KidlapMAGAZINE Special Issue, March 2016 EDITORIAL BOARD Sr. Ma. Famita N. Somogod, MSM Sr. Mary Jane C. Caspillo, MMS Agustina C. Juntilla Melissa A. Comiso Sr. Susan M. Dejolde, MSM STAFF FOR THIS ISSUE Ailene Villarosa Amy Doydoy Beverlita Rendon Mary Louise G. Dumas Clarin C. Pasco Ronan Andrew G. Ulanday Evelyn L. Naguio Photos by Winbel Mordino M. Visitacion, Gary Ben S. Villocino, and Erwin Mascarinas Contributions, comments and inquiries About the COVER are welcome. Please send them to: A Matigsalug woman collects firewood. The Rural Missionaries of the Philippines Matigsalug communities in Quezon, Bukidnon Northern Mindanao Sub-Region (RMP-NMR), Inc Rm. 01, Kalinaw Lanao Center have been trying to maintain their traditional for Interfaith Resources lifestyle, subsistence farming their main 0016 Bougainvilla Puti, Villaverde means of living. They gather abaca fiber and 9200 Iligan City Philippines some do gold panning to earn cash which they use to buy basic necessities such as salt, T/F: +63 (63) 223 5179 instant coffee, and sometimes bread. Their E: [email protected] simple lifestyles, however, is threatened with large-scale mining. With a paramilitary group Soft copies of this issue can be downloaded from already gaining control over the small-scale www.rmp-nmr.org gold mining in the neighbouring municipality of San Fernando, resource conflicts are now Like us on Facebook: escalating in the Matigsalug communities. www.facebook.com/rmp.nmr Follow us at Twitter: @rmpnmr This special issue is published with support ‘Kidlap’ is a Cebuano term for ‘sparks.’ from the European Union. The views expressed in this issue are the sole responsibility KIDLAP Magazine is the official, of RMP-NMR and do not necessarily semi-annual publication of the Rural represent the views of the donors. Missionaries of the Philippines-Northern Mindanao Sub-Region (RMP-NMR), Inc. THE RURAL MISSIONARIES OF THE PHILIPPINES OR RMP is a national organization, inter-diocesan and inter-congregational in character, of men and women religious, priests and lay people. We live and work with the rural poor. Founded by the Association of Major Women Religious Superiors of the Philippines (AMWRSP) in 1969, RMP members commit themselves to support the Filipino peasantry’s quest for social justice, freedom, and genuine agrarian reform. As a Church of the Poor, the RMP aims to strengthen the awareness of the rural poor regarding the truth that all have the right to live fully as human beings, to self- determination, and to freedom from oppression and all forms of exploitation. RMP-NMR has been established to promote missionary work in Northern Mindanao sub-region. RMP- NMR is duly registered in the Security and Exchange Commission with registration number CN-200927387 as a non-stock, non-profit corporation on 22 June 2009, and with TIN Number 408-441-015-000. MESSAGE FROM THE EUROPEAN UNION Congratulations to the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines-Northern Mindanao Sub-Sub-Region (RMP-NMR) for the publication of this special edition of Kidlap magazine. Kidlap contains relevant The EU considers human In line with this, the EU supports information on the state of human rights as a priority and supports the RMP-NMR’s initiative to assist rights in Mindanao which need initiatives aimed at ending all the vulnerable sectors of Mindanao public attention. The feature forms of discrimination against through the “Healing the Hurt Pro- articles and abstracts of various indigenous peoples and is working ject”. The project, which is financed commissioned researches in towards ensuring their rights by our European Instrument for De- this magazine promise to offer are respected, protected and mocracy and Human Rights (EIDHR), a systematic analyses of issues fulfilled. As stated by our High aims to empower the indigenous such as the impact of industrial Representative and Vice President communities living in north Mind- practices on the well-being Federica Mogherini: anao region in combatting discrimi- of indigenous communities in “The EU reaffirms its support nation and rights violations. Mindanao. They are also useful to the UN Declaration on the I hope that this publication will to anyone who are interested Rights of Indigenous Peoples contribute to the people’s increased in social research of regional (UNDRIP) and is determined to awareness about the Lumads of and sectoral issues pertaining work closely with indigenous Mindanao; and, perhaps more to indigenous peoples or the peoples, along with other partners importantly, lead to a sincere social Lumads. and stakeholders”. dialogue among all concerned. FRANZ JESSEN Ambassador Head of Delegation MAGAZINE | 3 Kidlap MESSAGE FROM THE PROJECT MANAGER I WISH TO REITERATE ONE OF THE QUESTIONS POSED BY THE MISSIONARY SISTERS OF MARY in our statement on the recent killings in Lianga, Surigao del Sur: What is to become of our society if the state, which according to Catholic Social Teachin g should be an ‘instrument to promote human dignity, protect human rights, and build common good,’ is the perpetrator of attacks against its constituents? The Rural Missionaries of to these resources, they become campaigns. This has also allowed the Philippines was first formed victims of brutal state repression. us to materialize ideas that we during the dark years of martial The human rights situation have long considered such as the law. People were killed for their in this country has improved backing of our campaigns with ideas. There was absolutely no little since the dictatorship. concrete data through research, respect for human rights --most What is probably worse is that and the provision of community importantly the right to life -- the government is blatantly financial opportunities that would during that period. The state was supporting the perpetrators. Hasn’t help them with their resources then the enemy of the people. it promoted the creation of special while they struggle for their rights. Fast forward to today, two auxiliary units to the military that Healing the Hurt, a collabora- EDSA revolutions, and a cacophony will serve as investment defense tion of various organizations, seeks of politicians elected through forces? Any resistance to the to address the intensifying issue of supposedly democratic processes entry of these business interests is marginalization and rights viola- later, we see the same bleak automatic target. And this is what tions of our Lumad communities in situation. The assertion of the has cultivated this impunity, the Mindanao. This special issue of Kidlap people of their right for a self- violence in the ancestral domains. wishes to elaborate our engagement determined development is held We are grateful for the timely so that readers might find inspiration at gunpoint. While this is true arrival of this project, Healing and perhaps join us in this endeavor. for many sectors -- the farmers, the Hurt. While we work widely We would like to thank workers, fisherfolk, and others in our advocacies, we are not the European Union through who are forced to conform to the financially big. What we bank on the European Instrument for elitist economic framework of the are our dedicated workers, and Democracy and Human Rights, for government -- the indigenous most importantly, committed supporting the idea of coming up communities most especially communities who are eager to with this special issue. Finally, we feel this. The resources that are capacitate themselves to better are most grateful to the Healing targeted by large companies are combat threats against them. the Hurt staff who put the pieces mostly in their ancestral lands. The project has allowed us better of the project, together with their And when they fight for their right mobility and faster pacing of our reflections, in their articles. SR. MA. FAMITA N. SOMOGOD, MSM PROJECT MANAGER 4 | MAGAZINE Kidlap BY THE ‘HEALING THE HURT’ PROJECT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE THE PROJECT ‘HEALING THE HURT’ was conceived to address the issues faced by Lumad1 communities in Mindanao. The proponent organizations recognize that indigenous peoples’ rights have to be respected and upheld to achieve a just and lasting peace in the region. In the rapid expansion of monocrop plantations, The over-all objective of the intervention is to aggressive interests in mining and other resource- contribute to the advancement of the rights and intensive business ventures, the still resource-rich continued development of the indigenous peoples ancestral lands of indigenous peoples are threatened. in Mindanao, starting with a focus on the Northern The pattern of violence over the years shows that Mindanao Region and some parts of the CARAGA. most of the victims of attacks associated with This contribution specifically seeks to protect and the entry of extractive industries come from the enhance the capacities of Lumad socio-political indigenous communities. structures, which include traditional and community- Unfortunately, these communities are the based organizations. Trainings, financial aid, and the least prioritized by the government and even non- organization of human support networks are among government institutions. The partner organizations the activities planned to achieve this objective got together to formulate a strategy to help address Specifically, the components of the project are the situation. based on the results it aims to realize: 1Collective term for Mindanao’s indigenous peoples MAGAZINE | 5 Kidlap RESULT 1 Increased number of research studies on the historical development of discrimination against Lumads and their present-day legitimate struggles. To arrive at this result, a research and media center exchange ideas, and build their capacities for further will be established. It will be, known as the Mindanao advocacy on Lumad issues. Interfaith Institute on Lumad Studies. The institute Under this component, a website will also be set will invite research fellows to focus on specific Lumad up to provide interested individuals or institutions easy concerns. Furthermore, for issues needing immediate access to the data that shall be generated from these attention, the institute will also invite media associates reports.