Katutubo Makilaban:* A Study on How the Indigenous Peoples assert their Rights through the Media Focusing on their Portrayal in Radyo Sagada A Qualitative Research Report Submitted to Professor Clarinda Berja Department of Social Sciences College of Arts and Sciences University of the Philippines Manila In fulfillment Of the Requirements in Political Science 198 Second Semester 2014-2015 By Ann Claryn B. Yap 2011-18329 May 29, 2014 * Makilaban – Pakikibaka; Struggle KATUTUBO MAKILABAN ABSTRACT The indigenous peoples continue to face different issues which include defending their ancestral land and resources, and struggling for self-determination through the preservation of their culture and tradition (Molintas, 2004). And as they continue to assert their rights, the media remains to be one of the avenues for the indigenous peoples to pursue their struggle (Sapkota, 2013). The media is expected to become receptive and responsive when it comes to the issues faced by the IPs. Contrary to this expectation, indigenous peoples continue to experience discrimination in the media through misrepresentation in media packaging, therefore, resulting to racism and stereotyping (Brown, Myers & Wilkes, 2010; & Plater, 1993); and the inaccessibility of the media itself (Roberts, 2006). In the Philippines, there is already an existing form of media that is owned and managed by indigenous peoples. Radyo Sagada made a breakthrough for the IPs’ right to freedom of expression (Villanueva, 2011). This study aims to identify how indigenous peoples are able to utilize the media focusing portrayal in order to assert their rights. It also aims to understand the dynamics between the indigenous peoples and the media through identifying the similarities and differences in the portrayal of IPs in news materials. Through this, it will be shown that IP-owned and -managed media, like Radio Sagada, is a more effective avenue for IPs to assert their rights, than mainstream media. YAP | i KATUTUBO MAKILABAN TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract……………………………………………………………………………………….i Acknowledgement……………………………………………………………………………iii Dedication…………………………………………………………………………………….iv Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………...1 Review of Related Literature…………………………………………………………………4 Research Questions and Hypothesis………………………………………………………….8 Theoretical and Conceptual Framework……………………………………………………...8 Methodology………………………………………………………………………………….12 Presentation of Findings………………………………………………………………………15 Discussion and Implication of Findings…………………………………………………........23 Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………………….26 References……………………………………………………………………………………..27 Appendices…………………………………………………………………………………….31 YAP | ii KATUTUBO MAKILABAN ACKNOWLEDGMENT Writing a thesis is like maintaining a relationship. It cannot be done overnight. It needs constant attention. It needs unconditional love. For the past year that I have been fighting for this love, I would like to acknowledge the following people for supporting this relationship: First, to Ate Pya, Ate Kah, Ate Joan and Ate Lea of KATRIBU – Kalipunan ng mga Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas, for the assistance and support you gave me throughout my research. You were all an inspiration to me because your passion in advocating for the rights of the indigenous peoples is genuine and extraordinary. May you inspire more people to do the same. To Kuya Santong and Kuya Bobby, thank you for the Sagada experience. My Sagada trip would not be memorable if not for the both of you. To my thesis adviser, Ma’am Claire, thank you for believing in this relationship when I was about to give up on it. You understood the risks, but you believed in its purpose. Thank you for guiding me throughout the journey, ever since our PolSci 100. You were our mom, and we are really grateful to have you. You are always loved. To my friends, Sittie, Chynthia, Dychie and Zedy, thank you for accompanying me and helping me translate the materials into our common language. This relationship wouldn’t have worked if we did not understand each other. To Ceecee, Dani, Kua and Kuya, thank you for the continuous support. You, guys, are my anchor. You kept me at bay when I was about to sail away. Thank you for believing that I can move on. Haha. To my family and relatives, thank you for (financially and emotionally) supporting me on this. This year has been a rocky one for us, but thank you for staying and for understanding that this is what I really want to do. Finally, to my dear Creator, for the passion, the time and the strength to finish this. You knew even before I tell you that it was very hard for me to juggle all my activities every day. Thank You for everything. You are the source of my strength and love, forever and always. YAP | iii KATUTUBO MAKILABAN Para sa mga Katutubong Mamamayan Ng Pilipinas Daga, Biag, Kinabaknang, Salakniban! YAP | iv KATUTUBO MAKILABAN Katutubo Makilaban: A Study on How the Indigenous Peoples assert their Rights through the Media Focusing on their Portrayal in Radyo Sagada Ann Claryn B. Yap INTRODUCTION The indigenous peoples, being one of the marginalized sectors of the society, still face challenges when it comes to their rights. They call for the defense of their ancestral lands and their resources, and they continue to struggle for self-determination through the preservation of their culture and tradition (Molintas, 2004). These remain to be the main issues that challenge the IPs across the country today. Asserting for their rights have been done in many ways, and as Sapkota (2003) emphasized in his work, one of the avenues that indigenous peoples use to pursue their struggle is through the media. For the indigenous peoples of the Philippines, who comprise about 14 to 17 million of the population (UNDP, 2012), the struggle for their rights is still at the forefront of their agenda. According to reports, most of the indigenous people groups in the country are experiencing different forms of violence and discrimination, which range from the loss of their ancestral lands, displacement and even the loss of their identity and culture (UNDP, 2012; UNDP, 2010). The Indigenous Peoples Rights – Monitor (2008) further elaborated that the IPs in the country are also threatened by the escalating militarization of their ancestral lands and the increasing number of politically motivated killings of indigenous leaders and their community members. Despite the existing statutes that are institutionalized to protect, promote, and improve the well-being of the IPs, such as the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA) (1997), there remains to be lapses. In fact, other statutes such as the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 and the Forestry Code, contradict these rights. The Cordillera Peoples’ Alliance, a regional alliance of indigenous peoples in the Cordillera, adhered to this claim, and added that the two cannot be reconciled (Molintas, 2004). Hence, even the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples established through the IPRA, is of no help to them. IPs continues to experience discrimination and countless human rights violations. As the cases of discrimination and human rights violation against indigenous peoples continue to increase, it is expected that these will be featured by the media. Unfortunately, even YAP | 1 KATUTUBO MAKILABAN though there are reports featuring the case of the indigenous peoples, these reports usually appear only in the context of conflicts over land, or mining exploration. Reports regarding indigenous peoples’ rights and demands are rare, while the existing coverage for their issues mentioned is below their expectations. In addition to this, as journalists are evaluated, they do not seem to understand the issues well enough to report on them. (UNDP, 2012). Because continuous threat to their rights, the indigenous peoples continue their struggle for the fulfillment of their rights. As Sapkota (2013) emphasized in his research, indigenous peoples are now engaging themselves in the media in order to assert their rights. Grounded on the provisions of Article 16 of the UN DRIP (2008), indigenous peoples are informed that they have the right to establish their own media in their own language. At the same time, the state has the duty to ensure that the media should adequately reflect indigenous cultural diversity. In the Philippines, the indigenous peoples have already recognized the importance of access to media. Only those groups who are located near the urban areas have access to all forms of media, while others are more reliant to the radio. Hence, the radio is considered to be the most accessible to them (UNDP, 2012). Also, there have been workshops and seminars that were conducted by the Asia Indigenous Peoples’ Pact titled, “Indigenous Voices in Asia,” which aim “to increase the participation of indigenous peoples in democratic and political spaces in the promotion and protection of their rights as peoples” (AIPP, 2014). But the seemingly rare instances that the mainstream media report about the issues of the indigenous peoples prompted the researcher to delve into the topic. Although there are existing reports and features about the case of indigenous peoples, these reports seem to be insufficient and may even contribute to the further marginalization of indigenous peoples. Studies that dwell in the interplay between indigenous peoples and the media are lacking here in the Philippines. Although it is already established that indigenous peoples are able to access the media, and although the media are reporting about the cases of the