Photojournalist Boy Bagwis, on May 13 to 15, joined the national fact-finding and humanitarian mission to investigate the displacement of more than a thousand Manobos in Talaingod, Davao del Norte due to heavy military presence and intimidation. The Talaingod Manobos, according to anthropologists, are one of the least accessible (to lowlanders) indigenous groups in Mindanao, […]
Photojournalist Boy Bagwis, on May 13 to 15, joined the national fact-finding and humanitarian mission to investigate the displacement of more than a thousand Manobos in Talaingod, Davao del Norte due to heavy military presence and intimidation. The Talaingod Manobos, according to anthropologists, are one of the least accessible (to lowlanders) indigenous groups in Mindanao, and have been among the most vigilant and organized in preserving their indigenous culture and defending their ancestral domain from foreign intrusion and exploitation. During the mid-90s, Talaingod Manobos successfully drove away one of the biggest logging companies in Mindanao that threatened Talaingod and Pantaron Range, one of the few remaining virgin rainforests in the country. This indigenous community, with some help from indigenous rights advocates and people’s organizations, has developed its own local economy, maintaining communal farms and mechanized milling, among others. The mission was conducted a week after more than a thousand Manobos returned to Talaingod after the military agreed to withdraw from their communities.
An an elder Manobo, Ubunay Botod Manlaon, shows off her tribal tattoos that symbolized her esteemed status in their tribe. On March 7 this year, aUbunay was forced to act as the soldiers’ guide in the jungle for a week. She was manhandled and subjected to sexual assault, before being able to escape. Ubunay’s abduction compelled many Manobos to evacuate from their communities. Boy BagwisA Manobo evacuee returns to her home and harvests root crops in Sitio Lasakan, Talaingod, after a month of seeking sanctuary in Davao City. Boy BagwisThousands of Manobo Lumads fled from heavy militarization in 11 villages in Talaingod, Davao del Norte after a series of aerial bombings and harassment by soldiers. Boy BagwisA Manobo mother stands in front of her infant daughter’s casket while her husband sits in grief. The infant reportedly died of measles. Having just arrived in their community from evacution, many had no food and medicine, resulting in the deaths of several children. Boy BagwisManobo children compose the majority of the population of tribal communities in Talaingod. Boy BagwisA Manobo family in Sitio Bayabas, Talaingod says that they lost belongings after military elements occupied their house. In front of them is a pot, where they say soldiers even defecated. Boy Bagwis“The military accuses us of being New People’s Army supporters. But the truth is we are only fighting for our rights.” Boy BagwisSome of the Talaingod indigenous women with their tribal garb. Boy BagwisManobo women were part of the pangayaw, or tribal war, declared against the logging company Alcantara and Sons during the 90s. Boy BagwisManobo tribal leaders led by Datu Guibang Apoga declare that they want peace. But if corporations and the government take away their land, the tribal leaders say they will fight with their native weapons. From left: Datu Tungig, Guibang, Doluman and Sunpa. Datu Guibang Apoga was the foremost Talaingod Manobo leader who led the pangayaw during the 90s. The military declared him an outlaw. But Apoga says he was merely protecting their ancestral domain. Boy Bagwis
Sa isang kilos-protesta sa Quezon City matapos ibaba ang hatol ng Malolos RTC sa kaso nilang magkapatid, sinabi ng Raymond Manalo na hindi pa natatapos ang kanilang laban para sa hustisya.
“Malinaw na ang pagdukot ng gobyerno kina Castro at Tamano ay tangka upang patahimikin ang mga environmental defender at takutin ang mga mangangahas na magsalita laban sa mga mapanirang proyektong pangkaunlaran,” wika ni Caritas Philippines president at Kidapawan Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo sa isang pahayag sa Ingles.
Sa kabila ng harassment at banta sa seguridad, nananatiling nanindigan sa kanilang mga prinsipyo sina Castro at Tamano. Para sa sambayanang patuloy na lumalaban, malaking inspirasyon ang tapang na ipinakita ng dalawa.
Tumangging tumulong ang mga miyembro ng PNP at kahit daw ang blotter. Hindi raw muna papayagan sapagkat kailangan pa raw kausapin ng mga sundalo, intelligence at ng kanilang hepe ang nanay ng nawawala.
