Living (in) Laudato Si’, called to take a path less trodden

Caroline Seow

Together with Louie Bacomo from JRS Asia Pacific, five urban dwellers travelled to the mountains of Bukidnon, Mindanao, to better understand the effects of climate change and unchecked development on indigenous communities.

Our journey—via jeepney, motorbike, and on foot—led us to Sitio Kaulayanan in the highlands, the tranquil Jesuit Retreat House in Malaybalay, and finally to the forests of Bendum, nestled in Mindanao’s Pantaron Mountain Range.

For three nights, Balay Laudato Si’—our home in Bendum—brought to life Pope Francis’ encyclical on integral ecology. Architecturally modest yet spiritually expansive, the open-air structure is built from local, sustainable materials and stands within the ancient domain of the Pulangiyen people, surrounded by forest, hills, and flowing streams.

Balay Laudato Si’ serves as both a dormitory under the stars and a communal space that invites both indigenous peoples and visitors to become “protectors of God’s handiwork.” It weaves together cultural resilience, ecological stewardship, and spiritual formation, offering programmes in eco-spirituality, youth leadership, and cultural grounding.

During our time there, we explored the forest, traversed streams, and learnt about trees. We engaged with the Pulangiyēn community and came to realise that the verdant hills and lush forests mask deeper wounds—erosion, deforestation, and biodiversity loss that threaten traditional livelihoods.

The intensity and frequency of extreme weather events—droughts, floods, unseasonal rain—have exacerbated food insecurity, water scarcity, and the collapse of traditional farming systems. An indigenous youth shared how families spiral into poverty due to mounting debt, failed harvests, and migration of able-bodied members to cities in search of work.

We also learnt how, in the name of “development,” large-scale deforestation swept through this land in the 1970s. More than a hundred logging companies, each with 25-year concessions, disrupted indigenous life and displaced Pulangiyēn families. Once-abundant water sources were diminished, ecosystems were damaged, and ancestral lands were drastically reduced.

Yet amid the echoes of hardship, we encountered signs of hope—children dancing in the fields, women celebrating the promise of a new crèche, and seedlings planted by young leaders whose hands are guided by dreams of restored forests. This quiet, determined renewal has been nurtured over decades through collaborative efforts between the Jesuits and the Pulangiyēn people, working side by side to heal both the land and their shared future.

For us at JRS Singapore, this journey was not a one-time experience, but with God’s grace, the beginning of a deeper engagement. Now back home, our learning continues—through both reflection and intentional action. Fellow JRS volunteer and health psychologist Pamela Lim is volunteering with the crèche project in Bendum. Serial social entrepreneur Michelle Lim is exploring livelihood opportunities with the indigenous women to market citronella balm products sourced from the native forests. And our newly formed JRS Care for Creation and Communities team is working with Louie Bacomo as we reach out to fellow Jesuit communities working with the marginalised.

We aim to raise awareness of the intersection between climate change and forced displacement and how these global crises disproportionately affect the most vulnerable, especially indigenous and refugee communities.

Through advocacy, education, and partnerships, we hope to amplify the voices of those often left unheard. We return not just with memories but with a mission: to walk in solidarity and respond with purpose to the challenges facing our common home.

A quick search under “Projects” on the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) Singapore website reveals initiatives centred on digital literacy, economic inclusion, and community resilience. Covid-19 catalysed the creation of LEAP@JRS, an online learning platform that supports refugees seeking sanctuary in urban areas across Southeast Asia. Since its launch, nearly 700 refugees have earned certifications in digital marketing, received training in life skills, or gained access to internship opportunities.

This emphasis on online learning and economic empowerment aligns naturally with pragmatic, future-ready Singapore. And yet, in May, a group of JRS Singapore volunteers felt called to take a path less trodden.

I am profoundly grateful to Louie Bacomo, who led and co-curated our mission; Fr Bros Flores SJ, former Superior of the Jesuit Bukidnon Mission District, for his wisdom, hospitality, and support of our trip; Fr Pedro Walpole SJ, Research Director at the Environmental Science for Social Change and pioneer at Bendum, for his unwavering love of the land and passion to impart his wisdom to all; Sailyn Guarin, the newly appointed Coordinator for the Jesuit Companions in Indigenous Ministry, and Liza San Mateo, Manager at Apu Palamguwan Cultural Education Center in Bendum, for their support and guidance for our travels; and my fellow JRS travellers who provided infinite love, wisdom and joy—Pamela Lim, Corina Sobrielo, Shaune Chow, Michelle Lim – and Gordon Pinto who was there with us in spirit.

Caroline Seow is Chair of JRS Singapore and co-founder of B Lab Singapore, a non-profit empowering businesses to benefit all people, communities, and the planet. She is a parishioner of the Church of Saint Ignatius and serves on the Green Movement Ministry. An advocate for purpose-driven businesses, she is also an Ambassador for the Cambridge Institute of Sustainability Leadership.

Originally published in JCAP News.