Helping IPs Fight for their Rights

August 9 is declared as the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples” (HB 4420) with the theme “Ensuring indigenous peoples’ health and well-being.” HB 4420 is a bill that provides the mandate to advance the rights and collective well-being of indigenous peoples through the annual observance of the National Indigenous Peoples Day in the Philippines. It is a part of government efforts to bring greater appreciation and attention to the rights and welfare of the indigenous people in the Philippines.

Statistics says that there are 110 indigenous groups in the country, with each community possessing its own traditional knowledge and practices. Last October 12, 2014, the Catholic Church held the 37th annual celebration of Indigenous Peoples Sunday. Ever since its inception in 1978, the CBCP-Episcopal Commission on Indigenous Peoples (ECIP) has always been in the forefront of expressing its solidarity with the challenges faced by the indigenous brothers and sisters all over the Philippines. In the Archdiocese of Davao, a pastoral agency, Indigenous People’s Apostolate (IPA) takes good care of the rights of the lumads in the communities. It is being headed by Fr. Jun Acedo who is currently the assistant parish priest of St. John the Baptist, Lasang.

It started in November 2013, when Julieto Dalagma posted online his willingness to teach his “katribu.” A group of Indigenous People scholars from University of Southeastern Philippines saw it and so, Katutubong Lumadnon(KLumad) became his partner in supplying all the things needed. Aside from that, the tribal leaders also supported him. Sixty students gather at Sitio Nangalig, Brgy. Datu Salumay, Marilog District, 8000 Davao City every Saturday.

This Matigsalug Literacy Program (MLP) is a non-formal education that offers free education for Adult and Out of School Youth (OSY) students in the Matigsalug Community. An IP Volunteer Teacher in the said community, Julius help gather pencils, crayons, books, erasers and papers for his students.

The program aims to strengthen the spiritual values, personal discipline and develop human character among students; to promote equal education for adult and out-of-school youth, improving the quality of life and community awareness;and to preserve the Matigsalug heritage. “Ang aking mga katribu ang siyang inspirasyon ko sa patuloy na pagtuturo sa kabila ng mga suliranin na aking tinatahak sa ngayon. Hindi pa rin ako hihinto sa aking hangarin na sana wala nang lumad na hindi marunong magsulat at magbasa sa taong 2020 para maiwasan ang diskriminasyon sa aming tribu,” says Julius. (@dcherald)