NOT A PARTY. Inside the “Kampuhan” (camp), indigenous peoples cook their own meals and share the food among members of the organization at the Campus Management Grounds of the University of the Philippines Diliman in Quezon City.
DAVAO CITY, Philippines—The caravan of 3,000 indigenous people to Manila has ended on Oct. 28 which resulted to a formation of a group called “Sandugo.”
Dubbed as the “Lakbayan ng Pambansang Minorya (Journey of the National Minority)” is actually the sixth to be organized as this year’s national protest caravan since its inception in 2012 which was then called as “Manilakbayan.”
The indigenous peoples from various regions and Moro tribes joined the caravan in a bid to present their plight before the various government agencies in the country’s seat of power— Manila.
BEAD MAKER. During their free time, Lumad activists make bracelets and necklaces out of little beads and sell them to visitors.
For Sandugo, the situation since then has not improved as indigenous and Moro peoples across the country faced lingering issues, namely: plunder of ancestral domains, displacement of communities due to intensified militarization, crackdown of dissenters and the continued deployment of paramilitary groups in IP and Moro communities.
Sandugo lead convenor Piya Macliing Malayao, an IP activist, viewed these issues as “national oppression” against the national minorities.
“We have consciously and unanimously used the term ‘national minority’ because it reflects the historical and political context of our struggles. It reflects the collective experience of national oppression; the systematic non-recognition of our collective rights to our ancestral lands and territories, as well as our right to self determination,” said Malayao, an Igorot activist who graduated cum laude in the BA Anthropology program of the University of the Philippines Diliman.
LEADERS. Piya Macliing Malayao of Katribu Partylist talks the protest rally in front of the Philippine National Police headquarters in Camp Rafael T. Crame days after the violent US Embassy dispersal. Behind her is Jerome Aba, spokesperson Suara Bangsamoro and also convener of Sandugo alliance.
Joining this year’s protest caravan are Luzon’s indigenous peoples—Mangyan, Dumagat, Pala-wan, and Ayta—to express their solidarity with other IP and Moro activists.
MORO. Organizers say that this year’s Lakbayan (protest caravan) is significant because of the participation of the Moro people.
MORO. Organizers say that this year’s Lakbayan (protest caravan) is significant because of the participation of the Moro people.
LUMAD. Around 2,000 Lumad from Mindanao joined this year’s Lakbayan protest caravan.
DUMAGAT. A member of the Dumagat tribe holds a bow and arrow while marching to Mendiola in Manila on Oct. 13. The Dumagat are natives of Mindoro.
MARCH FORWARD. Contingents of Mindanao Lakbayan are joined by indigenous peoples from Visayas and Southern Luzon as they march onward to Cordillera for the “Grand Salubongan” in Mendiola on Oct. 13.
GONG PLAYERS. Tribal men of Cordillera People’s Alliance wear traditional vestments as they play the traditional instrument, gong, during the protest march.
The indigenous and Moro people’s alliance, Sandugo protests outside the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples for its failure to address the issues of the indigenous people across the country.
RITUAL. A Lumad leader performs the blood ritual called “Pamaas” to call for the abolition of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples during a protest rally at the NCIP national headquarters on Oct. 17.
TRIBAL WAR DANCE. Tribal leaders perform a war dance during a protest rally at the National Commission on the Indigenous Peoples on Oct. 17 in Quezon City.
DISPERSAL. Soldiers use water cannons to disperse Lumad and Moro activists protesting in front of the Armed Forces of the Philippines headquarters in Quezon City on Oct. 18.
DISPERSAL. Soldiers use water cannons to disperse Lumad and Moro activists protesting in front of the Armed Forces of the Philippines headquarters in Quezon City on Oct. 18.
Malayao said they are calling to end all forms of US’ influence in the country, supporting the earlier pronouncement of President Rodrigo Duterte to have an independent foreign policy.
PROTEST OUTSIDE THE US EMBASSY. At least 2,000 Lumad and Moro activists hold a protest rally outside the US Embassy in Roxas Boulevard in Manila on Oct. 19.
On Oct. 19, Sandugo held an anti-US rally at the US Embassy which resulted to a violent dispersal. Dozens were hurt in the after a police van ran over some protesters. (davaotoday.com)
