteer assigned for dietary aspects, gathers for prayer at set intervals daily. They remain united in their mission to empower the community to adopt healthier lifestyles. “We dream of a place where no one suffers needlessly,” he shared. “This is only the beginning.”
With the Wellness Center being applied to be a mini Urban Center of Influence, the vision has been slowly realized. Apart from having a sustainable organic garden for self-sufficient production of tofu, soy milk, and other veggie products, a one-of-a-kind mobile “Honest Restaurant” will be introduced to the public, especially in the humble town of Jolo, Sulu. The idea, while ambitious and perhaps outrageous to some, as Sulu is commonly referred to as a “red-zoned” area, the team remains steadfast, hoping and praying, challenging the common views of the public about the much-feared Sulu. They believe that this “Honest Restaurant” will not only promote healthy living but also serve as an avenue to showcase the Wellness Center, inspiring the whole island to switch to healthier choices, transforming each household into a mini Wellness Center.
The Wellness Center is more than just a building; it’s a movement to heal and transform lives in Sulu’s underserved communities.
