Leaders of various indigenous communities vowed to act collectively as they urge government to recognize their rights to self-determination.
Tribal leaders expressed disappointment on President Benigno Aquino’s SONA saying that as in past administrations, Aquino’s government seemed to exclude them.
IP leaders said Aquino’s SONA failed to address the issues of the indigenous communities “such as recognition of their right to self-determination and reversal of policies that have undermined their culture and their very existence.”
“As with previous presidents we barely deserved mention in his speech. And while we appreciate his statement that we will be part of any negotiation regarding peace in Mindanao, we are concerned that the direction he seems to be taking with respect to economic policy is to adopt the same old formulas that have already proven inadequate,” said Nilda Mangilay, a Subanen of Zamboanga del Sur.
Almost a hundred indigenous peoples’ representatives from Luzon and Mindanao gathered recently at Apu Agbibilin Community Center in Brgy. Songco during their State of the Indigenous Peoples Address (SIPA).
Recalling that the government had failed them in the past, the IP leaders said that they have committed themselves to pursue their demands through the SIPA.
“We will not wait for government to act on our demands. We have not forgotten our sad experiences in the past, when our demands were ignored and our rights systematically curtailed and undermined by governments which served only the interests of the rich and powerful, such as big business and foreign investors.” said Cristina Batiel Moyaen, a Kankaney from Apayao.
Quintol Labuayan, a B’laan of Sultan Kudarat said they want the government to recognize their customary laws, recognize their right to self-governance and give them equal status in the Mindanao peace negotiations.
He said there should be honest implementation of the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act and proper accountability of the National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP).
“We will strengthen our ranks and push our collective agenda together as a unified IP movement,” he added.
The IP delegates lamented the indigenous people’s assimilation into the Filipino “nation”, saying “it brought nothing but trouble for their people.”
“Our people were the original inhabitants of this land. We were here long before the Philippines came into existence. But through force or deception we were incorporated into this nation,” said Datu Vic Saway, one of the Talaandig delegates to the third SIPA assembly.
Subjected to centuries of abuse, the country’s indigenous communities have lost most of their ancestral lands with the entry of big business and development projects.
“Our incorporation into this political system has only brought the entry of destructive development projects such as mining, logging and plantations. Some of us have also suffered displacement and forced evacuation from wars that we were not even party to,” Peter Duyapat, an Ifugao representative from Nueva Vizcaya said.
Tribal leaders expressed disappointment on President Benigno Aquino’s SONA saying that as in past administrations, Aquino’s government seemed to exclude them.
IP leaders said Aquino’s SONA failed to address the issues of the indigenous communities “such as recognition of their right to self-determination and reversal of policies that have undermined their culture and their very existence.”
“As with previous presidents we barely deserved mention in his speech. And while we appreciate his statement that we will be part of any negotiation regarding peace in Mindanao, we are concerned that the direction he seems to be taking with respect to economic policy is to adopt the same old formulas that have already proven inadequate,” said Nilda Mangilay, a Subanen of Zamboanga del Sur.
Almost a hundred indigenous peoples’ representatives from Luzon and Mindanao gathered recently at Apu Agbibilin Community Center in Brgy. Songco during their State of the Indigenous Peoples Address (SIPA).
Recalling that the government had failed them in the past, the IP leaders said that they have committed themselves to pursue their demands through the SIPA.
“We will not wait for government to act on our demands. We have not forgotten our sad experiences in the past, when our demands were ignored and our rights systematically curtailed and undermined by governments which served only the interests of the rich and powerful, such as big business and foreign investors.” said Cristina Batiel Moyaen, a Kankaney from Apayao.
Quintol Labuayan, a B’laan of Sultan Kudarat said they want the government to recognize their customary laws, recognize their right to self-governance and give them equal status in the Mindanao peace negotiations.
He said there should be honest implementation of the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act and proper accountability of the National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP).
“We will strengthen our ranks and push our collective agenda together as a unified IP movement,” he added.
The IP delegates lamented the indigenous people’s assimilation into the Filipino “nation”, saying “it brought nothing but trouble for their people.”
“Our people were the original inhabitants of this land. We were here long before the Philippines came into existence. But through force or deception we were incorporated into this nation,” said Datu Vic Saway, one of the Talaandig delegates to the third SIPA assembly.
Subjected to centuries of abuse, the country’s indigenous communities have lost most of their ancestral lands with the entry of big business and development projects.
“Our incorporation into this political system has only brought the entry of destructive development projects such as mining, logging and plantations. Some of us have also suffered displacement and forced evacuation from wars that we were not even party to,” Peter Duyapat, an Ifugao representative from Nueva Vizcaya said.
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