Outstanding stories on indigenous peoples recognized ILO pays tribute to indigenous peoples, journalists

 

 

Outstanding stories on indigenous peoples recognized ILO pays tribute to indigenous peoples, journalists 

 

Indigenous peoples took the center stage as eleven stories about them were recognized in a thematic year-end reception organized by the International Labour Organization (ILO) Country Office for the Philippines on 12 December 2011 in Makati City.

Indigenous peoples took the center stage as eleven stories about them were recognized in a thematic year-end reception organized by the International Labour Organization (ILO) Country Office for the Philippines on 12 December 2011 in Makati City.

Among the eleven stories recognized as outstanding, were five articles from two broadsheets and two community newspapers namely, BusinessWorld’s Discontent in a Mining Wilderness by Romer Sarmiento, Sun.Star Davao’s As Precious as Life Itself by Stella Estremera, Philippine Daily Inquirer’s Mt. Pinukis an Arena of Debate on Mining by Ryan Rosauro and Cordillera Organic Rice Finds a Strong Market at Home by Edgardo Espiritu, and Northern Dispatch’s Anti Dam Activist Gets Laureate Award by Arthur Allad-iw.
All five stories won in the online, print and photo essay categories. The winners received trophies.

The outstanding stories in all of the five categories were revealed in the ILO thematic year-end reception that underscored the indigenous peoples as “partners in development”, and the journalists who presented them in unique storytelling that provided insightful glimpses of their culture, aspirations and indispensable efforts towards making a difference in their communities and showing the society their critical importance in nation-building.

The short list of outstanding stories from print, radio, television, online and photo essay was a result of a rigorous evaluation of more than 80 entries from August 2009 to August 2011 by a pool of experts on indigenous peoples issues and from the media that comprised the screening committee and the judging panel.

The first ever “Pagkilala sa mga Natatanging Kuwentong Katutubo” which served as the highlight of the reception that gave importance to members of indigenous peoples communities in the Philippines, also showcased ethnic or indigenous dance, music, products and snapshots of the colorful life of the indigenous peoples in the country.

“It was a good mix of stories that show the other side of our indigenous peoples brothers and sisters,” Joseph Alwyn Alburo, vice-chairman of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) and member of the judging panel, said.

Both the screeners and the judges lauded the efforts of the writers who took time and effort to share to the public that indigenous peoples are “indeed partners in development” and that “more stories can be written about them in the future”.

“The stories are not about the journalists who produced them. They are about the indigenous peoples who are out there struggling to be part of a bigger community,” Ramon Tuazon, president of the Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication (AIJC) and a member of the board of judges, said.

Secretary of Labor and Employment Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz, who read the message of President Benigno S. Aquino III during the opening program, also lauded the efforts of ILO and the journalists “for hailing the part that indigenous peoples play in development”. She said that there are now indigenous peoples desks in 16 regions of the country.

"Through your inspiring stories, we all will be made more aware not only of the valuable contributions of our indigenous peoples to our rich cultural heritage, but more importantly for the socio-economic implications of firmly instituting interests of indigenous peoples in the mainstream of policy-making,” the message of the President reads.

Stella Estremera, editor-in-chief of Sun.Star Davao, in her acceptance speech on behalf of the awardees, said that interacting with the indigenous peoples to listen to their stories and relaying these with their purest intentions at its most unadulterated narrative, is a journey into ones soul.

"It is a rediscovery of our identity as Filipinos. Like any other journalist, I started looking and writing about them with pity in my eyes. That was until I listened to their stories and beliefs and saw in them the true resilience of the Filipino spirit, and a deeply ingrained dignity that has withstood the endless years of marginalization. Along with that came the realization that the pity is on us for sweeping these away to the margins and denying our children these stories. To ILO, thank you for this recognition, but the greater gratitude is for the indigenous peoples for waiting so long for their stories to be told," Estremera said.

In the end, she urged fellow journalists not to make them (indigenous peoples) wait much longer.
Probe Media Foundation assisted ILO in the implementation of the project.

Complete List of 11 Outstanding Stories:

Radio and Television Category

• “Tribal School of Ilocos Sur” Michael Escobar, NBN Ilocos
• “Lapis” by Reyan Arinto, DYVL AM Aksyon Radyo, Tacloban

Online Category

• “Lost Voices: Subanen Asserts Right for Representation in Governance” by Antonio Manaytay, sunstar.com.ph/zamboanga
• “Anti Dam Activist Gets Laureate Award” by Arthur Allad-iw, nordis.net
• “Mt. Pinukis: An Arena of Debate on Mining” by Ryan D. Rosauro, inquirer.net

Photo essay Category

• “Cordillera Organic Rice Finds a Strong Market at Home” by Edgardo V. Espiritu, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Northern Luzon
• “First Aeta Forest Food Festival” by Kara Patria M. Santos, Travel Up
• “Unreachable Dream” by Vincent Go, Vera Files

Print Category

• “Discontent in a Mining Wilderness” by Romer S. Sarmiento, Businessworld
• “Enchanting Adventure in Agusan Marsh” by Jefry M. Tupas, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Davao
• “As Precious as Life Itself” by Stella A. Estremera, Sun.Star Davao

Ibalois in Baguio Suffer 100 Years of Injustice

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By ARTHUR L. ALLAD-IW
Northern Dispatch
Posted by Bulatlat
BAGUIO CITY – While the city government lined up pompous activities for its centennial celebration on September 1, a descendant of an Ibaloi clan said it is also a centennial of injustice for her clan and the Ibaloi tribes here.
The Ibalois suffer from the non-recognition of their ancestral land rights despite the landmark decision on native title in favor of their land rights in 1909, explained Ruby Dolores Carino Giron, a fifth-generation descendant of Mateo Cariño, a recognized leader of Kafagway, as Baguio was known then prior to American colonial rule.
Giron said that in a land case brought by her ancestor Mateo Cariño to the United States Supreme Court, the court decided on February 23, 1909 in favor of her ancestor’s (Cariño) right to their ancestral land over the areas now covered by Club John Hay. The US Supreme Court decision pointed out that the land possessed by the natives prior to colonization were not public land but private as they were held as such since time immemorial.
However, the fact that their ancestral land was not returned back to the Cariños and that it is still with the government is a manifestation of that century of injustice, she pointed out in an interview.

Baguio Charter
The American administration made Baguio, through legislation, a chartered city on September 1, 1909. The city was planned by the Americans for a population of 25,000.
In the charter’s town site reservation, lands of public domain are sold to the highest bidder under the Townsite Sales Application (TSA). However, recognition of the Ibalois ancestral lands was not done.
Giron pointed out that the TSA system should be removed as it had been a source of corruption in the sale of lands.
“There is no more land to sell but the city makes money on it (TSA). The TSA system had breached the carrying capacity of the city, which was planned for a 25,000 population.” she added.
She criticized the new proposal of Congressman Mauricio Domogan to amend the City Charter as it maintains the TSA system.
IPRA Law
Giron was among those who lobbied for the passage of the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA) of 1997, particularly ensuring ancestral land recognition in the bicameral committee of Congress.
“Baguio is the origin of the native title (through the Cariño Doctrine). Why should ancestral land recognition exempt the city,” she reiterated as interest groups lobbied for the exclusion of ancestral land recognition in the city.
Since the approval of the IPRA, Giron claimed that the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) has not fully recognized the ancestral lands of the Ibalois in the city. There were Certificate of Ancestral Land Titles (CALTs) granted by NCIP with people who are not entitled to it based on the “Carpetas of Ibalois,” documents where they traced the family tree and ancestral land rights of the applicants, she explained.
Like other agencies created for indigenous peoples in the past, the NCIP perpetuates corruption and historical lies, she added. “What they could have done is to read the Carpetas and start from there,” she pointed out.

Partnership, Sharing Resources
She allayed fears of local officials that their claims and recognition of their ancestral land would deny the city of the resources it needs, like water, as these resources are found in these ancestral land claims.
“What we want is the recognition of our ancestral lands. Where these lands are most needed by public needs, we can have partnership with the city. This partnership would be of mutual benefit for both where the Ibalois shall be compensated – like that in livelihood, education for their children – under the context of correcting the historical injustice perpetuated against the Ibalois.
Nordis learned that vast tracts of Ibalois’ ancestral lands in the city had been expropriated though colonial and post colonial laws without compensation, and had disenfranchised Ibaloi families in most cases.
In the celebration of the city’s centennial, Giron pointed out, the present city leadership seems not to recognize history.
“They should look at the history of the city to reconcile the past and the present. A clear appreciation of history would correct injustices and help plan for the future without perpetuating the same injustices. Not to do so would be amending history and would mean not recognizing us, the Ibalois,” Giron asserted. (Northern Dispatch/Posted by Bulatlat)
- See more at: http://bulatlat.com/main/2009/08/29/ibalois-in-baguio-suffer-100-years-of-injustice/#sthash.5Ugy6jCw.dpuf

New Rice Varieties Destroying Native Farming Practices

www.bulatlat.com

Ina Endena is concerned at the impact of the new rice varieties on Agawa community life. Since the introduction of the biit, the synchronized planting season has been inexistent. During a community holiday for example, the farmers usually break the ubaya or community taboo just to tend their fields for the application of needed fertilizers or pesticides.

BY ARTHUR L. ALLAD-IW
Northern Dispatch
Posted by Bulatlat

I've seen her many times in different occasions involving grassroots organizations – in Mountain Province or in any part of Cordillera and elsewhere. In most of these activities where I had seen her, human rights issues were the main topics in the discussions. She comes from a place that had often been militarized and as a consequence, human rights violations were usually reported. 

On the day before the celebration of our paper’s fourth anniversary as a weekly and 17th as a news dispatch, Baket Endena – a leader of the Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA) in her native Mountain Province as well as the Innabuyog-GABRIELA – came with a pizza to share with the Nordis staff, who were then busy preparing for the occasion. 

This time, my conversation with Ina Endena, as most fondly call her, is focused on agricultural practices in their village in Agawa, Besao in Mountain Province.  

I am touched at how she laments that new rice varieties are slowly displacing indigenous varieties. She is saddened at the thought that her community practices are slowly disintegrating due to the introduction of these new varieties into the Cordillera interior. 

At first, it is hard to comprehend how the entry of the new varieties has weakened indigenous practices. But she explained with such clarity that I realized that we have to respond to an urgent call from this 82-year-old elder who is still active in grassroots organizing.  

Ina Endena described the role of the dap-ay, an indigenous socio-political system where elders gather and talk about the beginning of the agricultural activities. 

In end-September, the elders declare three days as ubaya or community holidays. They perform a ritual, observe signs, and if all the indications appear good then they start the rice seedbed preparation in the padog (rice field specifically designated for that purpose). The ubaya also starts the land preparation. Work is done simultaneously in all rice fields.  The community residents do the preparation, planting and harvesting in synchrony with the environment. A tradition of thanksgiving is also performed after every harvest.  

Outside influences, she says, contribute to the weakening of their indigenous practices. She observed this in what is happening to their indigenous rice varieties called the bayag (literally, a long period of time). These are slowly being set aside, she says. 

These varieties include the tupeng, ginolot, yangaw (sticky rice). She observed that those varieties already lost are the sabsaba, kinison and matiko.

These old varieties are being replaced by taiwan, walay (sticky rice) and others called biit (short) as these may be planted twice a year.

She admits that it takes a longer wait to harvest the bayag variety, but she prefers it to the introduced biit because these are raised with just natural fertilizers like sunflower leaves, and a local variety of grasses, among others. She pointed out the biit, though planted twice in a year, need more commercial inputs like fertilizers and pesticides. She observed that these inputs are not only expensive but makes the land barren and therefore, dependent on these agro-chemicals.

Ina Endena is concerned at the impact of the new rice varieties on Agawa community life. She observes that since the introduction of the biit, the synchronized planting season has been inexistent. In the declaration of a community holiday for example, the farmers usually break the ubaya or community taboo just to tend their fields for the application of needed fertilizers or pesticides.

She also observes that indigenous agricultural practices are environment-friendly. 

Before our interaction ended with lots of lemon grass tea and brewed coffee that washed the pizza down our throats, I felt the need to heed her recommendations to adopt indigenous systems. After all, these practices have been proven to be cost-effective and environment-friendly by indigenous communities like Agawa in Mountain Province. Northern Dispatch / Posted by Bulatlat

© 2006 Bulatlat ■  Alipato Media Center

One year ago, she was carried by strong water current inside the Sumaging Cave of Sagada, Mountain Province  http://www.interaksyon.com/article/68931/search-continues-for-woman-trapped-in-cave-but-all-other-tourists-rescued

Search continues for woman trapped in cave, but all other tourists rescued

By: Arthur L. Allad-iw/Northern Dispatch
August 19, 2013 7:32 PM

Scenic Sagada in Northern Luzon, seen in file photo. Thirty tourists were rescued from Sumaging cave in the province, after monsoon rains caused a flash flood inside the popular cave Sunday.

InterAksyon.com
The online news portal of TV5

BAGUIO CITY – All but one of 31 people trapped inside the Sumaging Cave of Sagada, Mountain Province at the height of heavy rains and flashfloods Sunday have been rescued, local officials said.

Thirty people, 22 of them foreign and local tourists, were rescued in two batches late Sunday afternoon and evening inside the cave where they were trapped as water during monsoon-induced heavy rains swamped the place on Sunday, August 18.

The lone missing member of the cave tour group, a 49-year-old woman from Pangasinan who was swept away by flashfloods, is the subject of a massive search and rescue involving 100 volunteers.

Local officials of Sagada said 13 Japanese nationals with their two Filipino teachers were rescued by volunteers at 5:30 p.m. Sunday. The five local tourists and eight local guides were rescued at 9:30 p.m. that same day.

Local tourist Rodolfo Bendola Jr. from Quezon City, was rescued at 11:40 p.m.  Sunday and told volunteers that his companion, Irene Gonzalez Manaois from Dagupan City, Pangasinan, was taken by rampaging currents that flooded the cave. Bendola was brought to the St. Theodore’s Hospital in Sagada where he was declared safe, but a search for Manaois turned up empty until posting time.

Sagada Mayor Eduardo Latawan Jr. led local officials and volunteers in the rescue of those trapped inside the Sumaging cave, a favorite of tourists.

It was learned that strong rains caused the flashflood inside the cave after 11 a.m. Sunday. Robert Pangod, secretary of Mayor Latawan, said in a phone interview that those who went to the cave earlier came out safe at 11a.m..

Rescuers used ropes to reach the rest of the trapped victims, who were spotted through the petromax light they were using, Pangod said.

Volunteers were forced to end the search for Manaois at 2 a.m. Monday as waters continued to rise and the current became stronger. They resumed work at 7 a.m., added Pangod.

The PNP and the Municipal Rescue Team identified the Japanese tourists, all residing in Pampanga, as Atsushi  Ito, Yoshitaka Onoe, Saika Furukawa, Sakuda Hikaru, Mutsimi Sato, Koichi Sato, Takuto Horita, Ayumi Shimamura, Keitaro Yuda, Sayori Shirai, Yuka Morita, Yuka Nakamura, and Naomi Yusakawa.

Their teachers from Pampanga were identified as Nemoza Magsino and Jahnina Pamintuan.

Aside from Bendola, the local tourists are Mark Joseph Delos Santos of Pasig City, Jeffrey Peejay Gunday Alex of Makati, Oliver Dela Cruz Alejandro of Taguig City, May Turisa Palatao of Manila, Vilma Forayong Pusao and Aiza Saliwan Lifano both of Natonin, Mountain Province.

The tourist guides from Sagada are Andrew Cauten Bagni, J-Ford Pangko Calpi, Jet Balonglong Kollin, Laurel Padalla Royo, James Boyoten Luken, Patrick Rigonan and Lexbur Balonglong Kollin.

Sagada folk perturbed by pre-nuptial photo-op in ancient burial ground

By: Arthur L. Allad-iw, InterAksyon.com
July 31, 2015 7:18 PM

Detail from one of the subject pre-nuptial photographs as reposted by user @Frank Cimatu on his Facebook page. Used with permission from Frank Cimatu.

InterAksyon.com
The online news portal of TV5

SAGADA, Mountain Province - Local officials and villagers here condemned the pre-nuptial pictorial of a couple that took place inside Lumiang Cave, an act considered as a desecration of their sacred burial ground where their ancestors' remains have been laid to eternal rest.

While Lumiang Cave is open for visits by tourists, the area is only for them to see and appreciate the cultural heritage of the indigenous people, but not for purposes or acts deemed unacceptable, and which disturb the peace of the spirits of their ancestors buried there.

The town has many burials caves, part of the traditional way of life of the indigenous Kan-kaney tribes in the area. However, only a few caves are open for tourists as these grounds are considered sacred.

Due to what has been described as an act of desecration, Mayor Eduardo Latawan Jr. and the Office of the Municipal Tourism Officer are to bring the issue to the attention of the Sangguniang Bayan.

"A legislative inquiry must be carried out to give clear answer for the lapses that happened in Lumiang Cave. Through this inquiry, we will know who were the ones who participated in the pre-nuptial picture taking, and what actions may be taken against them," the mayor said.

He pointed out however that the inquiry will be primarily for the purpose of coming up with municipal legislation that would govern the protection and prevent acts of desecration in the heritage and tourist areas of Sagada.

For his part, Vice Mayor Benjamin Capuyan said that the local government officials will tackle the urgent issue in their Sangguniang Bayan meeting on Monday next week.

He is supportive about coming up with an ordinance for the protection of the Sagada heritage and tourists' attractions.

Capuyan added that he is open to allow the participation of various stakeholders in coming up with a relevant ordinance in this tourist-frequented highland town.

Lumiang Cave. Photo by Robert Pangod 

Robert Pangod, the tourism officer, revealed that there are rules and guidelines for the protection of these areas, though not necessarily instituted as ordinances.

"These rules are used for the guidance of the tourist guides and visitors for their strict observance. But it is high time that these should be included in an ordinance," he said.

As standard operation procedure, tourists are to register at the tourism center before they are assigned accredited guides.

From interviews, it appeared that the guide of the Ruffa and Mike Photography agency allegedly came from George Inn in this town. The guide accompanied the photography party to Lumiang Cave, where the photographer took the pictures of the couple the Lumiang Cave among the ancient wooden coffins as background.

When the photographs were posted on social media, it was unavoidable that some of the villagers saw the images.

A concerned villager, Mia F. Longid, shared some of them on her Facebook page, eliciting comments and observations that tended to criticize the pictorial as an act of desecration of the Sagada indigenous culture.

"Another rape of our Sagada culture," pointed out Baguio-based Sagadian Braile Van Reyes. "We lost a lot, can we afford more losses?"

Another sacred ground: the hanging coffins in Sagada, Mountain Province. Photo Arthur L. Allad-iw 

While the photographer named Mike is said to have apologized on Facebook and explained that they did not intend to undermine and desecrate the cultural value of Lumiang Cave, they also allegedly indicated that they will withdrew from social media the pre-nuptial pictures that have been called into question.

But the village elders still want to discuss the repercussions of this incident act in the community, in their dap-ay, indigenous socio-political institution.

Rituals could be performed to cleanse the act, which is at least the equivalent of a nightmare, an elder explained.

As this town considers the burial grounds as sacred, the desecration of Lumiang could lead to stricter rules for the protection of ancient burial grounds and tourist attractions.

At least one specimen of the controversial pre-nuptial photos may be seen by following this link.

Love knows no disabilities

patnugutan July 26, 2015 Featured, international, people

By ARTHUR L. ALLAD-IW
www.nordis.net

BAGUIO CITY — They belong to different nationalities. They believed fate had brought them together. And despite their physical handicaps love blossomed to establish their family, and together, they vowed to serve fellow persons with disabilities, the poor and needy.

LOVE KNOWS NO BOUNDARIES. Mary and David. Photo by Arthur L. Allad-iw

Battihun Mary Khongmawloh, or Mary, 34 years old, is from the Khasi Tribe of North East India, Meghalaya Province, and her husband, David Sexton, 31, is an American. They are now expecting their first baby, and are very happy for what they both see as their “new “gift”.
Both persons with disability (PWD) who chose a life to serve others. Mary was afflicted by polio before she reached a year old, while David has been completely blind. Their story may sound like a fairy tale; but it actually is a story of a couple committed and struggling to help the poor and needy especially fellow PWDs in Meghalaya.

During a break at a Bangkok conference for PWDs in the Asia-Pacific region, this writer grabbed the opportunity to interview the couple who came to participate together.

Their story begun when they met in 2010 in Meghalaya province. She was then a working student at the Bethany Society, a private welfare institution taking up social work. David had an internship also in that same institution. Proximity helped and they easily became friends. In 2011, David was employed as an Information Technology (IT) manager in South India. The physical distance did not stop them from keeping in touch and nurture their friendship.

After their wedding they decided to go back to Mary’s village where they established programs on literacy, women’s services, and support services for PWDs. In the literacy program, they gave classes for children in their home and adopted programs that would academically supplement the children’s learning in the local schools. Medical missions were conducted particularly for women. Women in Mary’s tribe, like in many societies today, are discriminated and oppressed because of their gender. This is most traceable to divorce practices and the frequent drinking by men.

“In the early period, we used our own money,” revealed Mary. Their established non-government organization (NGOs) has programs that include building their network, the school programs for children, Montessori school for young kids, and organic farming. They named their NGO Jingkieng Ksiar which literally means Golden Bridge for everyone.

The secret in their philanthropic work is their great love for each other. “It is our love that binds, inspires, and overcome problems we counter in our services,” explained Mary, who came from a poor family of eight children with a father who divorced her mother.

She said that in 2011, her village mates ridiculed her relationship with David, as both are disabled; and that David was white and therefore would be dominating. “We proved them wrong. Our disabilities served as the bond that pushed for our relationship and work to continue. We understand each other as both of us suffer from disabilities,” she added.

Aside from our commitment for social services, David is a good husband. Despite being blind, he helps in household chores, like cooking and washing, among others, added Mary.

They are not taking any chances and are preparing everything for their expected child. They try to save money and even got an educational plan for their child.

In the Bangkok conference, Mary said she gained a higher level of self-confidence and a deeper understanding of the rights and welfare of PWDs, including indigenous persons with disabilities. Inspired by PWDs being organized regionally and worldwide, she readies herself, and her organization – All Meghalaya Association of Person with Disabilities (AMAPD) for greater advocacy.

“It is helpful to meet PWDs in the Asia-Pacific region; we are different people with different experiences but not different from mine or from ours in India,” and she committed for the advocacy of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). # nordis.net