We have our Roots in Lumads…

“May our Bathala find it pleasing that indigenous communities are still trying to resist the oppressive goals of corporations, government and certain groups who are peddling promises of emancipation but in reality their cause is overshadowed with control and politics of exclusion. With the guidance of our ancestors…”

The diverse and heterogenous culture in the archipelago is an indicator of a vibrant, shifting, ecological, spontaneous and autonomous process  of everyday life in organic communities.    

Our indigenous siblings’ sustainable living is second to none, from different communities in various ecosystems in our islands. The ecological lifestyle with deep regard for shared-inner selves along with respect ensured that primitive communities would carry on to the present.  Therefore, we owe it to them, our knowledge, practices and behaviors which inform our everyday living.

The monarchy, republic and the church are institutions which oppressed, destroyed, looted and exhausted in rough succession several communities in the archipelago.  The epitome of exploitation is marked by the namesake of the country, Philippines which signifies surrender and full allegiance to western culture, politics and religion in turn roots of our dependency and disregard with our indigenous selves.

Lumads and their respective indigenous communities in our islands, which are the only ones left, is where we trace our roots.  These anti-authoritarian primitives have kept their autonomy despite of continuous colonization of different institutions such as monarchy, church and corporations. Lumads along with their communities have stood their ground amidst modern warfare and holy scriptures. Up to this moment, they are still resisting development being offered by corporations, might it be mining, natural gas extractions or logging concessions.

These surviving indigenous cultures and communities, indeed  is our connection left to our indigenous selves. We condemn violence in any form, marginalization and any attempt to remove them from their organic lifestyle.

In many instances, the intrusion of institutions like government, military, corporations, and the church, even authoritarian leftist groups bring forth confusion, abuse, further exclusion and obliteration of Lumads and other indigenous communities. A thousand years before the said institutions came, our ancestors enjoyed autonomy and abundance. Therefore they need not any external development from mining, logging, militarization or consumerism.

For the longest time,   we are already aware of the ill-intent of corporations in our  indigenous and native lands; with the aid of government, they suck dry every bit of our common resources which is the basis of our existence, culture and life of our indigenous siblings.

STOP LUMAD KILLINGS! JUSTICE FOR INDIGENOUS VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE FROM CORPORATIONS, STATE AND LEFTIST ALONG WITH RIGHT-WING GROUPS WHO USE LUMADS AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLES FOR THEIR OWN POLITICAL ENDS, BUSINESS PROFITS AND PRIVILEGES.