Protest. We listened to the voice of protest from young Manobos during two occasions: the Manilakbayan ng Mindanao Para sa Pagkain at Kapayapaan demonstration at Gate 2 of Camp Aguinaldo on 26 November, and the Annual Honoring of Martyrs and Heroes at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani Center two days later.
According to reports, the Manilakbayan, a contingent of
around 800 peasants, indigenous peoples and urban poor from Mindanao, travelled
by foot and by caravan for 14 days, and arrived in Metro Manila on 21
November.
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| Young Manobo girls in the Manilakbayan rally. |
The young Manobos, who are of high school age, explained
that they are from the federation of villages called Salugpungan Ta Tanu
Igkanugon, which means “unity in defense of ancestral land”, specifically from
Talaingod, Davao del Norte. One of them is a young datu, which is
explained by his beaded head covering.
“We want green farmlands,” one protest placard read, “not
the [green] camouflage uniform of the soldiers.” They want the military to stop camping in
their schools and communities. They’ve added
their voices to the call to resist Oplan Bayanihan, the counterinsurgency
program of the government aimed at all the internal security threats to the
nation being implemented by the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
“Save our Schools” is their urgent call. They explained
that ever since army troops occupied their Salugpungan Ta Tanu Igkanugon
Learning Center (STTILC), they
have stopped schooling. They stressed
that “Edukasyon ang aming kailangan, hindi mga sundalo sa aming eskwelahan
(education is what we need, not soldiers in our school).”
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Presentation of grievances using Manobo cultural
forms: chant and dance.
|
In the 26 November rally, for example, they dipped their
feet in a thick blood-red liquid before doing a traditional round dance at the
conclusion of the program.
At the Bantayog ng mga Bayani, they recited, chanted and
presented in dance the violation of their human rights using both their
traditional cultural and the modern theatrical idioms. They presented in song and dance the diaspora
of the Manobos from their ancestral domains, harassment of women and killings
that they attribute to the militarization of their villages.
Some social media reporters posted pictures of mass
actions in Liwasang Bonifacio and Mendiola to commemorate Bonifacio Day. The
Manillakbayan contingent participated too and the young Manobos in their
traditional attire also used this protest platform to call attention to their
demands.
The battle is for the hearts and minds of Filipinos in
the countryside, which include indigenous peoples comprising diverse
ethno-linguistic groups. In Mindanao, the ancestral lands of the lumads like
the Manobos are in the mineable forested mountainous areas. Displacement from
their homes breeds contempt for authorities because they attribute this to the
protection of vested interests of big business, local and foreign, like the
mining companies, who are thought to be after the rich mineral resources there.
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| Manobo round dance with feet dipped in blood-red liquid. |
“The greatest hindrance
to stronger civilian-military cooperation,” it says, “is the continued
perception of human rights violations allegedly committed by military
personnel. Also needing to be addressed are perceptions and allegations that
some misguided members of the military are embroiled in political and even
parochial concerns in localities they are assigned to.”
How the military carries out the IPSP’s strategic courses
of actions should overcome these negative perceptions and eventually win the
hearts and minds of people in their areas of operation.
Celebration. The date was 30 November, the 151st
anniversary of Andres Bonifacio. It was
also the Annual Pawikan Festival, the ninth since its inception in 2006, in barangay
Nagbalayong in Morong, Bataan.
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| Body painting competition with pawikan as motif. |
The village was in fiesta mood and the majority of
celebrators were young. There were no protest banners, no demonstration, nothing
political. There was a parade that ended at the celebration venue, the pawikan
conservation center where turtle eggs are re-nested for hatching. The center
has released about 70,000 hatchlings through the years. During the opening
program, the provincial governor spoke of environment protection, in general,
and the pawikan conservation, in particular, in relation to the Bataan economic
development plan.
A very well-trained choral group of Ayta schoolchildren
from Abucay town sang the national anthem and another musical number during the
opening program.
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| Well-trained choral group of Ayta schoolchildren of Abucay, Bataan |
There were twelve contingents of elementary and high
school students in colorful costumes for the street dancing competition with
the theme of pawikan conservation. Some
groups were garbed as marine turtles and danced the ritual of laying eggs.
There were poachers too who come to steal them for the market and the dining
table, but their efforts are thwarted by the protectors who collect them for
the hatching in the conservation center.
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| Streetdancing with pawikan conservation as choreographic theme. |
It was evident that environmental protection and pawikan
conservation has become part of the consciousness of the young citizenry of
Bataan province. In this instance, they understand why it is important to
protect an endangered wildlife species.
Protest and celebration -- two diverse portraits of young
Filipinos today: the young Manobos representing the youth participants in street parliaments, and the young from Bataan representing those
who declare their advocacy for other causes through street dancing. May lasting
peace be achieved within their lifetimes.
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