In this light, Catamco’s speculated surgery takes on a different significance. An alleged nose-lift is no longer simply an alleged nose-lift; it is, quite literally, the embodiment of the break from, or rejection of, our autochthonous conditions as Filipinos, of which the lumad are commonly seen to represent.
Moments after Philippine President Benigno S. Aquino III finished his final State of the Nation Address today before Congress, a group of left-wing legislators in the audience unfurled a protest banner that read: “human rights violator.”
The poor Lumad evacuees, victims of military fascism in the countryside, have had to taste the tentacles of State fascism here in the city. One Lumad Datu expressed his dismay succinctly, “I thought we were safe here in the city, but the police are no different from the 68th IB soldiers in the mountains!”
Davao region was alarmed recently by the inflow of fake rice in the market and subsequently with fake bihon. Concerns on food safety were raised.
Rep. Nancy Catamco of North Cotabato, if we recalled, has been declared “persona non grata” by the Lumad organizations — namely Salugpongan Ta Tanu Igkanugon, PASAKA Confederation of Lumads, Karadyawan and Kasilo — for her unbecoming conduct and uncalled for acts against the Lumad evacuees earlier this week.