MABIKAs leads 1st Philippine Indigenous People’s Day celebration in NL

By Yvonne Belen

Photo Credits: Romelita Heitlager-Gumatic & Aurora Pacio-Pascual

The first commemoration of the Indigenous People’s Day in the Netherlands was successfully held at the Nassaukerk on October 26, 2019. It was a part of a national and global celebration of the Indigenous Peoples (IP) Month. The Amsterdam event was organized by MABIKAs Foundation-The Netherlands (The Philippine Cordillera Connection in the Netherlands).  

The theme of the activity was “Affirming Our Cultural Heritage, Forging Our Unity.” There were two objectives: To understand the differences and similarities of the Cordillera ethnolinguistic groups and grasp our role as Igorot Cordillerans in empowering other Philippine indigenous groups, and to fine-tune the MABIKAs signature dance to highlight diversity and unity. 

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On the first objective, there were three speakers. The first was Andrei Jim Angnged who spoke on “Unlearning and Relearning: A Brief Cordillera History with subtopic, History, Differences and Similarities of Igorot/Cordillera People.” In a broad sweep of history, he discussed the impact of Spanish and US colonization and brief Japanese occupation, and the resistance of the Igorot Cordillerans. He cited the Regalian Doctrine on land ownership, which continue to deprive the IPs of their right to their ancestral land. He cited the entry of mining corporations, hydro plan projects and imposition of unjust land, forest laws.

Andrei said the past and current prejudice, discrimination and cultural attacks on the Igorots are systematically perpetuated to facilitate control over their land resources. He called attention to the persistence of cultural and socio-political institutions, which define diversity and identity. At the same time, he cited  similarities in historical experiences that are giving shape to the concept and movement for self-determination.

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The topic “Knowing the Situation and Issues of other IPs in the Philippines” was presented by Cesar Tomilas Taguba, an  Ibaloi and Joanna Lerio, Lumad. Cesar mentioned the gains and advances of the IP struggle for land and the right to self-determination such as: the tactical victory of the closure of the Oceana Gold Mining in Didipio, Nueva Vizcaya; successful  Roman Catholic Bishop Synod on the Amazon; anniversary celebration of Northern Dispatch (Nordis), a Baguio-based publication giving voice and space for the IPs in Northern Luzon. He called attention to the opposition of the Dumagat-Remontado IPs in the Sierra Madre mountain range against the Chinese-financed Kaliwa Dam Project and the people of the Cordillera against mining.

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Dressed in colorful  Lumad attire, Joanna Lerio  rendered a touching song to introduce her topic on the situation of the Lumad, the collective term for the various ethnolinguistic groups in Mindanao. She cited the intensifying  militarization and attacks on Lumad communities resisting the entry of giant agricultural and mining corporations. She called for solidarity with the Lumad struggle. Joanna took up a course on Cultural Heritage and is an active member of the Netherlands-based “Linangan Cultural Group.” At the open Forum, issues were further clarified and solidarity with the IP struggle expressed. MABIKAs was congratulated for giving space for the Lumad.  

A Cultural Workshop followed with a short introduction of the dances from the six Cordillera provinces. It culminated in a unity dance done by MABIKAs constituents with the active participation of the audience. The facilitators of the dances were: Abra – Aurora Pacio-Pascual; Apayao – Myra Zymelka-Colis; Benguet – Yvonne Belen; Ifugao – Renijune Abaya; Kalinga – Theresa Kitongan; Mountain Province – Heide Banay. Fine-tuning of the dances will be done during the MABIKAs Christmas party and 3^rd Anniversary celebration on December 7, 2019. 

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The IP Day celebration opened with a prayer by MABIKAs chairperson, Myra Zymelka-Colis, singing of the Cordillera Hymn led by Renijune Abaya and Opening Remarks by Yvonne Belen, event coordinator. For a dance intermission, Aurora Pacio-Pascual and daughter, Ashley, performed a  Tingguian courtship dance. Christina T. Moncado said the Words of Thanks. The event ended with a sumptuous merienda cena prepared and served by MABIKAs constituents.