By Dominic I. Sanchez
ZAMBOANGA CITY – A technical paper published in 2012 describes the country’s indigenous peoples (IPs) to be “among the poorest and most marginalized sectors of Philippine society.”
The paper titled “Country Technical Notes on Indigenous People’s Issues” written by Jacqueline K. Cariño for the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) describes many of the problems that IPs continually face for decades due to neglect from other sectors of society.
Indigenous peoples are those that have survived colonization, like during the Spanish occupation in the Philippines beginning in the 1500s. For centuries, or perhaps even before pre-history, they have maintained their traditions, cultures and way of life and have remained indigenous, that is, unchanged and original.
According to the Cariño, IPs now do not only experience poverty; they lack access to basic social services and are heavily burdened by seasonal to chronic food shortages resulting to poor health. In addition, many face displacement from their ancestral lands due to the onslaught of industries such as mining, illegal logging and other natural or man-made causes. One example is the recent displacement of the Bajau tribe and other groups in the city due to the Zamboanga siege last year.
However, contrary to popular perception and given these scenarios, IPs are one of the most prudent sectors that contribute to society.
National Commission for the Culture and the Arts (NCCA) Commissioner Al-Anwar Anzar shared that IPs, in spite of their own difficulties continuously perform responsibilities that protect the environment and even promote peace.
“Many are asking, what can they do?” Anzar said. “The truth is there are more to them than meets the eye. We have to understand their roles in preserving the environment and promoting peace, among others to be able to appreciate them more.”
‘Land is life’
Cariño’s paper shares that the world view “land is life” is deeply embedded into IP culture, which accounts for their close ties with ancestral lands, and as such, giving great care for the forests, mountains or seas in which they reside in.
Anzar reiterates this philosophy by emphasizing that IPs are more protective of the environment than most educated Filipinos.
“They do not have factories that pollute, they do not participate in illegal logging, they do not mine, they do not use plastics since they prefer indigenous materials,” Anzar explained. “If we look at things differently, they are more effective in protecting our environment.”
In fact, IPs’ concern for the environment and their ancestral lands have at times caused the deaths of tribal leaders.
Anzar bared that the killing of IP leaders has been going on for years especially in Mindanao. “IP leaders have been fighting for their lands and because of this, many of them have been killed,” he said, attributing the deaths to be allegedly perpetrated by private armed groups with vested interests.
“IP leaders are the figureheads of their tribes, they are the cultural bearers. Their deaths represent a great loss to the tribes,” Anzar clarified.
IPs hold all life to be dear, which explains their inclination towards peace. “Whenever they cut even a single tree, they offer a ritual or a prayer,” Anzar said.
A simple, peace-loving people
Milabel Richter, a local tour guide shared a story illustrating the IPs’ simplicity. Richter was touring a foreigner in the city when several Bajau children approached them, begging for money. The foreigner, instead of giving them cash, fed them in a local mall and afterwards took them shopping for clothes. The following day, the same tourist was approached by the same set of children wearing the same tattered clothes from the day before, begging for money. The tourist wondered, and Richter explained to him that the children had most probably sold their new clothes in exchange for money or food. The Bajau had no use for fancy clothes, all they need is to feed their hungry stomachs, one of the reasons why many of them are scattered in many parts of the country as beggars in the streets. Many of them have chosen this way of life due to the loss of their natural dwellings, the seas, which they have lost to pirates and extortionists.
In addition, IPs are known to be a peace-loving people. “They do not have private armies, nor do they covet what belongs to others. They respect other people’s rights,” he added.
Anzar said that IP groups have their own way in dealing with and pacifying conflicts. Whenever conflicts arise, IPs would usually pacify the issue among themselves. Elders would often intervene and act as mediators.
City IP representative Councilor Ismael Musa, a Sama Bangingi explained that IPs have “their own system of reconciliation”.
“We have a very different culture,” Musa said, emphasizing the need for other groups to learn about them. Musa shared that as during disasters, IPs would rather prefer to stay with their families than be in evacuation centers.
Looking to the future
On November 21-22, this year, about 200 IP representatives from different areas in Mindanao will converge in the city. The two-day event dubbed “Dayaw” aims to showcase the different tribes’ cultures, traditions and arts, as well as share with the public issues, concerns and realities currently facing them.
“Dayaw is a cultural platform for enhancing cultural knowledge to strengthen solidarity in diversity under the principle of mutual respect and peaceful co-existence,” Anzar said.
In essence, Dayaw aims to reach out to other sectors of society to give IPs the recognition that they deserve. Anzar hopes that through the sharing of IP culture and knowledge, more will be able to understand and appreciate them.
“In other countries, IPs are considered to be priceless. They are more than just tourist attractions,” Anzar said. “They are part and partial to society and the pillar of national consciousness. Our IPs should be seen by society this way.”