"Roots and Wings:

The Faith and Legacy of

Allan Bambalan
Mangangot"

On the morning of August 6, 1979, in the quiet farming community of San Jose, Lapuyan,
Zamboanga del Sur, a child named Allan Bambalan Mangangot was born. His arrival came at
a time when the region was scarred by unrest. His family, like many others, lived under the
shadow of fear—caught between government forces, the NPA, and local rebels. Martial Law
had stripped away the security of ordinary life; neighbors were killed, villages uprooted, and
survival often meant fleeing from one place to another.

Despite these turbulent beginnings, Allan’s childhood was shaped not only by hardship but
also by the rugged beauty of the land. Raised in the mountains, he learned to appreciate a
simple life—hunting, fishing in the small river they called sapa, and helping his parents on
their coconut farm. At just eleven years old, his parents entrusted him with a small portion of
land, where he planted corn with youthful determination, dreaming that the soil itself might
give him a future.

But the Mangangot family’s life was never easy. When Allan was still a boy, his parents tried to
build a better future by settling in Sigbuan 2, Tubod Lakewood. Yet instead of opportunity,
they found only harder struggles. Survival meant cultivating remote plots of land, eating root
crops when food was scarce, and enduring nights when the only music came from the river’s
flow and the birdsong in the trees.

By the age of nine, Allan was already working to help his family. He cut and carried wood,
hauling it three kilometers to the market for a meager four pesos—enough to buy only the
cheapest dried fish. One day, burdened by a heavy load, he slipped on the rocks and injured
his left foot. The wound worsened, yet he pressed on, determined to reach the market. When
his condition grew severe, his father carried him on his back, walking long, steep roads from
Kumalarang to San Jose. The boy never forgot that journey, nor the quiet strength of a father
who bore him with patience and love.

Allan also faced brushes with death. An unknown sickness once left him weak and close to the
edge of life. But through the fervent prayers of his parents, he recovered, an early reminder
that his life had purpose, that God was not yet finished with him.
As Allan grew, so did his dreams. From their farm, he would look up at the sky, captivated by
airplanes passing overhead. One day, he told his parents that he, too, wanted to ride a plane.
Their answer was simple yet powerful: “Go to school, finish your studies, and someday you
will.” Those words planted a vision in his heart, a vision that gave him strength to pursue
education against all odds.

The Journey of a Young Dreamer

Allan’s early education began in San Jose, where he completed his first and second grade. By
the time he reached third grade, he transferred to Lapuyan Primary School, continuing up to
the fifth grade. Life was never steady—just as his family had moved from place to place, so
too did his schooling.

A turning point came when his uncle, Pastor Josaphat Mangangot, visited from the northern
highlands of Kalinga Apayao. Pastor Josaphat, a church planter in the mountains, invited
Allan to join him. The boy, restless for opportunity and eager to see the world beyond
Lapuyan, agreed. Soon he found himself in a completely new culture, far from Mindanao,
embraced by the rugged mountains and proud traditions of the Kalinga people.

In Pod-pod Elementary School, Allan not only adjusted but thrived. He learned the Kalinga
language, embraced their customs, and earned the respect of his classmates and teachers. In
1995, he graduated as class salutatorian, a remarkable achievement for a boy who had once
struggled just to walk to school. His peers loved him, and his teachers admired his resilience
and kindness.

For high school, Allan enrolled at Saint Teresita’s School in Lubuagan, Kalinga Apayao. But
life, as always, was unpredictable. Midway through his sophomore year, circumstances forced
him to return to Mindanao. His departure saddened many of his classmates and friends, who
had come to see him not only as a schoolmate but as a brother.

Back in Lapuyan, Allan continued his studies at the National High School, where he shone in
extracurricular activities. His talent for singing and his natural stage presence made him a
familiar face at school events. Representing the second-year class, he joined the Mr.
Intramurals competition and earned the title of First Runner-Up—a proud moment for the
quiet farm boy with big dreams.

Yet not all his teenage experiences were bright. Like many young men searching for belonging,
Allan was drawn into a local gang. Though he never drank liquor, smoked cigarettes, or
touched drugs, his association with troubled peers led him into conflict. By his third year, he
found himself among the students listed for suspension. It was a painful lesson, one that
forced him to transfer to Tubod Lakewood National High School.
There, Allan adjusted once again. Though he faced setbacks—including being unable to march
at his graduation due to another unforeseen difficulty—he finished high school. What
mattered most was not the absence of a ceremony, but the fact that he had endured.

Through every twist and turn—poverty, injury, illness, and youthful mistakes—Allan carried
with him a quiet strength. His heart still burned with the same vision planted in his childhood:
to rise above hardship, to learn, and to serve a higher purpose.

A Call to Ministry
By the time Allan finished high school, the road ahead was unclear. Poverty pressed hard
against his dreams, and the weight of responsibility as the eldest son was heavy. Yet deep
inside, Allan felt a stirring—something more than ambition, something higher than survival. It
was a call.

In 1999, he answered that call by enrolling at Lommasson Alliance Bible Institute in Lapuyan,
later known as Lommasson Alliance Bible College. He had no money, no security, and no
certainty of how he would endure the years of study. But faith carried him. To survive, Allan
worked hard, sometimes going hungry, sometimes walking long distances just to make ends
meet. His perseverance did not go unnoticed.

The school leaders saw his dedication and allowed him to serve on Sundays in a small
congregation—Pantad Alliance Church. The small stipend from that ministry, combined with
the support of kind-hearted believers, helped him continue. Every week, Allan would preach,
teach, and disciple young people. His words—simple but full of conviction—brought many to
baptism.

By his junior year, Allan had earned the trust of the Bible school community. He was
appointed Elder of the Bible School Chapel and even served as Class President of Batch
2003. He was not just a student but a leader in training.

In 2001–2002, Allan took on his internship at Sanghanan Alliance Church, Kabasalan,

Zamboanga Sibugay, where his uncle, Pastor Artemeo Mangangot, was serving. Here, Allan’s
ministry deepened. He knocked on doors, visited homes, prayed for the sick, and guided
young people into discipleship. God used him to baptize many, proof that even a young man
with little to his name could carry eternal impact.

But the journey was not without trial. In 2003, after graduating from Lommasson Alliance
Bible College, Allan suffered a severe heart failure attack. Struggling to breathe, he thought
death was near. His parents were at his side, praying and weeping. As he lay weak, a single
thought haunted him—“Sayang… if God takes my life now, I have not yet fully served Him.”

In desperation, Allan prayed a bold prayer: “Lord, please extend my life for fifteen more
years. Let me serve You with all my strength and energy, for Your glory.”
And God answered.

Allan survived the heart attack. It became a defining moment, a line drawn between who he
had been and who he was becoming. From then on, every breath was borrowed time, and
every day was a mission.

Strengthened by recovery, Allan stepped into his first assignment as a young pastor. In 2003–
2004, he served at Limonan Alliance Church in San Miguel, Zamboanga del Sur as Youth
Pastor. It was a large and organized church, and Allan quickly made his mark. Every Friday
night, he gathered hundreds of young people under the banner of TGIF—“Thank God It’s
Friday.” What began as a simple youth service became a movement, filling the church with
energy, song, and purpose.

This was only the beginning. The boy who once looked up at airplanes in the sky, wondering if
he would ever rise above the mountains of poverty and hardship, had taken flight—not on
wings of metal, but on the wings of faith.

Revival in the Provinces

After his fruitful youth ministry in Limonan, Allan’s path as a pastor led him to a series of new
assignments—each one sharpening his calling and widening his reach.

In 2004, he was reassigned to Camanga Alliance Church in Tukuran, Zamboanga del Sur,
where he took on the role of Senior Pastor. Though his time there was short, it was a season of
growth, preparing him for greater responsibilities. Soon after, in 2005–2006, Allan returned
closer to home as a missionary pastor of Lapuyan Alliance Tabernacle, one of the oldest
churches of the CAMACOP denomination.

Lapuyan held a special place in his heart. It was not only his hometown but also the land of
his tribe—the Subanen. Here, his ministry began to take on a new shape. His focus shifted
toward young adults and students, sparking a revival movement he called Jesus Revolution.
This was not just a church program but a mobilization of youth across the municipality.
Together, they traveled from barangay to barangay, proclaiming their faith with boldness,
music, and youthful energy.

Beyond the pulpit, Allan extended his ministry into the classroom. He began part-time
teaching in Lapuyan National High School, introducing students to values formation and
helping them navigate life with wisdom and hope. He believed transformation must reach not
only the church but also the schools, where the next generation was being shaped.

During this season, Allan also received mentorship from two great leaders and historians of
the Subanen people: the late Doctor Vicente Imbing and Timuay Anok Mamadod. Under their
guidance, he gained a deeper understanding of Subanen history, culture, and practices. Their
influence awakened in him a greater mission—not only to serve as a pastor but also to be a
guardian of his people’s heritage.

By 2006–2007, Allan was transferred again, this time to Maruing Alliance Church as Youth
Pastor. For the first time, he had the opportunity to minister directly to his relatives, blending
his pastoral role with his responsibility as a family leader.

Then came a bigger move. In 2007–2008, Allan crossed into the West Mindanao District,
where he served at Gospel Alliance Church in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay. This church was
dynamic, composed largely of professionals and business people. The environment stretched
him, pushing him to lead in fresh, innovative ways.

It was in Ipil that Allan began building interdenominational youth movements. He organized
the Sibugay-wide Jesus Revolution Movement, uniting young believers from different
churches and mobilizing them into what became known as the Sibugay Outcry. Music became
their rallying force—he gathered talented youth musicians across denominations, giving them
a platform to inspire and lead others.

Even small, struggling churches caught Allan’s attention. One such congregation in Barangay
Suclema was in dire condition. Through Allan’s efforts, and with the help of sponsors, the
little church was reconstructed and renovated, breathing new life into a forgotten place of
worship.

By 2009–2011, Allan had firmly established himself not just as a pastor, but as a movement-
builder. His vision reached beyond the walls of any one church, carrying the heartbeat of
revival into schools, villages, and communities. His fire for the youth was unquenchable, and
his love for the Subanen people was beginning to emerge as a defining part of his destiny.

It was also during these years that Allan’s personal life blossomed. On October 28, 2010, he
married Maria Mefel Lumacad, the woman who would become his lifelong partner in faith,
family, and ministry.

Together, they would soon step into even greater journeys—blending ministry, advocacy, and
leadership in ways Allan had only begun to imagine.

Shepherd of a Town
By 2011, Allan and his wife Mefel had begun building a life together in Ipil, Zamboanga
Sibugay. There, he was invited to join the mother church, Ipil Alliance Evangelical Church
(IAEC), first as Music Pastor and later as Officer-in-Charge Pastor. It was a thriving
congregation, and Allan’s leadership brought fresh energy, especially through worship and
community outreach.
But Allan was never content to remain within church walls. He carried with him a vision for
the whole town. His years of working with youth movements had taught him that true
transformation required more than sermons; it required touching everyday lives.

In 2014, he launched a bold initiative: the Ipil Moral Recovery Program (MRP), in partnership
with the mayor’s office and the Sibugay Ministerial Fellowship. Appointed as the Moral
Recovery Focal Person, Allan designed and compiled a three-year lesson module on values
formation, which would become a cornerstone for teaching moral leadership across the
municipality.

His work gained recognition. For five years, until 2019, he carried the torch of moral recovery
in Ipil, leading seminars, organizing community events, and guiding young leaders. His training
extended far and wide—he completed the John Maxwell Leadership Course and
Management, the Purpose Driven Church seminar, the International Leadership Institute
course, and various modules on church management. His mentors included both Christian
leaders and civic officials, who saw in him not only a pastor but also a community builder.

In time, his leadership expanded into governance. He drafted the MRP Ordinance for Ipil and
later extended it to the entire province of Zamboanga Sibugay. His influence reached law
enforcement as well—he served as a member of the Provincial Police Office Advisory Council
(2013–2023) and later joined the CIDG Region 9 Advisory Council.

Allan’s reputation as a bridge-builder grew. He was often called upon as a peace mediator,
trusted to ease tensions between indigenous peoples, Muslims, and Christians. His voice
carried weight, not because of politics or wealth, but because people knew his integrity. In
recognition of his role, Muslim leaders honored him with the titles of Datu and Honorary
Sultan.

But Allan never forgot his Subanen roots. He co-founded Subanen Ako Inc., became
Founding Chairman, and later helped organize the Subanen Partylist, serving as its
Secretary-General. These efforts were historic: for the first time, the Subanen tribe was
shaping a unified political voice.

At the same time, Allan remained a man of compassion. He co-founded Hawak Kamay, an
organization where members supported grieving families with contributions during times of
mourning. He also began translating songs—love songs and gospel hymns—into the Subanen
language, giving his people a way to worship and celebrate in their own tongue.

Even the airwaves became part of his ministry. He took to the microphone as an anchor and
blocktimer at Radio Bisdak 88.7, where his programs focused on family values and
indigenous advocacy. His voice carried into homes, farms, and towns, reminding people of
faith, hope, and identity.

By the time 2019 arrived, Allan was no longer just a pastor. He was a community shepherd, a
leader whose hands touched education, governance, media, culture, and peacebuilding. Yet
even with all this, he remained humble, a man who still remembered his father carrying him
down the mountain roads when he was just a boy.

The years ahead would push him into even larger battles—politics, pandemic challenges, and
the historic effort to give the Subanen tribe a seat in Congress. But in Ipil, Allan had already
proven that leadership was not about power. It was about service.

The Voice of a People

By 2019, Allan’s reputation as a community leader had grown strong enough that many
encouraged him to step into politics. That year, he ran for Municipal Councilor of Ipil,
Zamboanga Sibugay, under the PDP-Laban Party. Unlike many candidates, Allan refused to
spend money on vote-buying or empty promises. He relied only on trust and credibility. When
the ballots were counted, he had gained almost 13,000 votes—a remarkable achievement for
someone who entered the race with nothing but faith and integrity.

Though he did not win, Allan considered it a victory. For him, the result proved that people
still valued honesty in leadership. It was a seed, not a failure.

Not long after, the world changed. The pandemic swept across nations, locking down towns
and silencing streets. For many, it was a season of despair. For Allan, it became a season of
vision.

During those quiet, uncertain days, he gathered like-minded leaders. With Datu Wilfredo
Sanggayan, Pastor Rolando Gasal, and guided by the late Atty. Richard Chiu, Allan co-
founded the Subanen Partylist—a bold and historic movement. For the first time, the
Subanen tribe, one of the largest indigenous groups in Mindanao, sought direct
representation in Congress.

The dream was simple yet profound: to bring the voice of the Subanen people to the halls of
power, to fight for progress and prosperity while preserving culture and dignity. Though the
partylist was unable to secure a seat in the 2022 elections, the attempt itself was history in
the making. Allan and his fellow leaders pledged to continue the fight, preparing to rise again
in 2028—win or lose.

Meanwhile, Allan’s advocacy for cultural pride deepened. He began teaching customary laws,
culture, and traditions of the Subanen through online platforms. His mission was clear: to
ensure the younger generation would never forget their roots or feel ashamed of their tribe.

He also began work on a Southern Subanen Dictionary, assisting teachers in translating

lessons for DepEd, making sure the language of his ancestors remained alive in classrooms.

Allan’s home life remained his anchor. With his wife, Maria Mefel, he raised three children: Ria
Melanie, Shamma, and their youngest, Allan Alexus. In them, he saw the future of the next
generation—educated, rooted, and full of promise. He also carried close bonds with his
siblings: Vickelyn, Necilyn, and the youngest, Pinengi Felino.

Recognition for Allan’s leadership continued to come from many directions. He was often
invited as a peace mediator in conflicts between indigenous peoples, Muslims, and
Christians. His ability to bridge divides earned him the respect of leaders across faiths and
cultures. At one point, Muslim elders even bestowed upon him the honor of being called Datu
and Honorary Sultan.

But titles never defined him. What mattered to Allan was the mission—the call he had prayed
for during his near-death heart attack years before: that God might extend his life to serve.

And serve he did.

From the mountains of his childhood to the halls of government offices, from small wooden
churches to crowded youth rallies, from the airwaves of Radio Bisdak to the digital
classrooms of the pandemic era—Allan Bambalan Mangangot lived his life as a bridge. A
bridge between past and future, tribe and nation, faith and service.

His story is not over. The seeds he has planted—in faith, in culture, in community—continue to
grow. The boy who once looked up at airplanes in the sky has, in his own way, soared far
higher than he ever imagined.

ople.

Legacy in Motion
From a boy who once cut wood for a few pesos to a man who shaped movements and laws,
Allan Bambalan Mangangot has lived a life of resilience and vision. His journey is the story of
a seed planted in hardship that grew into a tree of service, shade, and hope.

His mission continues—whether in pulpits, schools, radio waves, or tribal councils. For Allan,
leadership has never been about titles or power. It has always been about service, about
building bridges where walls once stood.

And though his story is still unfolding, one truth remains: the boy who once dreamed of flying
has indeed soared—on wings of faith, heritage, and unyielding purpose.

The Life Story of Allan Bambalan Mangangot

A Journey of Faith, Culture, and Leadership
Chapter 1 – Roots in the Mountains
(Childhood, family struggles, martial law, fishing, hunting, foot injury, dream of flying, survival
in Lakewood)

Chapter 2 – The Journey of a Young Dreamer

(Elementary years in Kalinga, salutatorian, high school struggles, Mr. Intramurals, gangs,
transfer to Tubod, finishing high school)

Chapter 3 – A Call to Ministry

(1999–2003 Bible school, working while studying, class president, internship in Kabasalan,
near-death heart failure, vow to God, first ministry assignments)

Chapter 4 – Revival in the Provinces

(2004–2010: Camanga, Lapuyan, Maruing, Sibugay Outcry, rebuilding churches, Jesus
Revolution, values formation in schools, Subanen mentors, marriage to Maria Mefel)

Chapter 5 – Shepherd of a Town

(2011–2019: Ipil Alliance Church, Moral Recovery Program, John Maxwell training, police
advisory councils, Subanen Ako Inc., radio anchor, Datu and Sultan recognition, community
peacebuilding)

Chapter 6 – The Voice of a People

(2019 elections, pandemic years, founding of Subanen Partylist, 2022 elections, vow to rise in
2028, cultural teaching online, dictionary project, teaching Subanen youth, family life)

Chapter 7 – Legacy in Motion

(Reflection on his journey, leadership philosophy, future vision, the boy who dreamed of
flying has soared on wings of faith and heritage)