Of all the groups of peoples in this country, the indigenous peoples (IPs) or so-called “lumads” (sons of the soil) are the most marginalized in all aspects of human development. They are lagging behind materially, economically and educationally, and their habitants are least developed. (The Moros occupy only second place, but they are first in terms of numbers of deaths or wounded from the hands of ‘repressive’ state forces).
The sad state of IP affairs are caused by internal and external factors. Their internal development is very slow because of the factors cited above. People whose literacy is very low and compounded by poverty cannot develop themselves fast or compete with the rest of the populations. External factors including affirmative response from the state are generally small or slow in coming. Oftentimes, their predicaments, say loss of ancestral lands or domains, are caused by outsiders. Landgrabbers abound in IP areas. Even the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act (IPRA) did not guarantee the protection or promotion of their rights or interests. Sometimes, it is smartly used by carpet-baggers such as loggers and miners to intrude and occupy vast IP so-called ancestral domains or lands. In Tampakan in South Cotabato, as well as in Agusan and Surigao, as in many other areas, what the capitalists did and are still doing is to use one IP group against another. It is the nature of uneducated and poor people that they can easily be manipulated by powerful and moneyed people. And this is not only true with the IPs but also with other groups, the Moros not excluded.
What can be done to help arrest the sad plight of lumad?
Surely, there is no short-cut formula. First and foremost, they must help themselves. They should understand that there is practically no free these days; everything comes with a price. Even the best-intentioned Samaritans sometimes caused problems amongst the target groups. Genuine self- or people’s deliverance comes from within.
In helping themselves, the most conscious, usually the educated, should take the lead. They are aware of the situation and possibly, as in other examples, also know what should be done. But the problem with so-called educated is their “intellectual arrogance”, and generally, they are poor in sacrificing for the people. We learned this hard lesson during our decades of struggle. But in the same vein, generally all struggles are led by men of understanding or knowledge, usually the educated, because there are also among them like Salamat Hashim, Jose Maria Sison, Jose Rizal, and Yasser Arafat, whose hearts yearned for the poor and downtrodden.
If possible, the IP should set up a truly democratic national movement whose cause and advocacy is to protect and promote IP interests and aspiration. However, it is hard for them to do this, because movement like this requires a clear ideology and true leader. In Mindanao alone, there are 18 or sometimes the number goes up to 23 IP ethno-linguistic tribes, whose dialects and costumes and traditions are not exactly the similar. But they can and must try! Sometimes, the impossibility of an undertaking makes it possible!
For the outside help, the government should take the lead. It is its moral obligation to do so, not to say of its authority and resources. In fairness, the government under President Benigno Aquino III has initiated a lot of intervention to improve the lot of these people.
But the real challenge in the long term consideration is that most if not all of the domestic investors especially in mining are either directly or indirectly connected with the government. Will government policy-makers make laws that are genuinely addressing the just demands and concerns of the IPs? That is far-fetched! It is the nature of carpet-baggers to think of themselves only.
How about the military? Can they protect the limbs and property of the IPs especially those in Agusan and Surigao? That is, of course, one of their mandates, but is their tract record in this regard above ceiling? We will not comment on this, because the other reality is that a substantial number of fighters of the New People’s Army (NPA) in these provinces are coming from the IPs.
The civil society organizations, the Church, and private individuals should also help. The IPs need our help. We must help!
For the MILF, we are more than willing to help, because they are our blood brothers! Throughout history, we are one with them in Mindanao.
http://www.luwaran.com/index.php/editorial/item/691-the-plight-of-lumad
What can be done to help arrest the sad plight of lumad?
Surely, there is no short-cut formula. First and foremost, they must help themselves. They should understand that there is practically no free these days; everything comes with a price. Even the best-intentioned Samaritans sometimes caused problems amongst the target groups. Genuine self- or people’s deliverance comes from within.
In helping themselves, the most conscious, usually the educated, should take the lead. They are aware of the situation and possibly, as in other examples, also know what should be done. But the problem with so-called educated is their “intellectual arrogance”, and generally, they are poor in sacrificing for the people. We learned this hard lesson during our decades of struggle. But in the same vein, generally all struggles are led by men of understanding or knowledge, usually the educated, because there are also among them like Salamat Hashim, Jose Maria Sison, Jose Rizal, and Yasser Arafat, whose hearts yearned for the poor and downtrodden.
If possible, the IP should set up a truly democratic national movement whose cause and advocacy is to protect and promote IP interests and aspiration. However, it is hard for them to do this, because movement like this requires a clear ideology and true leader. In Mindanao alone, there are 18 or sometimes the number goes up to 23 IP ethno-linguistic tribes, whose dialects and costumes and traditions are not exactly the similar. But they can and must try! Sometimes, the impossibility of an undertaking makes it possible!
For the outside help, the government should take the lead. It is its moral obligation to do so, not to say of its authority and resources. In fairness, the government under President Benigno Aquino III has initiated a lot of intervention to improve the lot of these people.
But the real challenge in the long term consideration is that most if not all of the domestic investors especially in mining are either directly or indirectly connected with the government. Will government policy-makers make laws that are genuinely addressing the just demands and concerns of the IPs? That is far-fetched! It is the nature of carpet-baggers to think of themselves only.
How about the military? Can they protect the limbs and property of the IPs especially those in Agusan and Surigao? That is, of course, one of their mandates, but is their tract record in this regard above ceiling? We will not comment on this, because the other reality is that a substantial number of fighters of the New People’s Army (NPA) in these provinces are coming from the IPs.
The civil society organizations, the Church, and private individuals should also help. The IPs need our help. We must help!
For the MILF, we are more than willing to help, because they are our blood brothers! Throughout history, we are one with them in Mindanao.
http://www.luwaran.com/index.php/editorial/item/691-the-plight-of-lumad
