Written by Raven M
Originated from the Visayan word meaning “born from the earth”, Lumads pertain to the indigenous non-Moro or non-Muslim tribe of Mindanao, a part of the Philippine islands. The term was first used in a political assembly in Cotabato back in 1986 wherein they discussed the issues regarding their struggles particularly in cultural determination within their rightful lands (Rodil, 2012). It was first recognized when it was put into use in the republic Act No. 6734, also known as the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao Act. It comprises of roughly 19 major groups namely, Ata, B’laa, Bagobo, Banwaon, Bukidnon, Dibabawon, Higaonon, Mamanwa, Mandaya, Manguwangan, Mansaka, Manobo, Matigsalug, Obo, T’boli, Tagakaolo, Talaandig, Tiruray, and Subanen (Guillermo, 2012). Now, they are scattered mostly around the lowland and uplands of Agusan, Bukidnon, Cotabato, Davao, and other neighbouring provinces. They hunt, fish, gather, and trade forest products and locally made goods for their survival (Santos, 2005). Now in our modern time, it is just and right to fight for minorities, especially against those who do not mean them good. Up until now, the non- indigenous society continues to exploit the Lumads even though there are laws protecting them and their cultural heritage.
https://open.spotify.com/embed/track/0I5Z0p0cLWdyJNC6sqMTwD
The conflict between the Lumads and the armed forces started way before President Duterte’s administration wherein these tribes have been experiencing conflicts and combat situations due to bombing by military and paramilitary forces. The Armed Forces of the Philippines launched Oplan Alsa Lumad against the tribal groups, taking away their ancestral lands and terrorizing indigenous children attending school. The Armed Forces of the Philippines also created a paramilitary group called Alamara that comprises of indigenous people themselves against their co-Lumads. Back in 1997, a warrant of arrest was issued against Datu Guibang and 2 other tribe leaders who fought against the armed forces of Ecowood plywood who encroached into his tribal land by initiating tree planting activities in Talaingod which then extended to almost Ata Manobo’s territory. On the 30th of November, 1993, Datu Guibang gathered the tribal leaders for a tribal war where Datus are made to vow to unite and defend their land which formed the Salugpungan Ta Tanu Igkanugon or the Unity in Defense of Ancestral Land (Oliveros, 2007). Ever since then, the tribes have been making it a point to protect their lands which should not be because they have their own rights that protects them and their lands. Now that they have proper schools, it is said that communists rebels, particularly the Communist Party of the Philippines are recruiting youth to turn against the government. Datu Joel Unad, the Chairman of Mindanao Indigenous People Council of Elders said that 70 Lumad schools have been infiltrated by the said rebels but is said as a false accusation by former lawmaker Satur Ocampo and ACT Teachers Party – List Representative France Castro who were said to be active members of the group.
If we put our difference and self interest aside, we can attain solidarity between each other. Various acts and laws have been approved for the welfare of the Lumads such as RA 8371 or the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act of 1997 that is said to recognize and promote all the rights of Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous Peoples of the Philippines (Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act, 1997). Since we have this law, it is due to recognize them as equals, we have rights and they have rights, therefore, we should not take advantage of their weaknesses just because they are different from us. Or in that case, not literate as us. We should also work together for the betterment of our country because we need it now more than ever. Supporting the tribes by building schools for the children, and using the education given to them not to turn against the government but as a tool for their future.
We should not educate them because we want them to rebel against the government, we want to educate them so they can also have the chance that we have now.
We should also learn how to coexist and start looking at the bigger picture rather than our differences, for example, culturally. We are entirely different from the Lumads and if we let those differences prevail then the cycle will just awfully continue.
Speaking of culture and land, the RA 8731 recognizes the indigenous Filipinos own the ancestral lands their families have lived in. That includes the Mandaya community in the village Pichon in Caraga town to have about 14,000 hectares all to themselves, Milalittra with over 11,000 hectares, the Madadma tribe with about 3,177 hectares, and all of those are for planting high-value vegetables to be delivered in markets around Cagayan de Oro City. Some of the tribes mentioned have been awarded the Certificate of Ancestral Domain title or the CADT by the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP). These lands are their main source of profit, thus it is just right for them to protect it. For the modern society such as Aznar Enterprises, Inc. and the Santa Lucia Realty Development Corporation whom does not have a legal permit from the DAR and the DENR maybe recognize it as just plain old land, one that they can turn into a golf course and into a upper-class residential area (Eder, 2010). These capitalist corporations even said that those farmers are long-time squatters, having no rights to their land, manipulating them into selling out their titles for unjust terms, even damaging the farms at site (Eder, 2010). They said that it was a residential land, not an agricultural one. But the law is on the farmers’ side, thankfully. Because of the implementation of the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act of 1997, up until now, these groups are still hopeful that maybe this time, there will be a successful court suit that will be in favor of them. If they do lose, they will have no choice but to flee their rightful lands and come to the city which will make them even poorer (Eder, 2010). Just because they are ‘mere’ farmers, does not mean that we have the right to violate them and their rights. Also, just because they have little contribution to tax compared to big capitalist corporations, does not mean that they are any less. We thought that by the implementation of their rights, there will be no unjust actions towards them anymore, but we are certainly wrong. They gain little from the resources that they distribute to our society, that is why we should support these minorities as they are the backbone of our society. Without them, what will happen to our society? Do we expect these nasty corporations and politicians to plant and harvest our food? No, that’s why they should be treated as any other human being on this planet.
If we continue to exploit minority groups then we will never attain solidarity and interdependence in our society. Non-indigenous groups shouldn’t use their power to manipulate the Lumads just because they are a minority. From terrorizing and invading schools to lawsuits against corporations infiltrating their lands, it is time for us to recognize them as one of us, deserving of the same rights and same respect that we give to the people we interact with in our daily lives.
References:
(n.d.).Retrieved March 2, 2019, from
https://www.lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra1989/ra_6734_1989.html
Eder, J. F. (n.d.). Indigenous Peoples, Ancestral Lands and Human Rights in the Philippines. Retrieved March 2, 2019, from https://www.culturalsurvival.org/publications/cultural-survival- quarterly/indigenous-peoples-ancestral-lands-and-human-rights
Gagalac, R. (2018, December 06). Some Lumad leaders call for Red-tagged schools' shutdown. Retrieved March 2, 2019, from https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/06/18/some-lumad-leaders- call-for-red-tagged-schools-shutdown
Oliveros, B. (2011, February 04). The Fugitive of Talaingod. Retrieved March 2, 2019, from
https://www.bulatlat.com/2007/10/27/the-fugitive-of-talaingod/
Rappler.com. (n.d.). INFOGRAPHIC: Who are the Lumad? Retrieved March 3, 2019, from
https://www.rappler.com/move-ph/178181-infographic-lumad-indigenous-peoples
Republic Act No. 8371 | GOVPH. (n.d.). Retrieved March 2, 2019, from
https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1997/10/29/republic-act-no-8371/