Aurora, Philippines -- a coastal province facing the vast Pacific Ocean roughly 320 kilometers north-east of Manila -- is home to the Alta-Dumagat tribe. It is said that they arrived in this archipelago that would be later known as the Philippines thirty to twenty thousand years ago, making them among the first to populate its islands. Ethnographic studies indicate that the Alta-Dumagat belongs to the more than thirty-three identified Agta groups all over the county and one of the sixteen known in north-eastern Luzon. A gentle yet proud people, the Alta-Dumagat has always lived in harmony both with nature and other people.
However, their peaceful narrative would be turned into one of marginalization and defiance with the arrival of local companies and corporations that altered forever their settlements, forests, and drainage systems. More than the damages caused to the Agta ecosystem, this unwanted influx also undermined their traditional and local leadership reducing the influence of their elders to small, constrained communities that further accelerated their marginalization.
Similar to all indigenous peoples and other marginalized sectors, the story of Alta-Dumagat would eventually happen upon with those of the organized armed struggle of various rebel groups (the Bangsamoro fronts of Mindanao and the communist insurgency that would take rootsand assume many forms across the country) that are also fighting for self-determination, cultural identity, socio-economic equality, and justice to historical grievances.
While successes have been achieved in the government’s negotiations with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) – and to some extent with the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) – during the incumbency of the last administration, the peace negotiations with the Communist Party of the Philippines/New People’s Army/National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) have been found wanting, almost non-existent even.
“Similar to all indigenous peoples and other marginalized sectors, the story of Alta-Dumagat would eventually happen upon with those of the organized armed struggle of various rebel groups that are also fighting for self-determination, cultural identity, socio-economic equality, and justice to historical grievances.”
All of those changed when President Rodrigo Roa Duterte assumed office last June. As part of his confidence-building efforts with the communist insurgents, he immediately called for a unilateral ceasefire which was eventually reciprocated by the NDF. That decision has yielded positive results: two successful rounds of negotiations in Oslo that bring the whole country closer to achieving peace and effecting genuine and meaningful socio-economic reforms.
Kakay Tolentino’s continuing struggle for the Alta-Dumagat
For Kakay Tolentino, a leader of the Alta-Dumagat and member of the Kalipunan ng mga Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas (KAMP), the government’s accelerated negotiations with the NDF is a welcome relief.
“Sa mga organizations tulad ng mga IPs, makakatulong ang gobyerno ng malaki kung ma-aaddress ang concern namin sa socio-economicreform (To organizations such as the indigenous peoples, the government can provide a great help if they will be able to address our concerns on socio-economic reform).”
Kakay is no stranger to civil movements having for decades campaigned for the preservation of their ancestral lands and against killings of indigenous peoples. The celebration of the Indigenous Peoples’ Month throughout the month of October is what currently brought her here in Manila.
Together with thousands of indigenous peoples from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, Tolentino came and joined the “Lakbayan ng Pambasang Minorya” to help voice issues being faced by the national minority.
“We are a peace-loving folk and we prevent conflict as much as possible,” commented Tolentino, adding that they have also been trying to be part of the Oslo talks through other means. “Doon sa mga maraming pinalabas na NDF consultants, nagkaroon kami ng series of consultations para i-review at i-develop yung laman ng Comprehensive Agreement on Socio-Economic Reform (CASER) at ito yung isinulong ng NDF doon sapeace talks (We’ve had a series of consultations with the freed NDF consultants in order to review and develop the contents of the Comprehensive Agreement on Socio-Economic Reform (CASER) and that is among what the NDF is championing in the peace talks).”
“Sa unang resulta ng peace negotiations ay napirmahan naman yung ilang agreements, so maganda nang pangitain sa amin iyon, (Some of the agreements were signed during the first peace negotiations and that is already a good sign for us).
CASER is the substantial agenda of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP)-NDF peace talks which houses the most contentious issues such as agrarian reform, national industrialization, and foreign policy. The result of the second round of talks in Oslo, Norway last 6-9 October paved the way for affected communities to enjoy “peace dividends” derived from the unilateral ceasefire agreed by both parties.
Child soldiers children no more
Those issues take a different form for Jhandel Libora, a Lumad highschool student of the Alternative Learning Center for Agricultural and Livelihood Development (ALCADEV) in Tandag, Surigao del Sur, and thirteen-year old Alexandra Allawan.
During a cultural integration activity between indigenous and Manila youth, Jhandel shares stories of struggles of the Lumad in the CARAGA Region (Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur and Dinagat Islands).
“Kaming mga kabataang Lumad matagal nang nananawagan partikular sa serbisyo ng edukasyon. Kaya nakapag initiative ang aming mga magulang na magtayo ng paaralan para sa elementary at high school. Malakas ang aming paninindigan para ipaglaban ang aming lupangninuno at karapatan sa pagpapaunlad ng edukasyon (We, the Lumad youth, have been calling for an improved public service in education. That is why our own parents took initiative in building elementary and secondary schools. We have strong resolve in fighting for our ancestral lands and our right to education),” Libora passionately announced.
Allawan, representing the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) children’s basic sector during a recent nationwide peace and development summit organized by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), raised her concern on the rampant issue of using children soldiers in Mindanao.
“Mga bata pa po kasi sila tapos tinuturuan sila paano pumatay, paano humawak ng baril; nagttraining sila about doon. Masakit din po para saakin dahil hindi na sila nakakapag aral kasi priority na nila yung training (They are only children yet they are being taught how to kill, how to use guns; they have trainings about those. That is painful for me because they no longer go to school as they prioritize those trainings).”
Allawan hopes that action will be implemented as soon as final peace agreements are made between the government and rebel groups in order for young Filipino learners to have rightful access to primary education as well as welfare and a secured environment.
Indigenous peoples’ advisory council to be formed
Ethnic groups and tribal leaders will form part of an advisory council that will provide voices of national minorities in the peace negotiations with the communist rebels and the creation of a Bangsamoro enabling law, according to OPAPP Secretary Jesus G. Dureza.
The peace secretary, in a recent gathering, pointed out that the ethnic minorities play an important role in ensuring the success of the peace negotiations and that their recommendations are valuable in the implementation of signed peace agreements. “[T]he IPs compose a very important sector in our work. I have already taken that with the President and he approved.”
“[T]his will be the first that we will be having what we will call the IP advisory council that will advise the panels -- panel that is handling the BTC, panels handling the CPP-NPA-NDF -- so may inputs sila doon sa mangyayari (they have inputs on what would happen).”
“[M]eron silang opportunity na ipahayag yung gusto nilang maisali dun sa mga batas na yan (They have an opportunity to express their intention to join be included in the law) so we will be creating an IP advisory council that will advise the PAPP and provide inputs to all the panels,” he further explained.
“We cannot promise lahat ng sasabihin nila ay mangyayari but at least napapakinggan sila at may mga aksyon na gagawin din (We cannot promise that all of their proposals will be realized but at least they will be heard and that there are actions that can be taken),” Dureza said.
Continuing journey for peace and development
The signing of a final peace pact between the government and the NDF as well as the passage of a new enabling law to operationalize the Bangsamoro region are all beyond the control of Kakay, Jhandel, and Alexandra.
That, however, does not deter them from continuing to fight for a more just society – one that recognizes their cultural identities and allows them enough democratic space to achieve their full potentials and chart their destinies. For peace and development are more than just concepts to them but tangible norms that should have been a given in the first place. (PR/posted by: Becky D. de Asis-the redline news)
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