Photo 2: One of the highlights of Mangyan Day 2017 is a meeting of each Mangyan tribe to discuss the different issues that they face in their communities.
Photo 3: Leaders of the seven Mangyan tribes sign a petition containing the list of assistance that they request from the DSWD.
Photo 4: DSWD Media Officer Ina Silverio relayed the message of support of Secretary Judy M. Taguiwalo to the continuous fight of the Mangyan for the protection of the environment and their ancestral domain.
In its continued effort to reach out to the different Indigenous Peoples (IP) groups in the country, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), together with different non-government organizations (NGOs) and civil society organizations (CSOs), participated in the 10th Mangyan Day, an annual gathering of leaders and members of the organization of the seven tribes of Mangyans in the island of Mindoro, which aims to unite and empower the indigenous group in fighting for their rights.
The event carried the theme, “Mangyan, Patuloy na Magkaisa, Kumilos Para sa Pagbabago; Lupang Ninuno at Sariling Pagpapasya, Depensahan at Ipaglaban! (Mangyan, unite and act for change; defend and protect the ancestral domain and independent decision).” It was held from April 25-28 at Sitio Kahil, Barangay Tayamaan in Mamburao City, Occidental Mindoro.
The Department sent representatives from its Central Office and Field Office MIMAROPA to the event to further understand the plight of the IP group, including the problems and difficulties faced by each of the seven existing Mangyan tribes , to determine the appropriate social services for them.
During the gathering, the DSWD pledged to support the group’s call against the destruction of the environment and their ancestral domain by sugarcane and mining companies, militarization of their communities, and the implementation of economic and development programs that are not suited to their way of life.
The Department will also look at some of the issues raised during the forum consultation held with the representatives of the agency. These include the implementation of the Modified Conditional Cash Transfer Program (MCCT) in the region and the worsening hunger in several Mangyan tribal communities brought about by drought in their farm lands and lack of access to different sources of livelihood due to effects of armed conflict in their area.
“Atin pong aaralin ang mga programa at serbisyo na ating maaring maiabot sa mga kababayan nating Mangyan sa Mindoro. Sa direktiba na rin ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte, sisikapin nating mas abutin ang iba’t-ibang grupong katutubo sa ating bansa upang makapaghatid ng maagap at mapagkalingang serbisyo (We will continue to study the programs and services that we can extend to further help the Manyan group of Mindoro. As directed by President Rodrigo Duterte, we will reach out to the different indigenous groups in the country to provide prompt and compassionate service),” DSWD Secretary Judy Taguiwalo said.
A decade of unity
The annual celebration of the Mangyan Day is organized by HAGIBBAT Mangyan Mindoro, the federation of the seven tribal organizations of the Mangyan in Oriental and Occidental Mindoro, in collaboration with different Faith-Based Organizations (FBOs), CSOs, and NGOs, such as the Kalipunan ng mga Katutubong Mamayan ng Pilipinas (KATRIBU), among others.
HAGIBBAT is the acronym of the seven Mangyan tribes, namely, Hanunuo, Alangan, Gubatnon, Iraya, Buhid, Bangon, at Tadyawan.
On the tenth anniversary of Mangyan Day this year, the celebration focused on uniting the members of the different Mangyan tribes to act for change, defend their ancestral domain, and protect their right to independent decision. The celebration also looked at the different issues faced by each tribe and invited representatives from concerned government agencies, including the DSWD, for the conduct of a forum to discuss the help that the group needs.
Other highlights of the celebration include an assembly of the different tribal federations of the group to discuss the issues affecting them, the election of new leaders for HAGIBBAT, and the creation of a women’s group of Mangyan Hanunuo.
The event also had a medical mission, feeding program, and a discussion of children’s rights with the Mangyan children. There was also a workshop where the participants were taught how to weave, play the gitgit, make banig and kuwako (pipe), and dance the taruk, the Hanunuo Mangyan dance.
The Mangyan group comprises 20 percent of more than a million population of the island of Mindoro. It is considered as one of the major ethno-linguistic groups in the Philippines because of the wealth of its culture and tradition.
“Suportahan natin ang mga adhikain ng mga kababayan nating Katutubong Mangyan na pangalagaan ang kalikasan at ang kanilang lupang ninuno laban sa mga mapanirang mining operations at pangangamkam ng mga korporasyong ganid sa tubo. Makiisa tayo sa kanilang mga panawagan para sa pagpapahinto sa mga proyektong sumisira sa kalikasan at nagpapalayas sa mga komunidad ng katutubo at mga magsasaka mula sa kanayunan (Let us support the fight of the Mangyan to protect the environment and their ancestral domain against destructive mining operations and sugarcane corporations. Let us join them in their call to put a stop on development projects that destroy the environment and drive them out of their communities and farm lands),” Sec. Taguiwalo said. ###
