With the invitation of Father Teo, our other spiritual director, Kairos members paid a visit to the parish of Saint Raphael Archangel in Rodriguez, Rizal, to touch base with a new and emerging parish community. There we encountered the indigenous Ati tribe composed of 40 families who migrated to this area in the last twenty years. They are natives of Panay island in the provinces of Iloilo, Aklan and Antique and their ancestors travelled by boat and bus through the island of Masbate, the province of Sorsogon, Albay, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Batangas, finally reaching the Wawa river in Montalban in the early 70s. They touched base with Ati settlements along the way in these provinces.

In the foothills of Montalban, they found a place to settle in the lands owned by benevolent citizens of the town who allowed them to build their huts and plant some vegetables and raise hogs and chicken. While their main source of livelihood is making herbal medicines and selling these in various areas of Luzon and Visayas, some of them also worked as domestic helpers and laborers in neighboring cities. They sent their children to school in Rodriguez, Rizal.

In the past four months, the Kairos  community together with Saint Raphael Archangel Assistant Parish Priest, Fr. Rey Tejico, have been journeying with them in their effort to assume meaningful development for themselves; to acquire land where they can permanently build their homes and raise their families, to provide basic needs of their children. The town mayor, Ping Cuerpo as he is fondly called by the Ati, has facilitated the acquisition of land for them in Sitio Maislap, Barangay San Isidro in the same town. Mayor Ping is also an encountered couple of the Santa Cecilia M.E. Community in Rodriguez, Rizal.

Last February 29, 2003 Kairos conducted the one- day Marriage Enrichment seminar for 16 Ati couples at the church of Saint Raphael Archangel Parish. The seminar culminated with the Pagpapanibago ng Sumpaan sa Kasal for the married participants, and Panunumpa ng Pagmamahal for the unmarried ones. The Kairos members who served were Agoy and Janette Descallar, Sol Baguisi, Steve Arganda, and Joe and Jonette Ingua. Bro, Roy and Sis. Malee were the facilitator couple.

On March 7 and 14, 2003, two sessions of Strategic Planning were conducted for the Ati community in Anawim Home for the Aged in Barangay San Isidro, Rodriduez, Rizal. The leaders of the indigenous tribe, number ing around 24, participated in crafting their community vision and plans for the immediate future.

These activities were made possible with the generous prayers and love offerings of the Kairos encountered couples who responded to the call of the elders for financial and spiritual help to make the seminar and planning sessions possible. Bro. Roy and Sis. Malee, Bro. Agoy and Sis. Janette, and Bro. Joe and Sis. Jonette and other friends in M.E. were among those who helped facilitate the seminars.