Today—August 9—a day set aside by the international community as Universal Day for Indigenous Peoples throughout the world—is replete with significance and meaningfulness for the Lumads who have sought refuge at Haran Mission House of the UCCP.
Today, August 9, we join with other indigenous peoples around the world to commemorate the World Indigenous Peoples’ Day and celebrate our remarkable achievements, successes and even the hardships and challenges we have encountered in our historic struggle against the dominant neoliberal economic system in defence of our lands and rights.
The participation of children in seeking solution to their problem, both as children and as members of their community, is highly recognized among child rights activists and advocates.
“I believe that breastfeeding is not just about latching. It is more of a holistic family journey to a healthier and wonderful life.”
Looking back to the deplorable incident at the UCCP Haran Mission House, the facts point to Rep. Nancy Catamco, the DSWD, the Military and the Police, including the paramilitary group Alamara, as the prima facie guilty parties.
Wave upon wave the Lumad peoples of Mindanao have expressed their indignant response to the deplorable incident at the Haran Compound of the UCCP in Davao City.
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.
