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CFE 105a - Knowing More - IP Continuing Struggles

Indigenous peoples in the Philippines belong to over 100 different ethnic groups and reside in various parts of the country. They face ongoing human rights violations including being caught in armed conflicts, lack of access to social services, and loss of culture and traditions due to commercialism. In particular, Lumad groups in Mindanao report cases of land grabs of ancestral domains, lack of education and political representation, and environmental destruction caused by illegal logging and mining. While laws like the Indigenous Peoples' Rights Act aim to improve their situation, indigenous communities continue to struggle for self-determination and protection of their ancestral lands.

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137 views3 pages

CFE 105a - Knowing More - IP Continuing Struggles

Indigenous peoples in the Philippines belong to over 100 different ethnic groups and reside in various parts of the country. They face ongoing human rights violations including being caught in armed conflicts, lack of access to social services, and loss of culture and traditions due to commercialism. In particular, Lumad groups in Mindanao report cases of land grabs of ancestral domains, lack of education and political representation, and environmental destruction caused by illegal logging and mining. While laws like the Indigenous Peoples' Rights Act aim to improve their situation, indigenous communities continue to struggle for self-determination and protection of their ancestral lands.

Uploaded by

Irvin Ongyaco
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Indigenous Peoples in the Philippines: Continuing Struggle

https://www.hurights.or.jp/archives/focus/section2/2010/12/indigenous-peoples-in-the-
philippines-continuing-struggle.html

Indigenous Peoples Today


Indigenous peoples in the Philippines belong to different ethnic groups and
reside in different parts of the country. There are more than one hundred
indigenous communities (NCIP, 2010), about 61% of whom are in Mindanao,
33% in Luzon, and 6% in the Visayas. The indigenous peoples in the Cordilleras
in Northern Luzon are called Igorot. They belong to different ethnic groups, such
as Bontoc, Ibaloi, Ifugao, Isneg, Kalinga, Kankanaey, and Tingguian. The
Gadang, Ilongot, and Ivatan are found in the Cagayan Valley, Isabela, Nueva
Vizcaya, and Quirino. The Negrito groups are found in North, Central, and
Southern Luzon. They include the Aeta and Dumagat.

The Mindoro island has seven distinct Mangyan groups. Palawan islands have
the Batak, Palawana, and Tagbanwa. The indigenous peoples in Mindanao,
collectively called Lumad, do not consider the Bangsa Moro and the
Christianized Filipinos as indigenous peoples in view of their adoption of non-
indigenous religions. The major Lumad groups are (1) the Monobo, (2) the
Bagobo, B’laan, T’boli, and Teduray groups, (3) the Mandaya and Mansaka
groups, (4) the Subanen, and (5) the Mamanwa. 

Human Rights Violations


The indigenous peoples, to a large extent “forgotten” by the government, are in
the midst of problems. Physical isolation does not shield them from being caught
in the crossfire in the on- going armed conflicts in the country, many suffered as
internally displaced persons (IDPs) and some killed or detained and tortured as
suspected members of the armed opposition groups. Lack of access to basic
social services, education, sustainable livelihood, farm-to-market roads, and
health services contribute to their continuing poverty. In many cases, the
onslaught of commercialism and modern culture came at the expense of
maintaining their own culture and tradition (and thus their identity).
The Copenhagen-based International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs 8  noted
that the Philippine government approved the Certificates of Ancestral Domain
Title (CADT), which “now help indigenous communities to assert control over
their territories and they create the incentives to sustainably manage and protect
their forest and other natural resources.” Indeed, in some indigenous
communities, such as the Subanen, indigenous leaders were able to participate
“in local government” as well as “titling of ancestral domains” as “part of the
overall goal of strengthening self-governance of ancestral domains.”
However, there are other issues that have remained unresolved. Reports by
various human rights organizations show human rights violations relating to
mining operations in ancestral lands, while other human rights of indigenous
peoples continue to be violated in general. 9

Lumads  in Mindanao
Indigenous participants from Mindanao of the two batches of Northern Illinois
University’s Philippine Minorities Program held in 2010 and the program titled
“Cultural Citizens and the North-South Dialogue” held in 2008 reported several
cases of violations of the rights of the  Lumads. Common problems include non-
representation at all levels of society, lack of education, poverty, and
discrimination. Their struggles against development aggression, which lead to
loss of ancestral domain and self-determination as well as to environmental
destruction, are met with harassment and human rights violations, including
political killings.

A Talaandig woman from Bukidnon reported that their ancestral domain was
grabbed, despite their efforts to fight against it through legal means. In the
process, a leader and other community members were killed. Many Talaandigs
ended up working as laundry maids or domestic help in
neighboring barangays (communities), sugarcane plantation workers, and
laborers.

A Manobo teacher from Surigao del Sur reported on the existence of illegal
logging and mining that caused loss of farmlands as well as flash floods. A
Teduray community organizer from Maguindanao said that his tribe fell victim to
internal displacement due to recurrent armed conflicts. In addition, illegal
logging caused environmental destruction. Due to poverty, many go abroad,
specifically to the Middle East, to work as domestic help.

A Tagacaulo from Sarangani said that his community was worried about the
intrusion of settlers into their ancestral lands. Corrupt politicians aggravate their
problems, as the politicians receive payoffs from parties having interest on the
ancestral lands and support the latter’s actions. A Blaan agriculturist said that
the operations of a multinational pineapple company were destroying not only
the environment of South Cotabato but also jeopardizing the health of the people
who work and live in the plantation and its surrounding areas. Hazardous
chemicals are extensively used as fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides.
Children and adults inhale these chemicals, and fall ill. As they lose their
ancestral lands, they leave the highlands and seek economic opportunities in the
lowlands.
Conclusion
Each indigenous community is different. But all indigenous communities struggle
for the right to self-determination and to their ancestral domain. Pursuant to the
stipulations of the 1987 Constitution, IPRA undertakes to improve the situation
of indigenous peoples. But laws, such as IPRA, have to be effectively
implemented in light of the existence of other laws that violate the rights of
indigenous peoples. Finally, the resolution of the problems of the indigenous
peoples relates to the elimination of the deep- seated discrimination against
them, a task that remains difficult to achieve.

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