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Save Lumad Schools

by: Pam Tau Lee, Chair of the
International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP) - U.S.

The Lumad are indigenous people in the southern Mindanao region of the Philippines. The term Lumad is short for Katawhang Lumad (Literally: "indigenous people"), a description officially adopted by delegates of the Lumad Mindanao Peoples Federation founding assembly on June 26, 1986. This grew out of a political awakening among tribes during the martial law regime of President Marcos and reflects the collective identify of 18 Lumad ethnic groups. The assembly's main objectives was to achieve self-determination and governance for their member-tribes within their ancestral domain in accordance with their culture and customary laws.

The Lumad have a traditional ancestral concept of land ownership which is communal private property. Community members have the right utilize any piece of unoccupied land within the communal territory. Lumad ancestral lands include rain forests, hunting grounds, cultivated and uncultivated land and valuable mineral resources (copper, nickel, gold, chromite, coal, gas, cement) below the land.

For decades the Lumad had been forced to physically defend their right to control their ancestral territories against corporate plunder and militarization. Unable to match up to the armed forces of the government and profiteers the Lumad have had to flee their communities; their land has been seized by multinational corporations and logging companies. Wealthy Filipino migrants and multinationals are planting and exporting palm oil, bananas, rubber and pineapple.

Unequipped to understand the modern land tenure system, the Lumad have established schools in their communities supplying knowledge to young adults and youth on how to protect their rights, property and culture. While these schools have always posed a threat, President Duterte has taken the unprecedented step of directing the Department of Education to close them down and has also encouraged the killing and arrest of Lumad teachers, which continues to go unpunished.

The history of violence and unwarranted (extrajudicial) killings of Lumad at the hands of military, paramilitary, and private security forces is in the hundreds, with the arrest and torture Lumad activists in the thousands. Fifty-six percent of Philippine military have been deployed to the Mindanao region. Today many of the Lumad have sought safety and shelter in evacuation centers where they and other victims of war are crowded into small spaces, lacking sanitary conditions and food, and endure harassment by local police including sexual harassment.

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The Lumad have a traditional ancestral concept of land ownership which is communal private property. Community members have the right utilize any piece of unoccupied land within the communal territory. Lumad ancestral lands include rain forests, hunting grounds, cultivated and uncultivated land and valuable mineral resources (copper, nickel, gold, chromite, coal, gas, cement) below the land.

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Surviving the Pandemic in Displacement - Pau Villanueva

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As the world deals with a disease, the young Lumad in the Bakwit School turn to their culture and community for support.

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How a displaced Lumad community keeps its culture alive during pandemic

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As the world deals with a disease, the young Lumad in the Bakwit School turn to their culture and community for support

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There should be alot of awareness and especially action towards the issue because it is the right of our fellow lumad or any other indigenous people. As privileged citizens it us our duty to fight for thise who cannot speak or for those people who doesnt has the means to fight for themselves. The government or the duterte administration has  funded alot of organizations regarding the issue about human rights, one of those organization is the ICHRP or  International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines wherein the organization  focuses on  the human rights situation in the Philippines and committed to campaign for just and lasting peace in the country.

It aims to inform the international community about the grave human rights situation in the Philippines today. As a student or a normal citizen we can help the fight by being a voice to them, posting on social media on what is the injustice that they are facing. In addition we can also support organizations that focuses on helping the indigenous people about their human rights. I strongly believe that as a student and sharing a simple post on social media can cause a huge impact on their situation because it lets others be aware on the situation that they are facing

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Save Lumad Schools

by: Pam Tau Lee, Chair of the
International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP) - U.S.

The Lumad are indigenous people in the southern Mindanao region of the Philippines. The term Lumad is short for Katawhang Lumad (Literally: "indigenous people"), a description officially adopted by delegates of the Lumad Mindanao Peoples Federation founding assembly on June 26, 1986. This grew out of a political awakening among tribes during the martial law regime of President Marcos and reflects the collective identify of 18 Lumad ethnic groups. The assembly's main objectives was to achieve self-determination and governance for their member-tribes within their ancestral domain in accordance with their culture and customary laws.

The Lumad have a traditional ancestral concept of land ownership which is communal private property. Community members have the right utilize any piece of unoccupied land within the communal territory. Lumad ancestral lands include rain forests, hunting grounds, cultivated and uncultivated land and valuable mineral resources (copper, nickel, gold, chromite, coal, gas, cement) below the land.

For decades the Lumad had been forced to physically defend their right to control their ancestral territories against corporate plunder and militarization. Unable to match up to the armed forces of the government and profiteers the Lumad have had to flee their communities; their land has been seized by multinational corporations and logging companies. Wealthy Filipino migrants and multinationals are planting and exporting palm oil, bananas, rubber and pineapple.

Unequipped to understand the modern land tenure system, the Lumad have established schools in their communities supplying knowledge to young adults and youth on how to protect their rights, property and culture. While these schools have always posed a threat, President Duterte has taken the unprecedented step of directing the Department of Education to close them down and has also encouraged the killing and arrest of Lumad teachers, which continues to go unpunished.

The history of violence and unwarranted (extrajudicial) killings of Lumad at the hands of military, paramilitary, and private security forces is in the hundreds, with the arrest and torture Lumad activists in the thousands. Fifty-six percent of Philippine military have been deployed to the Mindanao region. Today many of the Lumad have sought safety and shelter in evacuation centers where they and other victims of war are crowded into small spaces, lacking sanitary conditions and food, and endure harassment by local police including sexual harassment.

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The Lumad have a traditional ancestral concept of land ownership which is communal private property. Community members have the right utilize any piece of unoccupied land within the communal territory. Lumad ancestral lands include rain forests, hunting grounds, cultivated and uncultivated land and valuable mineral resources (copper, nickel, gold, chromite, coal, gas, cement) below the land.

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PRESENT: SOCIAL ISSUE IN THE CONTEXT OF THE PANDEMIC 

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PRESENT: SOCIAL ISSUE IN THE CONTEXT OF THE PANDEMIC 

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When it comes to indigenous people, social justice has always had a significant impact. They've been battling for their territories and protecting their culture for a long time. Despite the pandemic, Lumad youth have attempted to maintain their advocacy in order to ensure that their culture and right to education be preserved.

In the midst of the pandemic, they continue to protest and speak out about their culture wearing their cultural dress proving that they have the power to stand up for their rights. As the whole country continues to deal with COVID-19, so do these young Lumad’s struggle for self-determination, their education, and their land.

Their only wish is to restore peace in their communities. They want to be able to play with their friends, go to school, and be with their families.

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How a displaced Lumad community keeps its culture alive during pandemic

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As the world deals with a disease, the young Lumad in the Bakwit School turn to their culture and community for support

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PAST: HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF THE ISSUE 

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PAST: HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF THE ISSUE 

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It is not difficult to understand racial injustice especially in the United States based on a false belief that the white race is more superior than the black’s. That kind of  racial prejudice does not exist in the Philippines. The problem in our country is more of social injustice. Thus, before we can promote social justice, let us reflect for a while and know the horrible “faces” of social injustice in the life of the workers, farmers, indigenous peoples, fisherfolk and the common “tao” in a country that declares in the Fundamental Law (Art. II, Sec.10) that, “The State shall promote social justice in all phases of national development.” ( AMIDST THE PANDEMIC SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EQUITY IS THE CALL OF THE TIMES 2020, as cited in 2021)

Our Sustainable Development Goal is to promote peaceful and inclusive societies for long-term development, to ensure that everyone has access to justice, and to establish effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels. Reduce all types of violence and their associated death rates globally.