Faith testing non series story 3 Feb

Suraya Saikulah is painfully familiar with the negative stereotypes associated with her tribe, the Sama-Bajau. "We are described as violent. It’s said that we throw food at people who won't give us money. That we are dangerous and inflict harm on others,” she says.

Such perceptions may be attributed to the prevalence of her indigenous counterparts begging on public transport in the Philippines. But this wasn’t always the case. From as far back as Suraya can recall, this was not their way of life.

“The Sama-Bajau are hardworking by nature. Even if fishing is risky, they will do it every day. But now, that’s not enough," shares Suraya.

For generations, the sea-dwelling Sama-Bajau relied on their maritime hunting skills and customs to sustain themselves. Then in 2013, armed conflict forced them out of their coastal settlements to seek shelter in evacuation centres in Zamboanga, a densely populated city in Mindanao. Here, disconnected from their culture and traditional livelihood of fishing, they are blighted by a raft of challenges — including discrimination and a lack of access to education, healthcare and employment opportunities.