Story and Photos by: Vernon Jio Viajar
Edited by: Butz Muyco
In the quiet marshlands of Bunawan, Agusan del Sur, leadership rarely announces itself with loud declarations. For Francis Laurence M. Peñaloga, known to family and friends as “King,” it began in the background of everyday life. Naturally reserved, introverted, and soft-spoken, King never actively sought the spotlight.
Yet, growing up under the care of his grandparents and living mostly with his relatives while observing his grandfather serve as the Municipal Tribal Chieftain, King was subtly absorbing the realities of Indigenous governance. Sitting quietly at tables where tribal elders deliberated and community matters were settled, he was unconsciously planting the seeds for a future he had not yet realized was waiting for him.
Today, at 24, he is taking those childhood observations and translating them into action as an emerging youth representative entrusted with significant responsibilities by the tribal council.
Yet, his personal path toward becoming a youth pillar for his community was neither linear nor without hardship. Raised in a non-traditional family setup, King learned early on to navigate life with a calm, self-reliant composure.
When he pursued higher education at Ateneo de Davao University, his quiet nature was tested—first by the overwhelming shift to online classes during the pandemic, which led him to transition from Civil Engineering to Business Management, and later by the financial strains of managing his studies. To finance his studies and ease his family’s financial strain, King secured a paid On-the-Job Training (OJT) position at the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Davao, balancing work and academics through sheer perseverance.
In class, even when facing cultural stigma, King didn’t react with anger; instead, his collected demeanor allowed him to patiently educate others about their culture, customs and practices.
Through every trial, he anchored himself in his personal mantra:
“Despite the difficulty of the problems, I have to keep going because it will eventually be overcome.”
He graduated from Ateneo de Davao University in 2025.
Throughout his journey, King found guidance in the leaders who paved the way before him. His primary inspiration remains his grandfather, Tribal Chieftain Hawudon Rolito S. Peñaloga Sr., whose commanding authority and sacrificial leadership helped shape the ancestral domain into what it is today. Seeing his grandfather defend and sacrifice for the betterment of the community taught King the weight of true stewardship.
He also draws strength from Tribal Adviser Bae Elvira “Neneng” Catuburan, admiring her unshakeable resolve and unwavering commitment to serving the IP community.
Moreover, as an emerging youth advocate, he looks up to fellow youth leader, the late LJ Evasco, who was also an employee of the Mindanao Inclusive Agriculture Development Project (MIADP) Regional Project Coordination Office XIII. He carries with him LJ’s powerful reminder that no matter how far one goes in life, one must always return to serve the community.
Despite his initial reluctance to step into prominent roles, the tribal council and his community recognized the steady, thoughtful character behind his quiet exterior. When he was offered the position of Manager for the Bunawan Manobo Ancestral Domain Management Council Inc. (BMADMCI) Palay Enterprise Grant under MIADP, King hesitated, doubting whether he was ready for such a heavy responsibility.
However, his journey with MIADP taught him the value of a growth mindset – to seize every opportunity to learn, grow, and develop his skills. Realizing that personal growth comes from stepping outside his comfort zone became the foundation for why he ultimately accepted the trust given to him by the council. It was the belief of his peers and elders that gently pushed him past his self-doubt.
As he reflects, “If they believed I could do it, why should I question myself?” That pivotal moment marked his realization that leadership wasn’t about being the loudest voice in the room, but about stepping up when his community needed him.
King’s calm and collected approach has become his greatest strength as an emerging youth representative. Serving across key organizations such as the Agusan del Sur Indigenous Peoples Youth Organization (ADSIPYO), the Manobo Youth Association of Bunawan (MYAB), and BMADMCI, he bridges traditional elder wisdom with modern approaches to administration and community development.
For King, leadership means helping the youth discover their own role in carrying the tribe’s legacy. His vision is simple yet profound: “for the youth to see their true value” and “be ready to take the lead so the transition for our community is seamless.”
Anchored by his belief that “Failure is just a postponed success; what matters is how you rise above it,” King steps forward into his responsibilities with quiet resolve. He shows that true strength lies not in loud commands, but in a steadfast purpose to lift others as you grow.
Francis demonstrates that true leadership is not about claiming a crown or demanding authority, but about opening doors for the next generation.
In his own quiet, deliberate way, he redefines what it means to be a ‘King’ in the modern age – showing that holding a title matters far less than holding a steadfast purpose to serve. Anchored by resilience and guided by vision, he shows that the most meaningful leaders are those who build others up as they move forward.
