Interview with James "Jim" Diegel, October 11, 2023

Interview Summary

Jim Diegel joined Peace Corps after college. Originally slated to go to Ghana, he was invited into a program to work with indigenous people in the remote mountains of the Philippines. After going through the Center for Assessment, Skills, and Training, he was trained in the indigenous language before moving to his site. Jim’s village was Umabang with the Hanunoo Mangyan people on the island of Mindoro, and it was a 3.5-hour hike from the nearest road. He was ‘adopted’ by the village shaman and his wife, lived in their one-room hut, and adopted the Mangyan lifestyle, growing his hair long and wearing a loincloth. His projects included working with local agriculture, introducing a health clinic, working on ancestral land rights, and creating a school. The school was built by the village and the curriculum was adapted around the agricultural cycle of the Mangyan people. Jim had several health challenges and was mainly treated by his ‘Bapa’ and ‘Bayi’ since he had no easy access to PC medical. He met his wife, married in Manila, and left PC after 2.5 years to start his family. After leaving service, his profession was in the medical field and credits Peace Corps for changing his life.

Interview Keyword

Peace Corps (U.S.) Philippines (Country of Service) 1982-1985 (Dates of Service) Peace Corps Volunteer Job: Upland Community Development Indigenous Peoples Center for Assessment, Skills, and Training (CASA) Hanuoo Mangyan (tribe) Umabang (site) Mindoro shaman school construction curriculum health issues Mangyan and Tagalog (languages) agriculture

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