Weaving the Web of Life
WEAVING A NEW WEB OF LIFE
Philippine indigenous peoples lead the way in an
innovative partnership to strengthen their self-reliance and
promote their heritage in a changing world
INDISCO Case Study No. 7
Y asmin D. Arquiza
I NTERNATIONAL L ABOUR O RGANIZATION
I N T E R -R E G I O N A L P R O G R A M M E T O S U P P O R T S E L F -R E L I A N C E O F
I N D I G E N O U S A N D T R I B A L C O M M U N I T I E S T H R O U G H C O O P E R AT I V E S A N D
O T H E R S E L F -H E L P O R G A N I Z AT I O N S (I N D I S C O )
This study was done under the auspices of the ILO-INDISCO Programme which aims
at assisting indigenous and tribal peoples worldwide in their development with
financial contributions from DANIDA, the Netherlands, UNDP, AGFUND,UNV, CIDA,
Rabobank Foundation (Netherlands) and International Philippine Association.
Forew ord & Acknow ledgment
T h e I LO- I NDI S CO P r o gr a m m e wa s l a u n c h e d i n th e P h i l i p p i n e s i n 1 9 9 4
c o l l a b o r a ti o n
wi th
th e
Philippine
Go ve r n m e n t.
It
is
a
m u l ti - b i l a te r a l
in
te c h n i c a l
c o o p e r a ti o n u n d e r ta k i n g a i m e d a t s tr e n gth e n i n g th e s e l f- r e l i a n c e o f i n d i ge n o u s a n d
tr i b a l
c o m m u n i ti e s
and
te s ti n g
i n n o va ti ve
appr o ac he s
to
i n d i ge n o u s
pe o ple ’s
d e ve l o p m e n t .
I n o r de r to a c h i e ve i ts o b j e c ti ve s , i t h a s fa c i l i ta te d th e o p e r a ti o n o f 1 2 p i l o t
p r o j e c ts
l o c a te d
in
s tr a te gi c
areas
o f th e
c o u n tr y.
Th e s e
p i l o t p r o j e c ts
i n vo l ve
i n d i ge n o u s c o m m u n i ti e s i n va r i o u s s ta ge s o f d e ve l o p m e n t a n d d i ffe r e n t l e ve l s o f
c u l tu r a l i n te gr i ty. Th e y h a ve a l r e a dy b e e n i n o p e r a ti o n fo r a n a ve r a ge o f 3 . 5 ye a r s
a n d r e gu l a r I NDI S CO te c h n i c a l a n d fi n a n c i a l s u p p o r t h a s b e e n p h a s e d o u t fr o m
m o s t o f th e m .
As a s tr a te gy, I NDI S CO P h i l i p p i n e s c a p i ta l i ze d o n th e i n h e r e n t s e n s e o f s e l fr e l i a n c e a n d n a ti ve te c h n o l o gy o f th e p a r tn e r c o m m u n i ti e s . Co m m u n i ty o r ga n i za ti o n s ,
wh i c h a r e fo u n d e d o n e x i s ti n g i n d i ge n o u s i n s ti tu ti o n s , we r e ta p p e d to i m p l e m e n t
th e
p r o j e c t a c ti vi ti e s wi th fa c i l i ta ti ve
te c h n i c a l a n d fi n a n c i a l a s s i s ta n c e
fr o m th e
I NDI S CO P r o gr a m m e . T h r o u gh th e i r o wn c o m m u n i ty o r ga n i za ti o n s , th e i n d i ge n o u s
pe o ple s
we r e
c o m m u n i ty
gi ve n
th e
d e ve l o p m e n t
o p p o r tu n i ty
to
plan,
im ple m e nt
and
m o n i to r
th e i r
a c ti vi ti e s .
Fo r p u r p o s e s o f di s c o ve r i n g i n a s ys te m a ti c a n d o b j e c ti ve m a n n e r th e i n i ti a l
r e s u l ts o f th e p r o gr a m m e , Ms Ya s m i n D. Ar q u i za , a fe l l o w o f th e P h i l i p p i n e Ce n te r
fo r I n ve s ti ga ti ve J o u r n a l i s m a n d e di to r i a l di r e c to r o f B a n di l l o n g P a l a wa n , r e c e n tl y
do c um e n te d th e le s s o n s le a r n e d a n d b e s t pr a c tic e s ge n e r a te d fr o m th e pilo t pr o j e c ts .
I LO- I NDI S CO n a ti o n a l c o o r d i n a to r Do m i n go I . Na ya h a n ga n e d i te d th e te x t p r i o r to
p u b l i c a ti o n .
Th is b o o k wa s wr itte n o n th e b a s is o f in fo r m a tio n , ide a s a n d o p in io n s p r o vide d
b y th e p e o p l e wh o h a ve b e e n i n vo l ve d i n th e i m p l e m e n ta ti o n o f th e I LO- I ND I S CO
p r o gr a m m e i n th e P h i l i p p i n e s .
S p e c i a l th a n k s go to a l l o f th e m , p a r ti c u l a r l y th e
tr ib a l le a de r s a n d pr o j e c t s ta ff o f th e in dige n o us c o m m un itie s in th e 1 2 pilo t pr o j e c ts .
I t i s h o p e d th a t th r o u gh th i s b o o k , th e a b o ve - m e n ti o n e d l e s s o n s l e a r n e d a n d
b e s t p r a c ti c e s ge n e r a te d u n de r th e p r o gr a m m e i n te r m s o f i n n o va ti ve a p p r o a c h e s
to i n d i ge n o u s p e o p l e s d e ve l o p m e n t c o u l d b e d i s s e m i n a te d a n d r e p l i c a te d .
We r n e r K o n r a d Bl e n k
Di r e c t o r , I LO Ma n i l a Offi c e
1
ILO BOOK FINAL2.p65
1
2 9 .1 0 .0 1 , 1 4 :3 9
C O N T EN T S
I. The Changing Scene ................................................. 6
Cent ur i es of col oni zat i on and waves of mi gr at i on have r adi cal l y al t er ed t he
l i ves of i ndi genous peopl e al l over t he Phi l i ppi nes. Missi onar i es have penet r at ed
t he most r emot e of f or est abodes. I nt er nal ar med conf l i ct has br ought vi ol ence
i nt o ot herwi se peaceful vi l l ages. Et hni c unrest cont i nues t o rage i n t he count rysi de,
causi ng uncer t ai nt y and economi c har dshi p. I l l - pl anned devel opment pr ogr ams
and assi st ance have f ai l ed t o ease t he pover t y i n many i ndi genous communi t i es.
I n t hi s cont ext of r api d change, t he I NDI SCO pr ogr amme st ar t ed i nt r oduci ng a
new concept of communi t y devel opment par t ner shi p i n 12 pi l ot pr oj ect si t es.
II. Changing Lives ....................................................... 16
Fi ve year s af t er t he l aunchi ng of t he pi l ot pr oj ect s, I NDI SCO has br ought
si gni f i cant changes i n t he l i ves of i ndi genous peopl es i n most of t he si t es. Thr ough
i t s i nnovat i ve appr oach t hat emphasi zed col l ect i ve r esponsi bi l i t y and di scour aged
t he dol e- out ment al i t y, I NDI SCO managed t o i ns t i l l a s ens e of communi t y
owner shi p of t he pr oj ect . Many of t he par t ner communi t i es ar e wel l on t hei r way
t owar ds s us t ai ned decent wor k , hi gher f ami l y i ncome, i ncr eas ed s ens e of
r esponsi bi l i t y over t he envi r onment and nat ur al r esour ces wi t hi n ancest r al
domai ns, and gr eat er gender awar eness. Most i mpor t ant l y, bet t er appr eci at i on of
i ndi genous knowl edge s ys t ems and pr act i ces has been f os t er ed t o ens ur e t he
cul t ur al sur vi val of t r i bal communi t i es. The posi t i ve i mpact of t he pr oj ect shows
t he val i di t y of t he appr oach empl oyed by t he pr ogr amme, wher e t he par t ner
communi t i es ar e al l owed t o t ake gr eat er cont r ol of t he pr oj ect and l ear n f r om
t hei r mi st akes, and successf ul vent ur es as wel l .
Learning H ow To Fish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
22
The M usic o f the Fish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
N at ure´ s St ew ards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
33
38
O n T heir O w n . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
42
A W o rld o f M en and W o men . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Co unting the Face o f Rizal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
48
52
2
ILO BOOK FINAL2.p65
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2 9 .1 0 .0 1 , 1 4 :3 9
III. Changing Co mmunities ......................................... 5 4
Among t he par t ner communi t i es, some have exhi bi t ed t he most successf ul
appl i cat i on of t he pr oj ect ’ s st r at egi es and component s. These best pr act i ces ar e
showcased i n t hi s sect i on. Among t he i ni t i at i ves t hat ar e r epl i cabl e i n ot her
communi t i es ar e t he gender awar eness pr ogr ams i n Bagui o Ci t y, t he i nnovat i ve
use of t he Revol vi ng Loan Funds i n Tawi - Tawi , management of ancest r al domai n
i n Bakun, t he pr eser vat i on of i ndi genous handi cr af t i n t he Aut onomous Regi on of
Musl i mMi ndanao, and t he l i t er acy pr ogr ami n Buki dnon.
Ancestral D o main M anagement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Revo lving Lo an Fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
57
63
Traditio nal H andicraft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
65
Gender Aw areness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Functio nal Literacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 1
IV. Changing People ................................................... 7 4
I n ever y pr oj ect , di f f i cul t i es ar e encount er ed t hat l ead t o deep r ef l ect i ons and
accept ance of l essons on t he par t of benef i ci ar i es. I n t hi s sect i on, par t ner
communi t i es candi dl y di s cus s ed s ome of t hei r mi s t akes as wel l as t hei r
per cept i ons on what coul d be t he weaknesses of t he pr oj ect . They al so pr ovi ded
i nsi ght s, anal ysi s, and suggest i ons f or addr essi ng t hese concer ns.
M arket ing o f Pro duct s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
76
Pro m o t ing I ndigeno us Kno w ledge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
78
Repayment o f Lo ans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Pro ject M anagement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 2
Strengthening Lo cal O rganizatio ns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
84
Lo gist ical Co ncerns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tenurial Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
85
86
Peace & O rder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
87
V. Changing the W orld ............................................... 8 8
What el se can gover nment , pr i vat e or gani zat i ons, and donor agenci es do t o
hel p t he i ndi genous peopl es i mpr ove t hei r l i ves? Tr i bal l eader s shar e t hei r i deas
on pol i cy r ecommendat i ons t hat can go a l ong way i n pr eser vi ng and pur sui ng
t he i ni t i al gai ns of t he I NDI SCO pr oj ect .
3
ILO BOOK FINAL2.p65
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2 9 .1 0 .0 1 , 1 4 :3 9
4
ILO BOOK FINAL2.p65
4
2 9 .1 0 .0 1 , 1 4 :3 9
G L O SSA R Y
O F
T E R M S
A D S P P
Ances t r al Domai n Management Pl an
Ancest r al Domai n Sust ai nabl e Devel opment &
Pr ot ect i on Pl an
BITO
Bakun I ndi genous Tr i bes Or gani zat i on
C A D C
Cer t i f i cat e of Ancest r al Domai n Cl ai m
C A D T
Cert i fi cat e of Ancest ral Domai n Ti t l e
CALT
Cert i fi cat e of Ancest ral Land Ti t l e
D A
Depar t ment of Agr i cul t ur e
D A R
Depar t ment of Agr ar i an Ref or m
D E C S
Depar t ment of Educat i on, Cul t ur e, and Spor t s
D E N R
Depar t ment of Envi r onment and Nat ur al Resour ces
FEMMATRICs
Feder at i on of Mat i gsal og- Manobo Tr i bal Counci l s
IKSP
I ndi genous Knowl edge Sys t ems and Pr act i ces
ILO
I nt er nat i onal Labour Or gani zat i on
IPRA
I ndi genous Peopl es Ri ght s Act
MALEI
Mat i gsal og Li t er acy Educat i on I nc.
MALTRICO
Mal ungon Tr i bal Congr ess
NCIP
Nat i onal Commi ssi on on I ndi genous Peopl es
R L F
Revol vi ng Loan Fund
A D M P
5
ILO BOOK FINAL2.p65
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6
ILO BOOK FINAL2.p65
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2 9 .1 0 .0 1 , 1 4 :3 9
A weaver beginsher task by selecting
the finest threads that will suit the design
she hasin mind. T he choice of material is
important, as it determines the quality of
the finished product. Other elements such
as dye and wax are also necessary to
complete the process. I n the past, many of
these materials came from the rainforest
that al so pr ovi ded the i ndi genous
communi ti es wi th food, shel ter , and
medicine. Outsiders have cut down vast
tractsof forestshowever, causing shortages
of material and endangering the survival
of ancient weaving traditions.
7
ILO BOOK FINAL2.p65
7
2 9 .1 0 .0 1 , 1 4 :3 9
W EAV I N G A N EW W EB O F LI FE
I
n h i s b o o k Wi s d o m fr o m a R a i n fo r e s t, a n th r o p o l o gi s t S tu a r t S c h l e ge l d e s c r i b e s
a n i d yl l i c c o m m u n i ty o f i n d i ge n o u s T e d u r a y i n th e Co ta b a to r e gi o n d u r i n g
th e
1 9 6 0 s.
The
tr i b a l
pe o ple
in
r e m o te
Fi ge l
vi l l a ge
b e l i e ve
th e y we r e
c r e a te d b y th e Gr e a t S p i r i t to c a r e fo r th e fo r e s t, a n d th a t th e fo r e s t wa s c r e a te d to
p r o vi d e
fo r
th e i r
ne e ds.
d u r i n g h a r ve s t ti m e ,
The y he lpe d
th e y s h a r e d
th e
eac h
o th e r
b o u n ty fr o m
pr e par e
th e
s wi d d e n
land.
Eac h
fa r m s ,
one
and
wa s
a
“ s pe c ia lis t” in a pa r tic ula r s k ill s uc h a s h un tin g, h e a lin g, o r m e dia tin g c o n flic ts , a n d
c o n tr i b u te d th i s u n i q u e ta l e n t to th e c o m m u n i ty. Ye t, n o o n e wa s a b o ve a n yb o d y
e l s e . Al l c r e a tu r e s , h u m a n s a s we l l a s wi l d l i fe , h a d e q u a l va l u e . Ge n d e r c o n fl i c t
wa s n o n - e x i s te n t a s m e n a n d wo m e n s h a r e d r e s p o n s i b i l i ty a n d va r i o u s r o l e s i n
m a n y a s p e c ts o f d a i l y l i fe . Ch i l d r e n we r e a c c o r d e d th e s a m e r e s p e c t a s a d u l ts ,
a n d th e r e wa s n o d i s c r i m i n a ti o n a ga i n s t ga ys . T h e i r wa y o f l i fe h a d n o r o o m fo r
c o m p e ti ti o n , h i e r a r c h y, c o e r c i ve fo r c e , a n d vi o l e n c e . E ve n i n a ga m e o f k i c k b a l l ,
th e r e we r e n o wi n n e r s o r l o s e r s b e c a u s e th e o b j e c ti ve wa s s i m p l y fo r e ve r yo n e to
m a k e th e b a l l s ta y i n th e a i r th e l o n ge s t. Ha r m o n y p r e va i l e d b e c a u s e th e y a vo i d e d
i n fl i c ti n g p h ys i c a l o r e m o ti o n a l p a i n o n a n o th e r p e r s o n . Wh e n d i s p u te s a r o s e ,
th e y r e l i e d o n l e ga l s a ge s to s e ttl e th e i s s u e th r o u gh a n e l a b o r a te tr i b a l j u s ti c e
s ys te m . Co o p e r a ti o n wa s th e k e y to th e i r s u r vi va l .
I t i s u n l i k e l y th a t th e T e d u r a y i n Fi ge l h a d e ve r h e a r d o f s o c i a l i s m e ve n
th o u gh th e y p r a c ti c e d o n e o f i ts c o r e va l u e s : fr o m e a c h a c c o r d i n g to h i s o r h e r
a b i l i ti e s , a n d to e a c h a c c o r di n g to h i s o r h e r n e e ds . B u t th e n i de o l o gy a n d p o l i ti c a l
p o we r h a d n o p l a c e i n th e i r wa y o f l i fe . T h e i r e ga l i ta r i a n s ys te m wa s s i m p l y th e
essenc e
of
c o m m u n i ty.
Un fo r tu n a te l y, th e
Te dur a y pe o ple
o f Fi ge l h a d n o
c o n tr o l o ve r
th e
wo r l d
o u ts i d e th e i r p e a c e fu l vi l l a ge e i th e r . I n th e e a r l y 1 9 7 0 s , e th n i c c o n fl i c ts r e a c h e d
th e i r fo r e s t a b o d e a n d th e c o m m u n i ty wa s d i s p e r s e d , m a n y o f i ts m e m b e r s k i l l e d .
Wh i l e i t m a y b e e x tr e m e , th e fa te o f th e fo r e s t T e d u r a y i n Co ta b a to r e fl e c ts
th e
n e ga ti ve
o u tc o m e
of
a
c h a n gi n g
e n vi r o n m e n t
in
th e
l i ve s
of
Philippine
i n d i ge n o u s c u l tu r a l c o m m u n i ti e s . T h i s i s th e c o n te x t th a t th e m a n a ge r s o f I NDI S CO
h a ve to fa c e i n th e 1 2 p i l o t s i te s o f th e p r o gr a m m e —
a n d u n r e s t th a t h a s
tr a n s fo r m e d o n c e
i d yl l i c
a c l i m a te o f u n c e r ta i n ty
c o m m u n i ti e s
i n to
c o n fl i c t- r i d d e n
s e ttle m e n ts .
8
ILO BOOK FINAL2.p65
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2 9 .1 0 .0 1 , 1 4 :3 9
T H E CH AN GI N G SCEN E
T o th i s d a y, c o n fl i c t p e r s i s ts i n c e r ta i n p a r ts o f th e P h i l i p p i n e s , a d ve r s e l y
a ffe c ti n g th e e c o n o m y a n d c a u s i n g te n s i o n a m o n g i n d i ge n o u s p e o p l e s . T h e l a te s t
o u tb r e a k o f fi gh ti n g b e twe e n r e b e l s a n d go ve r n m e n t fo r c e s i n c e n tr a l Mi n d a n a o
i n th e e a r l y p a r t o f ye a r 2 0 0 0 h a s s e ve r e l y a ffe c te d th e h a n d i c r a ft p r o d u c ti o n o f
I ND I S CO p a r tn e r c o m m u n i ti e s i n th e r e gi o n . I n th e p r o vi n c e o f La n a o d e l S u r , a
p l a c e we l l k n o wn fo r i ts c o l o r fu l wo ve n c l o th a n d fi n e l y – c r a fte d b r a s s wa r e ,
D e r o n s a ys s h e k e e p s h e r c h i l d r e n ’ s c l o th e s i n s u i tc a s e s —
B ai
s o th e y c a n e va c u a te
e a s i l y i f th e n e e d a r i s e s . E ve n th o u gh s h e wa n te d m e to vi s i t h e r wo m e n ’ s gr o u p
i n th e vi l l a ge o f D a ya wa n wh e r e th e i r wo ve n m a l o n g wr a p s a r e r e p u te d to b e
a m o n g th e b e s t i n Mi n d a n a o , s h e wa s h e s i ta n t. As s h e r e c a l l e d te l l i n g th e p r o j e c t
m a n a ge r , “ Ho w c a n I gu a r a n te e h e r s a fe ty i f I c a n n o t e ve n gu a r a n te e m y c h i l d r e n ’ s
s a fe ty?”
De r o n
he a ds
th e
D a ya wa n
Wo m e n
Lo o m
We a ve r s
As s o c i a ti o n ,
th e
o r ga n i za ti o n o f o n e o f th e p a r tn e r c o m m u n i ti e s l o c a te d i n th e Au to n o m o u s R e gi o n
i n Mu s l i m Mi n d a n a o .
I n a n e i gh b o r i n g vi l l a ge , Ha j i Ma n ga c o p D i p a tu a n , Ch a i r m a n o f th e T u ga ya
B r a s s wa r e Ma k e r s Mu l ti p u r p o s e Co o p e r a ti ve , wh i c h i s a n o th e r p a r tn e r c o m m u n i ty
o r ga n i za ti o n , wa s fo r c e d to s ta y h o m e a l s o b e c a u s e o f th e i n te r n a l c o n fl i c t. As a
r e s u l t, h e wa s u n a b l e to j o i n th e i n te r vi e w i n I l i ga n Ci ty. T h e two o r ga n i za ti o n s
h a d p r o p o s e d I l i ga n Ci ty a s th e ve n u e fo r th e i n te r vi e w b e c a u s e i t wa s c o n s i d e r e d
r e l a ti ve l y s a fe c o m p a r e d to o th e r a r e a s .
Co ta b a to Ci ty fa c e s a s i m i l a r i m a ge p r o b l e m . T h e i n te r n a l c o n fl i c t h a d a te l l i n g
e ffe c t o n b u s i n e s s i n th e c i ty, wh i c h h a s fa i l e d to k e e p p a c e wi th th e e c o n o m i c
b o o m i n th e s o u th e r n p a r t o f th e r e s o u r c e - r i c h Co ta b a to r e gi o n . Ve h i c l e s h a ve to
go
th r o u gh
s e ve r a l
c h e c k p o i n ts
S u l ta n Ku d a r a t Wo m e n Lo o m
b e fo r e
e n te r i n g
ur b an
areas.
Me m b e r s
We a ve r s As s o c i a ti o n n o te d th a t th e
o f th e
s i tu a ti o n h a s
s c a r e d o ff s o m e c u s to m e r s . T h e i r i n tr i c a te l y wo ve n m a l o n g a n d tu b a o wi th th e
d i s ti n c ti ve Ma gu i n d a n a o d e s i gn s a r e p i l i n g u p i n th e i r d i s p l a y c e n te r a s m a r k e ti n g
a c ti vi ti e s o u ts i d e th e c i ty we r e i m p a i r e d .
Pub lic
i n fr a s tr u c tu r e h a s a l s o s u ffe r e d fr o m th e c o n fl i c t. T h e T e d u r a y a n d
Ma gu in da n a o
r e s i d e n ts
of
Up i
b e lo n gin g
to
th e
Ku m i n a m a r
M u l ti - P u r p o s e
Co o p e r a ti ve k n o w th i s o n l y to o we l l ; th e y h a ve to tr a ve l fo r o n e d a y j u s t to r e a c h
th e
c i ty.
The
r o a d go i n g to
th e i r
to wn
ne e de d r e pa ir ,
a n d fe w b o a ts
9
ILO BOOK FINAL2.p65
9
2 9 .1 0 .0 1 , 1 4 :3 9
p l y th e
W EAV I N G A N EW W EB O F LI FE
d a n ge r o u s
wa te r wa ys
le ading
to
th e i r
homes.
Co m m u n i c a ti o n
is
s p o tty,
wi th
m e s s a ge s ge tti n g r e l a ye d to th e m u s u a l l y th r o u gh th e l o c a l r a d i o . As a r e s u l t, th e
h a n d i c r a ft p r o d u c e r s c o u l d n o t
k e e p u p wi th o r d e r s fo r th e i r b a s k e ts a n d o th e r
n a ti ve p r o d u c ts m a d e o f a wi l d vi n e c a l l e d n i to . I n r e c e n t ye a r s , th e i n te r n a l
c o n fl i c t h a s c o m b i n e d wi th l o gi s ti c a l d i ffi c u l ti e s to m a k e l i fe ve r y h a r d fo r th e
c o o p e r a ti ve m e m b e r s wh o a r e a l l e n ga ge d i n th e h a n d i c r a ft b u s i n e s s . D a tu La b
S i n s u a t, p r e s i d e n t o f th e c o o p e r a ti ve , s a ys th a t b u s i n e s s u s e d to b e go o d b u t h a s
s l o we d d o wn s i n c e th e c o n fl i c t i n te n s i fi e d .
T h e s i tu a ti o n i s th e s a m e i n th e s o u th we s te r n p a r t o f Mi n d a n a o , wh i c h m a d e
h e a d l i n e s wi th s e ve r a l k i d n a p p i n g i n c i d e n ts l a s t ye a r . Fe w o u ts i d e r s d a r e to tr a ve l
to th i s r e gi o n wh e r e th e p r o vi n c e o f T a wi - T a wi , h o m e l a n d o f th e S a m a p e o p l e
wh o a r e k n o wn a s h a r d - wo r k i n g fi s h e r s , i s fo u n d . T h e Mu n i c i p a l i ty o f S i m u n u l i n
T a wi - T a wi i s th e s i te o f th e Ka s i - La s a Mu l ti - P u r p o s e Co o p e r a ti ve , a n o r ga n i za ti o n
c o m p o s e d o f S a m a p e o p l e l i vi n g i n th e b a r a n ga ys o f B a k o n g a n d P a n gl i m a Ma s tu l .
Th e is la n d is k n o wn a s th e c r a dle o f I s la m b e c a u s e it is th e s ite o f th e fir s t m o s q u e
e r e c te d i n th e P h i l i p p i n e s b y Ar a b m i s s i o n a r y S h e i k Ka r i m Ul - Ma k d u m i n th e e a r l y
1 4 th c e n tu r y. T r a c e s o f th e p a s t l i ve o n i n s u c h th i n gs a s th e n a m e o f th e o l d e s t
b a r a n ga y, wh i c h i s T o n g Gu s o n g, o r Fi r s t S a n d .
E l s e wh e r e i n m a i n l a n d Mi n d a n a o , o n e i s c o n s ta n tl y r e m i n d e d o f th e h i gh
l e ve l o f p o l i ti c a l a wa r e n e s s a n d th e r e c e n t h i s to r y o f s o c i a l u n r e s t i n th e r e gi o n .
T h e i n d i ge n o u s B ’ l a a n a n d T a ga k a o l o c o m m u n i ti e s i n Ma l u n go n , S a r a n ga n i h a d a
h i s to r y o f b e i n g a t o d d s wi th o n e a n o th e r d u e to va r i o u s r e a s o n s . B u t e ve n wi th
th a t, th e y b o th h a d to c o n te n d wi th th e r i s i n g n u m b e r o f Vi s a ya n m i gr a n ts wh o
fo u n d th e i r wa y to th e i r a n c e s tr a l d o m a i n s . E a r l y a tte m p ts to u n i te th e two tr i b a l
c o m m u n i ti e s , th r o u gh a s e r i e s o f o r ga n i za ti o n s , d i d n o t s u c c e e d b e c a u s e b o th
tr i b e s c o u l d n o t fi n d e n o u gh r e a s o n to ge t a l o n g wi th e a c h o th e r . B u t u n d e r th e
I ND I S CO p r o gr a m m e , th e y we r e a b l e to o ve r c o m e th e i r d i ffe r e n c e s , a n d to wo r k
to ge th e r th r o u gh a s i n gl e o r ga n i za ti o n c a l l e d th e Ma l u n go n T r i b a l Co n gr e s s o r
MALT R I CO .
T h i s wa s a n i m p o r ta n t d e ve l o p m e n t fo r
th e
i n d i ge n o u s p e o p l e s i n
th e a r e a wh o fe l t th e y we r e ge tti n g o ve r s h a d o we d b y th e “ l o wl a n d e r s . ”
Ac c o r d i n g to th e T a ga k a o l o - B ’ l a a n a n c e s tr a l d o m a i n b a s e l i n e s u r ve y r e p o r t,
th e two tr i b e s a r e n o t tr a d i ti o n a l l y n o m a d i c ; th e y e s ta b l i s h a ffi n i ty to th e i r p l a c e .
10
ILO BOOK FINAL2.p65
10
2 9 .1 0 .0 1 , 1 4 :3 9
T H E CH AN GI N G SCEN E
B u t s u c c e s s i ve go ve r n m e n t d e c r e e s e r o d e d th e i r r i gh ts o ve r th e l a n d th e y h a ve
p o s s e s s e d a n d o c c u p i e d s i n c e ti m e i m m e m o r i a l . I n fo r m a ti o n a b o u t th e 1 9 0 2 La n d
R e gi s tr a ti o n
Ac t
of
th e
Am e r i c a n
c o l o n i ze r s
fo r
e xample ,
did
not
reac h
th e
h i n te r l a n d s o f Mi n d a n a o wh e r e m a n y o f th e i n d i ge n o u s p e o p l e s l i ve d . T h e 1 9 0 5
P u b l i c La n d Ac t ga ve th e go ve r n m e n t s o l e c o n tr o l o ve r a l l u n r e gi s te r e d l a n d a n d
fr o m 1 9 1 3 to 1 9 1 9 , a s e r i e s o f go ve r n m e n t d e c r e e s l u r e d m i gr a n ts to th e a r e a ,
r e s u l ti n g i n m i x e d s e ttl e m e n ts th a t a b o u n d i n m u c h o f M i n d a n a o to d a y. I n 1 9 7 3 ,
th e n P r e s i d e n t Fe r d i n a n d Ma r c o s ga ve th e De p a r tm e n t o f Na tu r a l R e s o u r c e s c o n tr o l
o ve r p u b l i c l a n d s .
I n te n s e l o b b yi n g fr o m i n d i ge n o u s p e o p l e ’ s r i gh ts a d vo c a te s r e c e n tl y c h a n ge d
go ve r n m e n t p o l i c y o n i n d i ge n o u s p e o p l e s . T h e m o s t p r o fo u n d r e fo r m s o c c u r r e d
d u r i n g th e te r m o f fo r m e r P r e s i d e n t Fi d e l R a m o s , wh e n th e go ve r n m e n t s ta r te d
r e c o gn i zi n g th e r i gh t o f i n d i ge n o u s p e o p l e s to th e i r a n c e s tr a l te r r i to r i e s . Fo r th e
B ’ l a a n a n d T a ga k a o l o p e o p l e s o f Ma l u n go n , s u c h r e c o gn i ti o n c a m e i n th e fo r m o f
a Ce r ti fi c a te o f An c e s tr a l D o m a i n Cl a i m ( CAD C) a wa r d e d to e a c h o f th e two tr i b e s
o n Ma y 3 0 , 1 9 9 7 c o ve r i n g a to ta l o f 8 1 , 6 2 8 h e c ta r e s . Ab o u t 1 4 , 0 0 0 T a ga k a o l o s
a n d n e a r l y 1 5 , 0 0 0 B ’ l a a n s b e n e fi te d fr o m th e a wa r d , th a t ga ve th e m b a c k s o m e
a m o u n t o f c o n tr o l o ve r th e r e s o u r c e s i n th e i r te r r i to r y. E a r l i e r , th e y h a d b e c o m e
c o n c e r n e d a b o u t r a m p a n t i l l e ga l l o ggi n g i n th e i r fo r e s ts a n d l o s s o f b i o d i ve r s i ty i n
th e r o l l i n g fa r m l a n d a n d r i c h wa te r wa ys . As s i s ta n c e fr o m I ND I S CO h e l p e d th e m
tu r n th e ti d e a ga i n s t o u ts i d e r s wh o we r e d e s tr o yi n g th e i r n a tu r a l e n vi r o n m e n t. I t
a l s o h e l p e d th e m s te m th e r a m p a n t s e l l i n g o f l a n d b y s o m e c o m m u n i ty m e m b e r s .
T h e m u n i c i p a l go ve r n m e n t d i d n o t o p p o s e th e c l a i m b e c a u s e o ffi c i a l s k n e w th e
la nd is pub lic do m a in.
Tagakaol o and
B´ l aan i ndi genous
l eader s pl edge t o
prot ect t hei r t ri bal
t erri t ory duri ng t he
awar di ng of t hei r
Cert i fi cat e of
Ancest r al Domai n
Cl ai m or CADC i n
Mal ungon,
Sar angani
pr ovi nce, i n 1997.
11
ILO BOOK FINAL2.p65
11
2 9 .1 0 .0 1 , 1 4 :3 9
W EAV I N G A N EW W EB O F LI FE
I n th e ye a r s fo l l o wi n g th e fa m o u s E d s a R e vo l u ti o n th a t to o k p l a c e i n 1 9 8 6 ,
s o m e p r o vi n c e s h a ve m a n a ge d to r e c o ve r fr o m c o n fl i c ts th a t u s e d to d i vi d e th e i r
c o m m u n i ti e s . Am o n g th e s e i s B u k i d n o n , wh e r e a c o m m u n i ty u p r i s i n g i n 1 9 7 5 l e d
b y th e
r e s p e c te d
D a tu
Lo r e n zo
Ga wi l a n ,
Sr .
ga ve
b i r th
to
th e
Fe d e r a ti o n
of
Ma ti gs a l o g a n d Ma n o b o T r i b a l Co u n c i l s o r FE MMAT R I Cs . I n th e e a r l y ye a r s o f
Ma r ti a l La w, th e go ve r n m e n t h a d d i vi d e d th e i r a n c e s tr a l d o m a i n i n to r a n c h e s a n d
a wa r d e d th e s e to i n fl u e n ti a l b u s i n e s s m e n fr o m va r i o u s o r i gi n s . A q u a r r e l b e twe e n
o n e o f th e r a n c h e r s a n d a tr i b e s m a n tr i gge r e d th e u p r i s i n g. D a tu Ga wi l a n th e n
de c la r e d
th a t
he
wo u l d
go ve r n m e n t gr a n te d th e
sur r e nde r
o nly
if
de m and and sinc e
th e
th e n ,
ranc hes
are
Ga wi l a n ’ s
d i s m a n tl e d .
gr o u p
has
The
lo b b ie d
vi go r o u s l y fo r th e r e tu r n o f th e l a n d to th e tr i b e s th a t h a d l o n g n u r tu r e d i t.
In
1995,
Ma ti gs a l o g- Ma n o b o
go ve r n m e n t gr a n te d a
Ce r ti fi c a te
tr i b e s
a c h i e ve d
a
o f An c e s tr a l D o m a i n
major
Cl a i m
vi c to r y
to
th e m
wh e n
th e
c o ve r i n g
7 7 , 1 3 4 h e c ta r e s o f la n d in 2 0 b a r a n ga ys . Mo s t o f th e la n d is fo un d in th e m o un ta in o us
to wn o f Ki ta o ta o i n B u k i d n o n , b u t th e c e r ti fi c a te a l s o c o ve r s th r e e b a r a n ga ys e a c h
i n th e a d j o i n i n g m u n i c i p a l i ti e s o f Ar a k a n i n n o r th Co ta b a to a n d Ma r i l o g i n D a va o
Ci ty. Fe e l i n g h a p p y th a t p e a c e h a s r e tu r n e d to th e i r fe r ti l e h o m e l a n d , l o c a l fa r m e r s
a r e n o w m o r e p r e o c c u p i e d wi th p e s ts th a t m a y a tta c k th e i r c r o p s th a n wo r k i n g to
a vo i d ge tti n g c a u gh t i n th e c r o s s fir e .
Fo r
th e Ma n gya n p e o p l e o f Oc c i d e n ta l Mi n d o r o , r e c l a i m i n g th e i r
a n c e s tr a l
d o m a i n h a s r e m a i n e d a d r e a m . Wi th o p p o s i ti o n to th e i r a n c e s tr a l d o m a i n c l a i m s
s ti l l e vi d e n t, i t m a y ta k e s o m e ti m e b e fo r e th a t d r e a m b e c o m e s a r e a l i ty.
I n th e m o u n ta i n vi l l a ge o f B a l a n ga b o n g i n Oc c i d e n ta l Mi n d o r o , tr i b a l l e a d e r s
c r e d i te d m i s s i o n a r i e s fo r b r i n gi n g b a s i c s e r vi c e s s u c h a s c l e a n wa te r a n d h e a l th
c a r e to th e i r r e m o te c o m m u n i ty. On e r e l i gi o u s gr o u p fo r e x a m p l e , fu n d e d th e
c o n s tr u c ti o n o f a s p r i n g wa te r s ys te m . B u t th e c o m m u n i ty a l s o a d m i tte d th a t th e
in flue n c e o f s o m e r e ligio us gr o up s h a d e r o de d th e ir in dige n o us b e lie fs . Fo r in s ta n c e ,
th e
c o m m u n i ty n o
l o n ge r
r e ve r e s
th e
tr a d i ti o n a l
go d
o f th e
Ta u
Fu n b a l o gs . “ Na k a p a g - a r a l n a k a s i k a m i , ” ( We a r e n o w e d u c a te d )
B uid
c alle d
s a ys a tr i b a l
o ffi c e r . T h e y we r e to l d a c c e p ti n g th e Ch r i s ti a n c o n c e p t o f Go d m e a n s th e y s h o u l d
n o l o n ge r m a k e o ffe r i n gs to a n i m i s t go d s .
12
ILO BOOK FINAL2.p65
12
2 9 .1 0 .0 1 , 1 4 :3 9
T H E CH AN GI N G SCEN E
I ndi genous hous es
made of nat i ve mat er i al s
can st i l l be f ound i n t he
Cor di l l er a Mount ai ns,
home of sever al t r i bes
t hat have mai nt ai ned
aspect s of t hei r
t radi t i onal cul t ure.
T h e i n f l u e n c e o f o u t s i d e r s i s n o t m u c h o f a p r o b l e m f o r t h e Ka n k a n a e y p e o p l e
i n t h e m u n i c i p a l i t y o f B a k u n i n t h e Co r d i l l e r a M o u n t a i n s . E ve n t h o u g h m a n y h a ve
c o n ve r t e d t o We s t e r n r e l i g i o n s , Ch r i s t i a n r i t e s a r e u s u a l l y m i x e d wi t h i n d i g e n o u s
r i t u a l s s u c h a s t h e l a wi t o r r e q u i e m m a s s fo r t h e d e a d . I t h a s p r o b a b l y h e l p e d t h a t
t h e c o m m u n i t y i s fa i r l y h o m o g e n o u s , wi t h o n l y a fe w l o wl a n d e r s m a r r i e d t o l o c a l
wo m e n c o m p r i s i n g a m i n i m a l e t h n i c m i x . Ca ve b u r i a l s a r e s t i l l p r a c t i c e d b y s o m e
c l a n s fo r d e s e r vi n g m e m b e r s , d e p e n d i n g o n th e i r s ta tu s , e s p e c i a l l y fo r th e k a d a n gya n
o r r i c h p e o p l e . T h e s e d a ys h o we ve r , th e m o r e p r e va l e n t c u s to m i s to b u r y th e d e a d i n
o n e ’ s b a c k ya r d .
Ne s t l e d b e t we e n fo r e s t e d s l o p e s i n t h e m i s t y m o u n t a i n s , t h e t o wn o f B a k u n i s
h o m e t o M o u n t Ka b u n i a n , wh i c h i s c o n s i d e r e d a h o l y s i t e . I n t h e l o c a l l a n g u a g e ,
B a k u n m e a n s d i p p e r , wh i c h d e s c r i b e s t h e b o wl - s h a p e d va l l e y a n d t h e h a n d l e - l i k e
r i ve r th a t r u n s th r o u g h i t. T h e to wn p r o p e r wa s r e l o c a te d to th e m o r e a c c e s s i b l e
Some vi l l ages have
r et ai ned t he pr act i ce of
cave bur i al s f or cer t ai n
member s , whos e bodi es
ar e pl aced i n nat i ve
coffins.
13
ILO BOOK FINAL2.p65
13
2 9 .1 0 .0 1 , 1 4 :3 9
W EAV I N G A N EW W EB O F LI FE
b a r a n g a y o f Am p u s u n g a n , w h e r e t h e o f f i c e o f t h e B a k u n I n d i g e n o u s T r i b e s
O r g a n i z a t i o n ( B I T O ) i s l o c a t e d . Al t h o u g h i t ’ s o n l y e i g h t y k i l o m e t e r s f r o m B a g u i o
Ci t y, i t t a k e s t h r e e h o u r s t o r e a c h t h e a r e a a l o n g t h e r o u g h a n d s l i p p e r y Ha l s e m a
R o a d . T i d y r o ws o f ve g e t a b l e s s u c h a s c a b b a g e , c a r r o t s , l e t t u c e , a n d c u c u m b e r
g r a c e t h e t e r r a c e d p l o t s a s f a r a s t h e e ye c a n s e e . B I T O c h a i r m a n T i r s o B a ya wa ,
wh o i s a l s o t h e vi c e m a yo r o f B a k u n , s a ys t h e Ch i n e s e i n t r o d u c e d ve g e t a b l e
f a r m i n g i n t h e a r e a i n t h e 1 9 5 0 s . Wh e n t h e Ch i n e s e l e f t b e c a u s e t h e y d i d n o t
h a ve e n o u g h l a n d , t h e i n d i g e n o u s p e o p l e t o o k o ve r a n d t h e ve g e t a b l e f a r m s h a ve
t h r i ve d s i n c e t h e n .
I n 1 9 9 6 , vi l l a g e l e a d e r s a u t h o r i z e d t h e m a yo r t o a p p l y f o r a c e r t i f i c a t e o f
a n c e s t r a l d o m a i n c l a i m f o r B a k u n . T h e D E NR l a t e r r e c o g n i z e d 2 9 , 3 4 6 h e c t a r e s
o f a n c e s t r a l d o m a i n c o ve r i n g a l m o s t t h e e n t i r e m u n i c i p a l i t y o f B a k u n , wi t h t h e
e x c e p t i o n o f t h e Am b u k l a o wa t e r s h e d , t o t h e 1 3 , 0 0 0 B a g o a n d Ka n k a n a e y p e o p l e .
T h e c l a i m i n c l u d e s 4 0 0 p r i va t e t i t l e s e s t i m a t e d t o c o ve r 2 0 0 h e c t a r e s . T h e
c e r t i f i c a t e wa s a wa r d e d o n M a r c h 1 3 , 1 9 9 8 , j u s t a s t h e I ND I S CO p r o g r a m m e
i m p l e m e n t a t i o n wa s a b o u t t o s t a r t .
Ofte n , th e p u b l i c p e r c e p ti o n o f i n di ge n o u s p e o p l e s i s c o n fi n e d to i m a ge s o f
f o r e s t d we l l e r s i n G- s t r i n g o r c h e c k e r e d wr a p s k i r t s wi t h n a t i ve b a s k e t s o n t h e i r
h e a d s . B u t t h e r e a r e a l s o t r i b a l p e o p l e wh o h a ve e i t h e r vo l u n t a r i l y l e f t o r we r e
fo r c i b l y di s p l a c e d fr o m th e i r h o m e l a n d. Th e y a r e n o w s e e k i n g a n e w l i fe i n
u r b a n a r e a s , s t r u g g l i n g t o s u r vi ve i n a n u n f a m i l i a r wo r l d .
Am o n g t h e m a r e t h e we a ve r s a n d a m b u l a n t ve n d o r s wh o a r e m e m b e r s o f t h e
B a g u i o Ci t y I n d i g e n o u s Wo m e n ’ s Co u n c i l . T h e y b e l o n g t o t h e Ka n k a n a e y, I f u g a o ,
a n d Ka l i n g a t r i b e s i n t h e Co r d i l l e r a r e g i o n b u t f o r a va r i e t y o f r e a s o n s , t h e y h a ve
s e ttle d in th e po o r e r s e c tio n s o f th e b us tlin g r e s o r t c ity o f B a guio . Fr o m tim e to
t i m e , t h e y s t i l l r e t u r n t o t h e i r “ i l i ” o r n a t i ve c o m m u n i t i e s i n t h e r u r a l h i n t e r l a n d s
b u t fo r th e m o s t p a r t, th e i r i n di ge n o u s h e r i ta ge h a s b e e n s i de tr a c k e d b y da i l y
c o n c e r n s t o m a k e a l i vi n g . P r o j e c t m a n a g e r Ge r a l d i n e Ca c h o s a ys m a n y o f t h e
wo m e n h a ve b e c o m e “ ve r y i n d i vi d u a l i s t i c a n d h a ve n o c o n c e r n f o r o t h e r s ” m u c h
u n l i k e t h e s t r o n g s e n s e o f c o m m u n i t y i n t h e i r h o m e t o wn s . M a n y o f t h e c h i l d r e n
wh o we r e b o r n a n d r a i s e d i n t h e c i t y a r e u n a wa r e o f t h e i r e t h n i c h e r i t a g e , e ve n
te a s in g o th e r tr ib a l c h ildr e n in s c h o o l a b o ut th e ir in dige n o us r o o ts un til th e ir
m o t h e r s c h i d e t h e m , “ I g o r o t k a m e t , ” ( B u t yo u a r e a l s o a n I g o r o t ) a d d s Ca c h o .
14
ILO BOOK FINAL2.p65
14
2 9 .1 0 .0 1 , 1 4 :3 9
T H E CH AN GI N G SCEN E
I n a r e s e t t l e m e n t a r e a i n B o t o l a n , Z a m b a l e s , Ae t a f a m i l i e s wh o b e l o n g t o t h e
S a m a h a n g Ka t u t u b o n g M a s i k a p d o n ’ t h a ve m u c h o f a p r o b l e m r e m e m b e r i n g
t h e i r b a c k g r o u n d . Y o l a n d a Ab r i g o , p r e s i d e n t o f t h e a s s o c i a t i o n , r e c a l l s wi t h
p r i d e t h a t vi s i t o r s f r o m t h e f o r m e r n a va l b a s e i n S u b i c B a y u s e d t o d r o p b y
wh e n e ve r t h e y wa n t e d t o s e e a u t h e n t i c Ae t a p e r f o r m a n c e s . Al t h o u g h t h e y h a ve
h a d t o a d a p t t o t h e i r n e w l o wl a n d e n vi r o n m e n t f r o m t h e m o u n t a i n s t h a t t h e y
u s e d t o i n h a b i t , t h e s m a l l Ae t a c o m m u n i t y o f 7 6 f a m i l i e s h a s n o t f o r g o t t e n i t s
i n d i g e n o u s p r a c t i c e s . T h e i r m a i n c o n c e r n i s t h e i r t e n u r e o ve r t h e l a n d , wh e r e
t h e y w e r e r e s e t t l e d b y t h e f o r m e r g o ve r n o r d u e t o vi o l e n t i n c i d e n t s i n t h e
m o u n t a i n s o f Za m b a l e s n e a r l y 3 0 ye a r s a g o . Un t i l n o w, n o n e o f t h e f a m i l i e s h a s
a t i t l e a n d t h e r e a r e t h r e a t s t o e vi c t t h e m .
T h e p i l o t p r o j e c t s i t e s h a ve ye t t o a c h i e ve t h e l e ve l o f d e ve l o p m e n t e n j o ye d
b y m a i n s t r e a m s o c i e t y. F a c e d wi t h a m u l t i t u d e o f m o d e r n - d a y c o n c e r n s , t h e y
s t r i ve t o m a i n t a i n a s p e c t s o f t h e i r c u l t u r e . Li f e i s a n e ve r - e n d i n g s t r u g g l e t o
b a l a n c e t h e i r n e e d t o k e e p u p wi t h t h e p a c e i n m i x e d c o m m u n i t i e s , a n d t h e
e f f o r t t o p r e s e r ve t h e h e r i t a g e t h a t g i ve s t h e m a u n i q u e i d e n t i t y i n p o s t - c o l o n i a l
tim e s .
R e ve r t i n g t o t h e i d e a l l i f e s t yl e a n d c o m m u n i t y t h a t wa s e n j o ye d b y t h e f o r e s t
T e d u r a y o f F i g e l i s a r e m o t e p o s s i b i l i t y i n t h i s d a y a n d a g e , b u t wi t h t h e i n f u s i o n
o f n e w i de a s a n d a b e tte r a p p r e c i a ti o n fo r th e i r h e r i ta ge , s o m e i n di ge n o u s
c o m m u n i t i e s h a ve f o u n d i t e a s i e r t o c o p e wi t h t h e i r e ve r - c h a n g i n g e n vi r o n m e n t ,
a s we wi l l s e e i n t h e n e x t s e c t i o n .
15
ILO BOOK FINAL2.p65
15
2 9 .1 0 .0 1 , 1 4 :3 9
16
ILO BOOK FINAL2.p65
16
2 9 .1 0 .0 1 , 1 4 :3 9
B efore she goes to the loom, a weaver has
to sort the threadsand decide which colors
are needed to create a certain design. S he
untanglesthe thread, countsout rows, and
arranges them in a pattern on the loom.
T hen she sits for long hours, sliding the
spool to and fro, tugging the thread tight
so the fabric will not unravel easily.
S ometimesshe weaveswith a partner, two
pairsof armsand legsworking in harmony
with the loom. T he quality of the finished
product is a result of the combination of
thread, loom, and the human hands that
shaped the fabric into itsfinal form.
17
ILO BOOK FINAL2.p65
17
2 9 .1 0 .0 1 , 1 4 :3 9
W EAV I N G A N EW W EB O F LI FE
I
n th e d u s ty vi l l a ge o f S i n u d a i n B u k i d n o n , tr i b a l l e a d e r P a q u i to Ub a n r e c o u n ts
th e fa i l u r e o f a h i gh - p r o fi l e go ve r n m e n t p r o gr a m b a c k i n th e ‘ 7 0 s th a t wa s
s u p p o s e d to i m p r o ve th e l i ve s o f i n di ge n o u s c o m m u n i ti e s . A do ze n c a r a b a o s
we r e d o n a te d to th e Ma ti gs a l o g a n d Ma n o b o c o m m u n i ti e s , b u t th e a n i m a l s h a d to o
m a n y o wn e r s s o th e s e we r e o ve r wo r k e d. He p o in ts to a r o w o f s tu n te d m a h o ga n y
tr e e s o n th e r o a ds i de , a n d s a ys th o s e we r e p l a n te d 2 5 ye a r s a go fr o m s e e dl i n gs
di s tr i b u te d b y th e s a m e p r o gr a m . Ac r o s s th e fi e l d, h e ge s tu r e s to wa r d a n e m p ty
b u i l di n g, o n e o f th e “ wh i te e l e p h a n ts ” th a t th e go ve r n m e n t p r o gr a m h a d c o n s tr u c te d
du r i n g th e Ma r ti a l La w ye a r s , wh e n i n fr a s tr u c tu r e p r o j e c ts m u s h r o o m e d a c r o s s th e
c o u n tr y.
Pr o j e c t
m a n a ge r
Co s m e
La m b a yo n
of
FEMMATR I CS
a gr e e s
wi th
Ub a n ’ s
o b s e r va ti o n . I n th e p a s t, o th e r a ge n c i e s h a d gi ve n th e m va r i o u s fo r m s o f m a te r i a l
a s s is ta nc e , b ut the e ffo r ts fa ile d due to la c k o f tr a ining. Se e ds o r fe r tilize r fo r ins ta nc e ,
we r e
di s tr i b u te d to
pr o pe r ly so
th e i r
fa r m e r s
b u t th e y we r e
h a r ve s t r e m a i n e d di s m a l .
n o t ta u gh t h o w to
Th e
fe de r a ti o n
use
th e s e
i n p u ts
l a gge d b e h i n d o th e r
gr o u p s e s p e c i a l l y i n l o c a l go ve r n a n c e , fa r m i n g o f h i gh - va l u e c r o p s , a n d o th e r s k i l l s .
Th e
same
ill- planne d
appr o ac h
wa s
applie d
in
th e
Ma n gya n
vi l l a ge
of
B a l a n ga b o n g i n Oc c i d e n ta l Mi n d o r o . S o c i a l wo r k e r s ta u gh t th e tr i b a l c o m m u n i ty to
make
c o m m e r c i a l i ze d
hammoc ks
so
th e y c o u l d
a u gm e n t
th e i r
inc o m e ,
b ut
th e
p r o du c ts s o l d ve r y c h e a p l y a n d we r e l a b o r - i n te n s i ve a s we l l , e a r n i n g th e m o n l y
P1 5 0 fo r th r e e da ys ’ wo r k .
I n th e pr o c e s s , th e b us in e s s ve n tur e a ls o de s tr o ye d th e ir
tr a ditio n a l c r a ft o f m a k in g h a m m o c k s c a lle d a r ur e o r s a la fuda n . Ofte n , th e y h a d little
c h o i c e i n r e s p o n di n g to th e go ve r n m e n t p r o gr a m s . Th e a c ti vi ti e s we r e di c ta te d to
th e c o m m u n i ty a n d i f th e y d i d n o t l i k e th e p r o j e c t, i t wa s wi th d r a wn . On th e o th e r
h a n d , s o m e n o n - go ve r n m e n t o r ga n i za ti o n s i n th e a r e a s i m p l y ga ve d o l e - o u ts to th e
tr i b a l c o m m u n i ty, s a ys p r o j e c t m a n a ge r No l i Ha b l o .
Wh e n
I NDI S CO
i n tr o d u c e d
i ts
c o m m u n i ty- d r i ve n
and
p a r ti c i p a to r y a p p r o a c h
to th e fe d e r a ti o n i n B u k i d n o n , Ma n o b o tr i b a l l e a d e r B a i La u r a B a l u c a n s a ys th e r e
we r e a lo t o f c o m pla in ts a t fir s t. Th e a r e a h a d r e c e ive d va r io us fo r m s o f a s s is ta n c e in
th e p a s t, a n d th e tr i b a l p e o p l e h a d b e c o m e u s e d to o u ts i d e r s m a k i n g th e d e c i s i o n s
fo r th e m . With I NDI SCO, th e fun ds wo uld b e e n tr us te d to th e c o m m un ity o r ga n iza tio n ,
a n d th e y wo u l d h a ve to i m p l e m e n t th e i r o wn p r o j e c ts . Lo c a l c o m m u n i ti e s wo u l d
p a r ti c i p a te i n m a k i n g p l a n s a n d a c ti vi ti e s o n h o w to i m p r o ve th e q u a l i ty o f th e i r
18
ILO BOOK FINAL2.p65
18
2 9 .1 0 .0 1 , 1 4 :3 9
CH AN G I N G LI V ES
l i ve s . I f th e y m a d e m i s ta k e s , th e y wo u l d h a ve n o o n e to b l a m e b u t th e m s e l ve s .
Wh i l e I ND I S CO wo u l d p r o vi d e th e m e a n s fo r th e fe d e r a ti o n to a tta i n i ts go a l s , th e
members
wo u l d
h a ve
to
le ar n
to
ta k e
r e s p o n s i b i l i ty
fo r
c h a r ti n g
th e i r
o wn
d e ve l o p m e n t .
B a luc a pa tie n tly e xpla in e d th e b e a uty o f th e pr o c e s s to villa ge r s in Ea s t Do lo r o n g,
wh e r e s h e h e a ds th e tr i b a l c o u n c i l . “ On c e th e y u n de r s to o d i t, th e y a gr e e d wi th th e
a p p r o a c h , ” s h e s a ys i n Ce b u a n o . “ E ve n I d o n ’ t wa n t to b e gi ve n s o m e th i n g wi th o u t
h a vi n g to u s e m y b r a i n s . Th e p r o j e c t h a s e n c o u r a ge d p e o p l e to wo r k , ” s h e a dds .
Ub a n a gr e e s : “ Wi th th e I LO- I NDI S CO p r o gr a m m e , we h a ve l e a r n e d to e a r n a
l i vi n g. We we r e ta u gh t h o w to fi s h a n d we we r e n o l o n ge r j u s t gi ve n fi s h . ”
Am o n g o th e r th i n gs , fe d e r a ti o n m e m b e r s h a ve l e a r n e d a l o t fr o m th e va r i o u s
k inds
of
tr a i n i n g
c o n d u c te d .
Un d e r
th e
I ND I S CO
p r o gr a m ,
members
u n d e r go
a p p r o p r i a te tr a i n i n g fi r s t b e fo r e a n a c ti vi ty i s i m p l e m e n te d . Fo r i n s ta n c e , th o s e wh o
wa n t to s ta r t a b u y- a n d- s e l l b u s i n e s s a r e tr a i n e d o n b o o k k e e p i n g wh i l e fa r m e r s wh o
wa n t to pla n t h igh - va lue c r o ps a r e tr a in e d o n la n d pr e pa r a tio n a n d pr o pe r te c h n iq ue s
to ge t a go o d h a r ve s t. Da tu J a c i n to La n to n g, a m e m b e r o f th e FE MMATR I Cs B o a r d
o f Tr u s te e s , s a ys o n e r e a s o n th e o r ga n i za ti o n d i d n o t c o l l a p s e d e s p i te th e d a m a ge
to c r o p s fr o m El Ni ñ o a n d wa ve s o f p e s ti l e n c e i s th e k n o wl e dge th e y ga i n e d fr o m
th e tr a i n i n g o n e n vi r o n m e n ta l a wa r e n e s s .
La m b a yo n s a ys I NDI S CO’ s r e q u i r e m e n t fo r th e gr o u p to m a k e p o l i c i e s o n th e
use
o f d o n a te d e q u i p m e n t b e fo r e
p u r c h a s i n g th e m
he lpe d m ak e
vi l l a ge r s m o r e
r e s p o n s i b l e i n ta k i n g c a r e o f th e fa c i l i ti e s . B e yo n d th e m a te r i a l b e n e fi ts h o we ve r , h e
s a ys fe de r a tio n m e m b e r s h a ve r e a lize d th a t th e pr o j e c t’s s uc c e s s c a n a ls o b e m e a s ur e d
i n th e i r c o l l e c ti ve a n d p e r s o n a l gr o wth , wh i c h a r e n o t r e a di l y s e e n . Th e r e i s a
c h a n ge in a ttitude fr o m th e te n de n c y to live b e yo n d th e ir m e a n s , to pr o pe r b udge tin g
a n d p l a n n i n g.
S l o wl y, tr i b a l o ffi c i a l s a l s o b e ga n to s e e th e m e a n i n g o f i n di vi du a l a n d c o l l e c ti ve
s e l f- r e l i a n c e a s e n vi s i o n e d i n th e p r o gr a m . Th i s b e c a m e p a r ti c u l a r l y e vi de n t e a r l y
th i s ye a r , wh e n I NDI S CO r e gu l a r fi n a n c i a l a s s i s ta n c e wa s p h a s e d o u t. Un l i k e o th e r
p r o j e c ts th a t s i m p l y s to p o p e r a ti o n s wh e n th e a l l o c a te d d o n o r a s s i s ta n c e h a s b e e n
e x h a u s te d , e x te n s i o n wo r k e r Vi r gi e E n a n gk i l n o te s th a t th e fe d e r a ti o n m a n a ge d to
c o n ti n u e i m p l e m e n ti n g i ts a c ti vi ti e s b e c a u s e o f th e i r e ffe c ti ve tr a i n i n g i n p r o j e c t
19
ILO BOOK FINAL2.p65
19
2 9 .1 0 .0 1 , 1 4 :3 9
W EAV I N G A N EW W EB O F LI FE
m a n a ge m e n t a n d a d m i n i s tr a ti o n . Al th o u gh th e p a y wa s l o we r a n d th e s ta ff h a d to
p r o vi de
vo l u n te e r
s e r vi c e s
s o m e ti m e s ,
she
s a ys
th e y
lo o k e d
at
th e
l o n g- te r m
de ve l o p m e n t o f th e c o m m u n i ty a n d n o t m e r e l y th e i r p e r s o n a l ga i n fr o m th e p r o j e c t.
S i m i l a r o b s e r va ti o n s we r e m a de i n o th e r p i l o t s i te s . Th e tr i b a l c h a i r m a n o f th e
Ta u B u i d c o m m u n i ty i n Oc c i de n ta l Mi n do r o s a ys h e a p p r e c i a te s th e fr e e do m gi ve n
to th e tr i b e i n c h o o s i n g a n d p l a n n i n g i ts o wn a c ti vi ti e s , wi th th e i r p r o j e c t m a n a ge r
s i m p l y th e r e to gu i de th e m a n d p r o vi de a dvi c e wh e n e ve r n e c e s s a r y. Ma r a n a o tr i b a l
l e a de r B a i De r o n o f th e Da ya wa n Wo m e n Lo o m We a ve r s As s o c i a ti o n i n La n a o de l
Sur wa s a ls o gr a te ful fo r th e s up p o r t s h e r e c e ive d —
fr o m th e e x te n s io n wo r k e r
wh o r e s p o n ds to th e gr o u p ’ s p r o b l e m s to th e vi l l a ge a n i m a to r s wh o a s s i s t h e r i n
m a k i n g r e p o r ts .
I n th e i s l a n d o f S i m u n u l i n Ta wi - Ta wi , Ch a i r m a n Am i l h u s s i n Ab d u r a u p s a ys th e
gr a s s r o o ts a p p r o a c h h a s gr e a tl y s tr e n gth e n e d th e c a p a b i l i ty o f th e Ka s i - La s a Mu l ti P u r p o s e Co o p e r a ti ve . Afte r th e I NDI S CO p r o j e c t s u p p o r t wa s p h a s e d o u t, th e gr o u p
r e m a i n e d ve r y a c ti ve wi th th e s u p p o r t o f th e l o c a l go ve r n m e n t. I n fa c t, Ab d u r a u p
s i ts i n b o th th e m u n i c i p a l a n d p r o vi n c i a l d e ve l o p m e n t c o u n c i l s .
I n a ti n y Ae ta vi l l a ge i n B o to l a n , Za m b a l e s , c o m m u n i ty l e a d e r Yo l l y Ab r i go o f
th e
S a m a h a n g Ka tu tu b o
n g Ma s i k a p r e m e m b e r s th e
ti m e
wh e n o u ts i de r s l o o k e d
d o wn o n th e m . Vi l l a ge r s wh o wo r k e d a s h i r e d l a b o r e r s i n n e i gh b o r i n g fa r m s o fte n
go t a n d s p e n t th e i r p a y i n a dva n c e . P e o p l e th e n c a l l e d Ma s i k a p vi l l a ge “ p a h i m a l a ”
o r a p l a c e th a t i s j u s t wa i ti n g fo r m i r a
Philippine indigenous peoples lead the way in an
innovative partnership to strengthen their self-reliance and
promote their heritage in a changing world
INDISCO Case Study No. 7
Y asmin D. Arquiza
I NTERNATIONAL L ABOUR O RGANIZATION
I N T E R -R E G I O N A L P R O G R A M M E T O S U P P O R T S E L F -R E L I A N C E O F
I N D I G E N O U S A N D T R I B A L C O M M U N I T I E S T H R O U G H C O O P E R AT I V E S A N D
O T H E R S E L F -H E L P O R G A N I Z AT I O N S (I N D I S C O )
This study was done under the auspices of the ILO-INDISCO Programme which aims
at assisting indigenous and tribal peoples worldwide in their development with
financial contributions from DANIDA, the Netherlands, UNDP, AGFUND,UNV, CIDA,
Rabobank Foundation (Netherlands) and International Philippine Association.
Forew ord & Acknow ledgment
T h e I LO- I NDI S CO P r o gr a m m e wa s l a u n c h e d i n th e P h i l i p p i n e s i n 1 9 9 4
c o l l a b o r a ti o n
wi th
th e
Philippine
Go ve r n m e n t.
It
is
a
m u l ti - b i l a te r a l
in
te c h n i c a l
c o o p e r a ti o n u n d e r ta k i n g a i m e d a t s tr e n gth e n i n g th e s e l f- r e l i a n c e o f i n d i ge n o u s a n d
tr i b a l
c o m m u n i ti e s
and
te s ti n g
i n n o va ti ve
appr o ac he s
to
i n d i ge n o u s
pe o ple ’s
d e ve l o p m e n t .
I n o r de r to a c h i e ve i ts o b j e c ti ve s , i t h a s fa c i l i ta te d th e o p e r a ti o n o f 1 2 p i l o t
p r o j e c ts
l o c a te d
in
s tr a te gi c
areas
o f th e
c o u n tr y.
Th e s e
p i l o t p r o j e c ts
i n vo l ve
i n d i ge n o u s c o m m u n i ti e s i n va r i o u s s ta ge s o f d e ve l o p m e n t a n d d i ffe r e n t l e ve l s o f
c u l tu r a l i n te gr i ty. Th e y h a ve a l r e a dy b e e n i n o p e r a ti o n fo r a n a ve r a ge o f 3 . 5 ye a r s
a n d r e gu l a r I NDI S CO te c h n i c a l a n d fi n a n c i a l s u p p o r t h a s b e e n p h a s e d o u t fr o m
m o s t o f th e m .
As a s tr a te gy, I NDI S CO P h i l i p p i n e s c a p i ta l i ze d o n th e i n h e r e n t s e n s e o f s e l fr e l i a n c e a n d n a ti ve te c h n o l o gy o f th e p a r tn e r c o m m u n i ti e s . Co m m u n i ty o r ga n i za ti o n s ,
wh i c h a r e fo u n d e d o n e x i s ti n g i n d i ge n o u s i n s ti tu ti o n s , we r e ta p p e d to i m p l e m e n t
th e
p r o j e c t a c ti vi ti e s wi th fa c i l i ta ti ve
te c h n i c a l a n d fi n a n c i a l a s s i s ta n c e
fr o m th e
I NDI S CO P r o gr a m m e . T h r o u gh th e i r o wn c o m m u n i ty o r ga n i za ti o n s , th e i n d i ge n o u s
pe o ple s
we r e
c o m m u n i ty
gi ve n
th e
d e ve l o p m e n t
o p p o r tu n i ty
to
plan,
im ple m e nt
and
m o n i to r
th e i r
a c ti vi ti e s .
Fo r p u r p o s e s o f di s c o ve r i n g i n a s ys te m a ti c a n d o b j e c ti ve m a n n e r th e i n i ti a l
r e s u l ts o f th e p r o gr a m m e , Ms Ya s m i n D. Ar q u i za , a fe l l o w o f th e P h i l i p p i n e Ce n te r
fo r I n ve s ti ga ti ve J o u r n a l i s m a n d e di to r i a l di r e c to r o f B a n di l l o n g P a l a wa n , r e c e n tl y
do c um e n te d th e le s s o n s le a r n e d a n d b e s t pr a c tic e s ge n e r a te d fr o m th e pilo t pr o j e c ts .
I LO- I NDI S CO n a ti o n a l c o o r d i n a to r Do m i n go I . Na ya h a n ga n e d i te d th e te x t p r i o r to
p u b l i c a ti o n .
Th is b o o k wa s wr itte n o n th e b a s is o f in fo r m a tio n , ide a s a n d o p in io n s p r o vide d
b y th e p e o p l e wh o h a ve b e e n i n vo l ve d i n th e i m p l e m e n ta ti o n o f th e I LO- I ND I S CO
p r o gr a m m e i n th e P h i l i p p i n e s .
S p e c i a l th a n k s go to a l l o f th e m , p a r ti c u l a r l y th e
tr ib a l le a de r s a n d pr o j e c t s ta ff o f th e in dige n o us c o m m un itie s in th e 1 2 pilo t pr o j e c ts .
I t i s h o p e d th a t th r o u gh th i s b o o k , th e a b o ve - m e n ti o n e d l e s s o n s l e a r n e d a n d
b e s t p r a c ti c e s ge n e r a te d u n de r th e p r o gr a m m e i n te r m s o f i n n o va ti ve a p p r o a c h e s
to i n d i ge n o u s p e o p l e s d e ve l o p m e n t c o u l d b e d i s s e m i n a te d a n d r e p l i c a te d .
We r n e r K o n r a d Bl e n k
Di r e c t o r , I LO Ma n i l a Offi c e
1
ILO BOOK FINAL2.p65
1
2 9 .1 0 .0 1 , 1 4 :3 9
C O N T EN T S
I. The Changing Scene ................................................. 6
Cent ur i es of col oni zat i on and waves of mi gr at i on have r adi cal l y al t er ed t he
l i ves of i ndi genous peopl e al l over t he Phi l i ppi nes. Missi onar i es have penet r at ed
t he most r emot e of f or est abodes. I nt er nal ar med conf l i ct has br ought vi ol ence
i nt o ot herwi se peaceful vi l l ages. Et hni c unrest cont i nues t o rage i n t he count rysi de,
causi ng uncer t ai nt y and economi c har dshi p. I l l - pl anned devel opment pr ogr ams
and assi st ance have f ai l ed t o ease t he pover t y i n many i ndi genous communi t i es.
I n t hi s cont ext of r api d change, t he I NDI SCO pr ogr amme st ar t ed i nt r oduci ng a
new concept of communi t y devel opment par t ner shi p i n 12 pi l ot pr oj ect si t es.
II. Changing Lives ....................................................... 16
Fi ve year s af t er t he l aunchi ng of t he pi l ot pr oj ect s, I NDI SCO has br ought
si gni f i cant changes i n t he l i ves of i ndi genous peopl es i n most of t he si t es. Thr ough
i t s i nnovat i ve appr oach t hat emphasi zed col l ect i ve r esponsi bi l i t y and di scour aged
t he dol e- out ment al i t y, I NDI SCO managed t o i ns t i l l a s ens e of communi t y
owner shi p of t he pr oj ect . Many of t he par t ner communi t i es ar e wel l on t hei r way
t owar ds s us t ai ned decent wor k , hi gher f ami l y i ncome, i ncr eas ed s ens e of
r esponsi bi l i t y over t he envi r onment and nat ur al r esour ces wi t hi n ancest r al
domai ns, and gr eat er gender awar eness. Most i mpor t ant l y, bet t er appr eci at i on of
i ndi genous knowl edge s ys t ems and pr act i ces has been f os t er ed t o ens ur e t he
cul t ur al sur vi val of t r i bal communi t i es. The posi t i ve i mpact of t he pr oj ect shows
t he val i di t y of t he appr oach empl oyed by t he pr ogr amme, wher e t he par t ner
communi t i es ar e al l owed t o t ake gr eat er cont r ol of t he pr oj ect and l ear n f r om
t hei r mi st akes, and successf ul vent ur es as wel l .
Learning H ow To Fish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
22
The M usic o f the Fish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
N at ure´ s St ew ards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
33
38
O n T heir O w n . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
42
A W o rld o f M en and W o men . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Co unting the Face o f Rizal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
48
52
2
ILO BOOK FINAL2.p65
2
2 9 .1 0 .0 1 , 1 4 :3 9
III. Changing Co mmunities ......................................... 5 4
Among t he par t ner communi t i es, some have exhi bi t ed t he most successf ul
appl i cat i on of t he pr oj ect ’ s st r at egi es and component s. These best pr act i ces ar e
showcased i n t hi s sect i on. Among t he i ni t i at i ves t hat ar e r epl i cabl e i n ot her
communi t i es ar e t he gender awar eness pr ogr ams i n Bagui o Ci t y, t he i nnovat i ve
use of t he Revol vi ng Loan Funds i n Tawi - Tawi , management of ancest r al domai n
i n Bakun, t he pr eser vat i on of i ndi genous handi cr af t i n t he Aut onomous Regi on of
Musl i mMi ndanao, and t he l i t er acy pr ogr ami n Buki dnon.
Ancestral D o main M anagement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Revo lving Lo an Fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
57
63
Traditio nal H andicraft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
65
Gender Aw areness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Functio nal Literacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 1
IV. Changing People ................................................... 7 4
I n ever y pr oj ect , di f f i cul t i es ar e encount er ed t hat l ead t o deep r ef l ect i ons and
accept ance of l essons on t he par t of benef i ci ar i es. I n t hi s sect i on, par t ner
communi t i es candi dl y di s cus s ed s ome of t hei r mi s t akes as wel l as t hei r
per cept i ons on what coul d be t he weaknesses of t he pr oj ect . They al so pr ovi ded
i nsi ght s, anal ysi s, and suggest i ons f or addr essi ng t hese concer ns.
M arket ing o f Pro duct s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
76
Pro m o t ing I ndigeno us Kno w ledge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
78
Repayment o f Lo ans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Pro ject M anagement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 2
Strengthening Lo cal O rganizatio ns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
84
Lo gist ical Co ncerns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tenurial Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
85
86
Peace & O rder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
87
V. Changing the W orld ............................................... 8 8
What el se can gover nment , pr i vat e or gani zat i ons, and donor agenci es do t o
hel p t he i ndi genous peopl es i mpr ove t hei r l i ves? Tr i bal l eader s shar e t hei r i deas
on pol i cy r ecommendat i ons t hat can go a l ong way i n pr eser vi ng and pur sui ng
t he i ni t i al gai ns of t he I NDI SCO pr oj ect .
3
ILO BOOK FINAL2.p65
3
2 9 .1 0 .0 1 , 1 4 :3 9
4
ILO BOOK FINAL2.p65
4
2 9 .1 0 .0 1 , 1 4 :3 9
G L O SSA R Y
O F
T E R M S
A D S P P
Ances t r al Domai n Management Pl an
Ancest r al Domai n Sust ai nabl e Devel opment &
Pr ot ect i on Pl an
BITO
Bakun I ndi genous Tr i bes Or gani zat i on
C A D C
Cer t i f i cat e of Ancest r al Domai n Cl ai m
C A D T
Cert i fi cat e of Ancest ral Domai n Ti t l e
CALT
Cert i fi cat e of Ancest ral Land Ti t l e
D A
Depar t ment of Agr i cul t ur e
D A R
Depar t ment of Agr ar i an Ref or m
D E C S
Depar t ment of Educat i on, Cul t ur e, and Spor t s
D E N R
Depar t ment of Envi r onment and Nat ur al Resour ces
FEMMATRICs
Feder at i on of Mat i gsal og- Manobo Tr i bal Counci l s
IKSP
I ndi genous Knowl edge Sys t ems and Pr act i ces
ILO
I nt er nat i onal Labour Or gani zat i on
IPRA
I ndi genous Peopl es Ri ght s Act
MALEI
Mat i gsal og Li t er acy Educat i on I nc.
MALTRICO
Mal ungon Tr i bal Congr ess
NCIP
Nat i onal Commi ssi on on I ndi genous Peopl es
R L F
Revol vi ng Loan Fund
A D M P
5
ILO BOOK FINAL2.p65
5
2 9 .1 0 .0 1 , 1 4 :3 9
6
ILO BOOK FINAL2.p65
6
2 9 .1 0 .0 1 , 1 4 :3 9
A weaver beginsher task by selecting
the finest threads that will suit the design
she hasin mind. T he choice of material is
important, as it determines the quality of
the finished product. Other elements such
as dye and wax are also necessary to
complete the process. I n the past, many of
these materials came from the rainforest
that al so pr ovi ded the i ndi genous
communi ti es wi th food, shel ter , and
medicine. Outsiders have cut down vast
tractsof forestshowever, causing shortages
of material and endangering the survival
of ancient weaving traditions.
7
ILO BOOK FINAL2.p65
7
2 9 .1 0 .0 1 , 1 4 :3 9
W EAV I N G A N EW W EB O F LI FE
I
n h i s b o o k Wi s d o m fr o m a R a i n fo r e s t, a n th r o p o l o gi s t S tu a r t S c h l e ge l d e s c r i b e s
a n i d yl l i c c o m m u n i ty o f i n d i ge n o u s T e d u r a y i n th e Co ta b a to r e gi o n d u r i n g
th e
1 9 6 0 s.
The
tr i b a l
pe o ple
in
r e m o te
Fi ge l
vi l l a ge
b e l i e ve
th e y we r e
c r e a te d b y th e Gr e a t S p i r i t to c a r e fo r th e fo r e s t, a n d th a t th e fo r e s t wa s c r e a te d to
p r o vi d e
fo r
th e i r
ne e ds.
d u r i n g h a r ve s t ti m e ,
The y he lpe d
th e y s h a r e d
th e
eac h
o th e r
b o u n ty fr o m
pr e par e
th e
s wi d d e n
land.
Eac h
fa r m s ,
one
and
wa s
a
“ s pe c ia lis t” in a pa r tic ula r s k ill s uc h a s h un tin g, h e a lin g, o r m e dia tin g c o n flic ts , a n d
c o n tr i b u te d th i s u n i q u e ta l e n t to th e c o m m u n i ty. Ye t, n o o n e wa s a b o ve a n yb o d y
e l s e . Al l c r e a tu r e s , h u m a n s a s we l l a s wi l d l i fe , h a d e q u a l va l u e . Ge n d e r c o n fl i c t
wa s n o n - e x i s te n t a s m e n a n d wo m e n s h a r e d r e s p o n s i b i l i ty a n d va r i o u s r o l e s i n
m a n y a s p e c ts o f d a i l y l i fe . Ch i l d r e n we r e a c c o r d e d th e s a m e r e s p e c t a s a d u l ts ,
a n d th e r e wa s n o d i s c r i m i n a ti o n a ga i n s t ga ys . T h e i r wa y o f l i fe h a d n o r o o m fo r
c o m p e ti ti o n , h i e r a r c h y, c o e r c i ve fo r c e , a n d vi o l e n c e . E ve n i n a ga m e o f k i c k b a l l ,
th e r e we r e n o wi n n e r s o r l o s e r s b e c a u s e th e o b j e c ti ve wa s s i m p l y fo r e ve r yo n e to
m a k e th e b a l l s ta y i n th e a i r th e l o n ge s t. Ha r m o n y p r e va i l e d b e c a u s e th e y a vo i d e d
i n fl i c ti n g p h ys i c a l o r e m o ti o n a l p a i n o n a n o th e r p e r s o n . Wh e n d i s p u te s a r o s e ,
th e y r e l i e d o n l e ga l s a ge s to s e ttl e th e i s s u e th r o u gh a n e l a b o r a te tr i b a l j u s ti c e
s ys te m . Co o p e r a ti o n wa s th e k e y to th e i r s u r vi va l .
I t i s u n l i k e l y th a t th e T e d u r a y i n Fi ge l h a d e ve r h e a r d o f s o c i a l i s m e ve n
th o u gh th e y p r a c ti c e d o n e o f i ts c o r e va l u e s : fr o m e a c h a c c o r d i n g to h i s o r h e r
a b i l i ti e s , a n d to e a c h a c c o r di n g to h i s o r h e r n e e ds . B u t th e n i de o l o gy a n d p o l i ti c a l
p o we r h a d n o p l a c e i n th e i r wa y o f l i fe . T h e i r e ga l i ta r i a n s ys te m wa s s i m p l y th e
essenc e
of
c o m m u n i ty.
Un fo r tu n a te l y, th e
Te dur a y pe o ple
o f Fi ge l h a d n o
c o n tr o l o ve r
th e
wo r l d
o u ts i d e th e i r p e a c e fu l vi l l a ge e i th e r . I n th e e a r l y 1 9 7 0 s , e th n i c c o n fl i c ts r e a c h e d
th e i r fo r e s t a b o d e a n d th e c o m m u n i ty wa s d i s p e r s e d , m a n y o f i ts m e m b e r s k i l l e d .
Wh i l e i t m a y b e e x tr e m e , th e fa te o f th e fo r e s t T e d u r a y i n Co ta b a to r e fl e c ts
th e
n e ga ti ve
o u tc o m e
of
a
c h a n gi n g
e n vi r o n m e n t
in
th e
l i ve s
of
Philippine
i n d i ge n o u s c u l tu r a l c o m m u n i ti e s . T h i s i s th e c o n te x t th a t th e m a n a ge r s o f I NDI S CO
h a ve to fa c e i n th e 1 2 p i l o t s i te s o f th e p r o gr a m m e —
a n d u n r e s t th a t h a s
tr a n s fo r m e d o n c e
i d yl l i c
a c l i m a te o f u n c e r ta i n ty
c o m m u n i ti e s
i n to
c o n fl i c t- r i d d e n
s e ttle m e n ts .
8
ILO BOOK FINAL2.p65
8
2 9 .1 0 .0 1 , 1 4 :3 9
T H E CH AN GI N G SCEN E
T o th i s d a y, c o n fl i c t p e r s i s ts i n c e r ta i n p a r ts o f th e P h i l i p p i n e s , a d ve r s e l y
a ffe c ti n g th e e c o n o m y a n d c a u s i n g te n s i o n a m o n g i n d i ge n o u s p e o p l e s . T h e l a te s t
o u tb r e a k o f fi gh ti n g b e twe e n r e b e l s a n d go ve r n m e n t fo r c e s i n c e n tr a l Mi n d a n a o
i n th e e a r l y p a r t o f ye a r 2 0 0 0 h a s s e ve r e l y a ffe c te d th e h a n d i c r a ft p r o d u c ti o n o f
I ND I S CO p a r tn e r c o m m u n i ti e s i n th e r e gi o n . I n th e p r o vi n c e o f La n a o d e l S u r , a
p l a c e we l l k n o wn fo r i ts c o l o r fu l wo ve n c l o th a n d fi n e l y – c r a fte d b r a s s wa r e ,
D e r o n s a ys s h e k e e p s h e r c h i l d r e n ’ s c l o th e s i n s u i tc a s e s —
B ai
s o th e y c a n e va c u a te
e a s i l y i f th e n e e d a r i s e s . E ve n th o u gh s h e wa n te d m e to vi s i t h e r wo m e n ’ s gr o u p
i n th e vi l l a ge o f D a ya wa n wh e r e th e i r wo ve n m a l o n g wr a p s a r e r e p u te d to b e
a m o n g th e b e s t i n Mi n d a n a o , s h e wa s h e s i ta n t. As s h e r e c a l l e d te l l i n g th e p r o j e c t
m a n a ge r , “ Ho w c a n I gu a r a n te e h e r s a fe ty i f I c a n n o t e ve n gu a r a n te e m y c h i l d r e n ’ s
s a fe ty?”
De r o n
he a ds
th e
D a ya wa n
Wo m e n
Lo o m
We a ve r s
As s o c i a ti o n ,
th e
o r ga n i za ti o n o f o n e o f th e p a r tn e r c o m m u n i ti e s l o c a te d i n th e Au to n o m o u s R e gi o n
i n Mu s l i m Mi n d a n a o .
I n a n e i gh b o r i n g vi l l a ge , Ha j i Ma n ga c o p D i p a tu a n , Ch a i r m a n o f th e T u ga ya
B r a s s wa r e Ma k e r s Mu l ti p u r p o s e Co o p e r a ti ve , wh i c h i s a n o th e r p a r tn e r c o m m u n i ty
o r ga n i za ti o n , wa s fo r c e d to s ta y h o m e a l s o b e c a u s e o f th e i n te r n a l c o n fl i c t. As a
r e s u l t, h e wa s u n a b l e to j o i n th e i n te r vi e w i n I l i ga n Ci ty. T h e two o r ga n i za ti o n s
h a d p r o p o s e d I l i ga n Ci ty a s th e ve n u e fo r th e i n te r vi e w b e c a u s e i t wa s c o n s i d e r e d
r e l a ti ve l y s a fe c o m p a r e d to o th e r a r e a s .
Co ta b a to Ci ty fa c e s a s i m i l a r i m a ge p r o b l e m . T h e i n te r n a l c o n fl i c t h a d a te l l i n g
e ffe c t o n b u s i n e s s i n th e c i ty, wh i c h h a s fa i l e d to k e e p p a c e wi th th e e c o n o m i c
b o o m i n th e s o u th e r n p a r t o f th e r e s o u r c e - r i c h Co ta b a to r e gi o n . Ve h i c l e s h a ve to
go
th r o u gh
s e ve r a l
c h e c k p o i n ts
S u l ta n Ku d a r a t Wo m e n Lo o m
b e fo r e
e n te r i n g
ur b an
areas.
Me m b e r s
We a ve r s As s o c i a ti o n n o te d th a t th e
o f th e
s i tu a ti o n h a s
s c a r e d o ff s o m e c u s to m e r s . T h e i r i n tr i c a te l y wo ve n m a l o n g a n d tu b a o wi th th e
d i s ti n c ti ve Ma gu i n d a n a o d e s i gn s a r e p i l i n g u p i n th e i r d i s p l a y c e n te r a s m a r k e ti n g
a c ti vi ti e s o u ts i d e th e c i ty we r e i m p a i r e d .
Pub lic
i n fr a s tr u c tu r e h a s a l s o s u ffe r e d fr o m th e c o n fl i c t. T h e T e d u r a y a n d
Ma gu in da n a o
r e s i d e n ts
of
Up i
b e lo n gin g
to
th e
Ku m i n a m a r
M u l ti - P u r p o s e
Co o p e r a ti ve k n o w th i s o n l y to o we l l ; th e y h a ve to tr a ve l fo r o n e d a y j u s t to r e a c h
th e
c i ty.
The
r o a d go i n g to
th e i r
to wn
ne e de d r e pa ir ,
a n d fe w b o a ts
9
ILO BOOK FINAL2.p65
9
2 9 .1 0 .0 1 , 1 4 :3 9
p l y th e
W EAV I N G A N EW W EB O F LI FE
d a n ge r o u s
wa te r wa ys
le ading
to
th e i r
homes.
Co m m u n i c a ti o n
is
s p o tty,
wi th
m e s s a ge s ge tti n g r e l a ye d to th e m u s u a l l y th r o u gh th e l o c a l r a d i o . As a r e s u l t, th e
h a n d i c r a ft p r o d u c e r s c o u l d n o t
k e e p u p wi th o r d e r s fo r th e i r b a s k e ts a n d o th e r
n a ti ve p r o d u c ts m a d e o f a wi l d vi n e c a l l e d n i to . I n r e c e n t ye a r s , th e i n te r n a l
c o n fl i c t h a s c o m b i n e d wi th l o gi s ti c a l d i ffi c u l ti e s to m a k e l i fe ve r y h a r d fo r th e
c o o p e r a ti ve m e m b e r s wh o a r e a l l e n ga ge d i n th e h a n d i c r a ft b u s i n e s s . D a tu La b
S i n s u a t, p r e s i d e n t o f th e c o o p e r a ti ve , s a ys th a t b u s i n e s s u s e d to b e go o d b u t h a s
s l o we d d o wn s i n c e th e c o n fl i c t i n te n s i fi e d .
T h e s i tu a ti o n i s th e s a m e i n th e s o u th we s te r n p a r t o f Mi n d a n a o , wh i c h m a d e
h e a d l i n e s wi th s e ve r a l k i d n a p p i n g i n c i d e n ts l a s t ye a r . Fe w o u ts i d e r s d a r e to tr a ve l
to th i s r e gi o n wh e r e th e p r o vi n c e o f T a wi - T a wi , h o m e l a n d o f th e S a m a p e o p l e
wh o a r e k n o wn a s h a r d - wo r k i n g fi s h e r s , i s fo u n d . T h e Mu n i c i p a l i ty o f S i m u n u l i n
T a wi - T a wi i s th e s i te o f th e Ka s i - La s a Mu l ti - P u r p o s e Co o p e r a ti ve , a n o r ga n i za ti o n
c o m p o s e d o f S a m a p e o p l e l i vi n g i n th e b a r a n ga ys o f B a k o n g a n d P a n gl i m a Ma s tu l .
Th e is la n d is k n o wn a s th e c r a dle o f I s la m b e c a u s e it is th e s ite o f th e fir s t m o s q u e
e r e c te d i n th e P h i l i p p i n e s b y Ar a b m i s s i o n a r y S h e i k Ka r i m Ul - Ma k d u m i n th e e a r l y
1 4 th c e n tu r y. T r a c e s o f th e p a s t l i ve o n i n s u c h th i n gs a s th e n a m e o f th e o l d e s t
b a r a n ga y, wh i c h i s T o n g Gu s o n g, o r Fi r s t S a n d .
E l s e wh e r e i n m a i n l a n d Mi n d a n a o , o n e i s c o n s ta n tl y r e m i n d e d o f th e h i gh
l e ve l o f p o l i ti c a l a wa r e n e s s a n d th e r e c e n t h i s to r y o f s o c i a l u n r e s t i n th e r e gi o n .
T h e i n d i ge n o u s B ’ l a a n a n d T a ga k a o l o c o m m u n i ti e s i n Ma l u n go n , S a r a n ga n i h a d a
h i s to r y o f b e i n g a t o d d s wi th o n e a n o th e r d u e to va r i o u s r e a s o n s . B u t e ve n wi th
th a t, th e y b o th h a d to c o n te n d wi th th e r i s i n g n u m b e r o f Vi s a ya n m i gr a n ts wh o
fo u n d th e i r wa y to th e i r a n c e s tr a l d o m a i n s . E a r l y a tte m p ts to u n i te th e two tr i b a l
c o m m u n i ti e s , th r o u gh a s e r i e s o f o r ga n i za ti o n s , d i d n o t s u c c e e d b e c a u s e b o th
tr i b e s c o u l d n o t fi n d e n o u gh r e a s o n to ge t a l o n g wi th e a c h o th e r . B u t u n d e r th e
I ND I S CO p r o gr a m m e , th e y we r e a b l e to o ve r c o m e th e i r d i ffe r e n c e s , a n d to wo r k
to ge th e r th r o u gh a s i n gl e o r ga n i za ti o n c a l l e d th e Ma l u n go n T r i b a l Co n gr e s s o r
MALT R I CO .
T h i s wa s a n i m p o r ta n t d e ve l o p m e n t fo r
th e
i n d i ge n o u s p e o p l e s i n
th e a r e a wh o fe l t th e y we r e ge tti n g o ve r s h a d o we d b y th e “ l o wl a n d e r s . ”
Ac c o r d i n g to th e T a ga k a o l o - B ’ l a a n a n c e s tr a l d o m a i n b a s e l i n e s u r ve y r e p o r t,
th e two tr i b e s a r e n o t tr a d i ti o n a l l y n o m a d i c ; th e y e s ta b l i s h a ffi n i ty to th e i r p l a c e .
10
ILO BOOK FINAL2.p65
10
2 9 .1 0 .0 1 , 1 4 :3 9
T H E CH AN GI N G SCEN E
B u t s u c c e s s i ve go ve r n m e n t d e c r e e s e r o d e d th e i r r i gh ts o ve r th e l a n d th e y h a ve
p o s s e s s e d a n d o c c u p i e d s i n c e ti m e i m m e m o r i a l . I n fo r m a ti o n a b o u t th e 1 9 0 2 La n d
R e gi s tr a ti o n
Ac t
of
th e
Am e r i c a n
c o l o n i ze r s
fo r
e xample ,
did
not
reac h
th e
h i n te r l a n d s o f Mi n d a n a o wh e r e m a n y o f th e i n d i ge n o u s p e o p l e s l i ve d . T h e 1 9 0 5
P u b l i c La n d Ac t ga ve th e go ve r n m e n t s o l e c o n tr o l o ve r a l l u n r e gi s te r e d l a n d a n d
fr o m 1 9 1 3 to 1 9 1 9 , a s e r i e s o f go ve r n m e n t d e c r e e s l u r e d m i gr a n ts to th e a r e a ,
r e s u l ti n g i n m i x e d s e ttl e m e n ts th a t a b o u n d i n m u c h o f M i n d a n a o to d a y. I n 1 9 7 3 ,
th e n P r e s i d e n t Fe r d i n a n d Ma r c o s ga ve th e De p a r tm e n t o f Na tu r a l R e s o u r c e s c o n tr o l
o ve r p u b l i c l a n d s .
I n te n s e l o b b yi n g fr o m i n d i ge n o u s p e o p l e ’ s r i gh ts a d vo c a te s r e c e n tl y c h a n ge d
go ve r n m e n t p o l i c y o n i n d i ge n o u s p e o p l e s . T h e m o s t p r o fo u n d r e fo r m s o c c u r r e d
d u r i n g th e te r m o f fo r m e r P r e s i d e n t Fi d e l R a m o s , wh e n th e go ve r n m e n t s ta r te d
r e c o gn i zi n g th e r i gh t o f i n d i ge n o u s p e o p l e s to th e i r a n c e s tr a l te r r i to r i e s . Fo r th e
B ’ l a a n a n d T a ga k a o l o p e o p l e s o f Ma l u n go n , s u c h r e c o gn i ti o n c a m e i n th e fo r m o f
a Ce r ti fi c a te o f An c e s tr a l D o m a i n Cl a i m ( CAD C) a wa r d e d to e a c h o f th e two tr i b e s
o n Ma y 3 0 , 1 9 9 7 c o ve r i n g a to ta l o f 8 1 , 6 2 8 h e c ta r e s . Ab o u t 1 4 , 0 0 0 T a ga k a o l o s
a n d n e a r l y 1 5 , 0 0 0 B ’ l a a n s b e n e fi te d fr o m th e a wa r d , th a t ga ve th e m b a c k s o m e
a m o u n t o f c o n tr o l o ve r th e r e s o u r c e s i n th e i r te r r i to r y. E a r l i e r , th e y h a d b e c o m e
c o n c e r n e d a b o u t r a m p a n t i l l e ga l l o ggi n g i n th e i r fo r e s ts a n d l o s s o f b i o d i ve r s i ty i n
th e r o l l i n g fa r m l a n d a n d r i c h wa te r wa ys . As s i s ta n c e fr o m I ND I S CO h e l p e d th e m
tu r n th e ti d e a ga i n s t o u ts i d e r s wh o we r e d e s tr o yi n g th e i r n a tu r a l e n vi r o n m e n t. I t
a l s o h e l p e d th e m s te m th e r a m p a n t s e l l i n g o f l a n d b y s o m e c o m m u n i ty m e m b e r s .
T h e m u n i c i p a l go ve r n m e n t d i d n o t o p p o s e th e c l a i m b e c a u s e o ffi c i a l s k n e w th e
la nd is pub lic do m a in.
Tagakaol o and
B´ l aan i ndi genous
l eader s pl edge t o
prot ect t hei r t ri bal
t erri t ory duri ng t he
awar di ng of t hei r
Cert i fi cat e of
Ancest r al Domai n
Cl ai m or CADC i n
Mal ungon,
Sar angani
pr ovi nce, i n 1997.
11
ILO BOOK FINAL2.p65
11
2 9 .1 0 .0 1 , 1 4 :3 9
W EAV I N G A N EW W EB O F LI FE
I n th e ye a r s fo l l o wi n g th e fa m o u s E d s a R e vo l u ti o n th a t to o k p l a c e i n 1 9 8 6 ,
s o m e p r o vi n c e s h a ve m a n a ge d to r e c o ve r fr o m c o n fl i c ts th a t u s e d to d i vi d e th e i r
c o m m u n i ti e s . Am o n g th e s e i s B u k i d n o n , wh e r e a c o m m u n i ty u p r i s i n g i n 1 9 7 5 l e d
b y th e
r e s p e c te d
D a tu
Lo r e n zo
Ga wi l a n ,
Sr .
ga ve
b i r th
to
th e
Fe d e r a ti o n
of
Ma ti gs a l o g a n d Ma n o b o T r i b a l Co u n c i l s o r FE MMAT R I Cs . I n th e e a r l y ye a r s o f
Ma r ti a l La w, th e go ve r n m e n t h a d d i vi d e d th e i r a n c e s tr a l d o m a i n i n to r a n c h e s a n d
a wa r d e d th e s e to i n fl u e n ti a l b u s i n e s s m e n fr o m va r i o u s o r i gi n s . A q u a r r e l b e twe e n
o n e o f th e r a n c h e r s a n d a tr i b e s m a n tr i gge r e d th e u p r i s i n g. D a tu Ga wi l a n th e n
de c la r e d
th a t
he
wo u l d
go ve r n m e n t gr a n te d th e
sur r e nde r
o nly
if
de m and and sinc e
th e
th e n ,
ranc hes
are
Ga wi l a n ’ s
d i s m a n tl e d .
gr o u p
has
The
lo b b ie d
vi go r o u s l y fo r th e r e tu r n o f th e l a n d to th e tr i b e s th a t h a d l o n g n u r tu r e d i t.
In
1995,
Ma ti gs a l o g- Ma n o b o
go ve r n m e n t gr a n te d a
Ce r ti fi c a te
tr i b e s
a c h i e ve d
a
o f An c e s tr a l D o m a i n
major
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vi c to r y
to
th e m
wh e n
th e
c o ve r i n g
7 7 , 1 3 4 h e c ta r e s o f la n d in 2 0 b a r a n ga ys . Mo s t o f th e la n d is fo un d in th e m o un ta in o us
to wn o f Ki ta o ta o i n B u k i d n o n , b u t th e c e r ti fi c a te a l s o c o ve r s th r e e b a r a n ga ys e a c h
i n th e a d j o i n i n g m u n i c i p a l i ti e s o f Ar a k a n i n n o r th Co ta b a to a n d Ma r i l o g i n D a va o
Ci ty. Fe e l i n g h a p p y th a t p e a c e h a s r e tu r n e d to th e i r fe r ti l e h o m e l a n d , l o c a l fa r m e r s
a r e n o w m o r e p r e o c c u p i e d wi th p e s ts th a t m a y a tta c k th e i r c r o p s th a n wo r k i n g to
a vo i d ge tti n g c a u gh t i n th e c r o s s fir e .
Fo r
th e Ma n gya n p e o p l e o f Oc c i d e n ta l Mi n d o r o , r e c l a i m i n g th e i r
a n c e s tr a l
d o m a i n h a s r e m a i n e d a d r e a m . Wi th o p p o s i ti o n to th e i r a n c e s tr a l d o m a i n c l a i m s
s ti l l e vi d e n t, i t m a y ta k e s o m e ti m e b e fo r e th a t d r e a m b e c o m e s a r e a l i ty.
I n th e m o u n ta i n vi l l a ge o f B a l a n ga b o n g i n Oc c i d e n ta l Mi n d o r o , tr i b a l l e a d e r s
c r e d i te d m i s s i o n a r i e s fo r b r i n gi n g b a s i c s e r vi c e s s u c h a s c l e a n wa te r a n d h e a l th
c a r e to th e i r r e m o te c o m m u n i ty. On e r e l i gi o u s gr o u p fo r e x a m p l e , fu n d e d th e
c o n s tr u c ti o n o f a s p r i n g wa te r s ys te m . B u t th e c o m m u n i ty a l s o a d m i tte d th a t th e
in flue n c e o f s o m e r e ligio us gr o up s h a d e r o de d th e ir in dige n o us b e lie fs . Fo r in s ta n c e ,
th e
c o m m u n i ty n o
l o n ge r
r e ve r e s
th e
tr a d i ti o n a l
go d
o f th e
Ta u
Fu n b a l o gs . “ Na k a p a g - a r a l n a k a s i k a m i , ” ( We a r e n o w e d u c a te d )
B uid
c alle d
s a ys a tr i b a l
o ffi c e r . T h e y we r e to l d a c c e p ti n g th e Ch r i s ti a n c o n c e p t o f Go d m e a n s th e y s h o u l d
n o l o n ge r m a k e o ffe r i n gs to a n i m i s t go d s .
12
ILO BOOK FINAL2.p65
12
2 9 .1 0 .0 1 , 1 4 :3 9
T H E CH AN GI N G SCEN E
I ndi genous hous es
made of nat i ve mat er i al s
can st i l l be f ound i n t he
Cor di l l er a Mount ai ns,
home of sever al t r i bes
t hat have mai nt ai ned
aspect s of t hei r
t radi t i onal cul t ure.
T h e i n f l u e n c e o f o u t s i d e r s i s n o t m u c h o f a p r o b l e m f o r t h e Ka n k a n a e y p e o p l e
i n t h e m u n i c i p a l i t y o f B a k u n i n t h e Co r d i l l e r a M o u n t a i n s . E ve n t h o u g h m a n y h a ve
c o n ve r t e d t o We s t e r n r e l i g i o n s , Ch r i s t i a n r i t e s a r e u s u a l l y m i x e d wi t h i n d i g e n o u s
r i t u a l s s u c h a s t h e l a wi t o r r e q u i e m m a s s fo r t h e d e a d . I t h a s p r o b a b l y h e l p e d t h a t
t h e c o m m u n i t y i s fa i r l y h o m o g e n o u s , wi t h o n l y a fe w l o wl a n d e r s m a r r i e d t o l o c a l
wo m e n c o m p r i s i n g a m i n i m a l e t h n i c m i x . Ca ve b u r i a l s a r e s t i l l p r a c t i c e d b y s o m e
c l a n s fo r d e s e r vi n g m e m b e r s , d e p e n d i n g o n th e i r s ta tu s , e s p e c i a l l y fo r th e k a d a n gya n
o r r i c h p e o p l e . T h e s e d a ys h o we ve r , th e m o r e p r e va l e n t c u s to m i s to b u r y th e d e a d i n
o n e ’ s b a c k ya r d .
Ne s t l e d b e t we e n fo r e s t e d s l o p e s i n t h e m i s t y m o u n t a i n s , t h e t o wn o f B a k u n i s
h o m e t o M o u n t Ka b u n i a n , wh i c h i s c o n s i d e r e d a h o l y s i t e . I n t h e l o c a l l a n g u a g e ,
B a k u n m e a n s d i p p e r , wh i c h d e s c r i b e s t h e b o wl - s h a p e d va l l e y a n d t h e h a n d l e - l i k e
r i ve r th a t r u n s th r o u g h i t. T h e to wn p r o p e r wa s r e l o c a te d to th e m o r e a c c e s s i b l e
Some vi l l ages have
r et ai ned t he pr act i ce of
cave bur i al s f or cer t ai n
member s , whos e bodi es
ar e pl aced i n nat i ve
coffins.
13
ILO BOOK FINAL2.p65
13
2 9 .1 0 .0 1 , 1 4 :3 9
W EAV I N G A N EW W EB O F LI FE
b a r a n g a y o f Am p u s u n g a n , w h e r e t h e o f f i c e o f t h e B a k u n I n d i g e n o u s T r i b e s
O r g a n i z a t i o n ( B I T O ) i s l o c a t e d . Al t h o u g h i t ’ s o n l y e i g h t y k i l o m e t e r s f r o m B a g u i o
Ci t y, i t t a k e s t h r e e h o u r s t o r e a c h t h e a r e a a l o n g t h e r o u g h a n d s l i p p e r y Ha l s e m a
R o a d . T i d y r o ws o f ve g e t a b l e s s u c h a s c a b b a g e , c a r r o t s , l e t t u c e , a n d c u c u m b e r
g r a c e t h e t e r r a c e d p l o t s a s f a r a s t h e e ye c a n s e e . B I T O c h a i r m a n T i r s o B a ya wa ,
wh o i s a l s o t h e vi c e m a yo r o f B a k u n , s a ys t h e Ch i n e s e i n t r o d u c e d ve g e t a b l e
f a r m i n g i n t h e a r e a i n t h e 1 9 5 0 s . Wh e n t h e Ch i n e s e l e f t b e c a u s e t h e y d i d n o t
h a ve e n o u g h l a n d , t h e i n d i g e n o u s p e o p l e t o o k o ve r a n d t h e ve g e t a b l e f a r m s h a ve
t h r i ve d s i n c e t h e n .
I n 1 9 9 6 , vi l l a g e l e a d e r s a u t h o r i z e d t h e m a yo r t o a p p l y f o r a c e r t i f i c a t e o f
a n c e s t r a l d o m a i n c l a i m f o r B a k u n . T h e D E NR l a t e r r e c o g n i z e d 2 9 , 3 4 6 h e c t a r e s
o f a n c e s t r a l d o m a i n c o ve r i n g a l m o s t t h e e n t i r e m u n i c i p a l i t y o f B a k u n , wi t h t h e
e x c e p t i o n o f t h e Am b u k l a o wa t e r s h e d , t o t h e 1 3 , 0 0 0 B a g o a n d Ka n k a n a e y p e o p l e .
T h e c l a i m i n c l u d e s 4 0 0 p r i va t e t i t l e s e s t i m a t e d t o c o ve r 2 0 0 h e c t a r e s . T h e
c e r t i f i c a t e wa s a wa r d e d o n M a r c h 1 3 , 1 9 9 8 , j u s t a s t h e I ND I S CO p r o g r a m m e
i m p l e m e n t a t i o n wa s a b o u t t o s t a r t .
Ofte n , th e p u b l i c p e r c e p ti o n o f i n di ge n o u s p e o p l e s i s c o n fi n e d to i m a ge s o f
f o r e s t d we l l e r s i n G- s t r i n g o r c h e c k e r e d wr a p s k i r t s wi t h n a t i ve b a s k e t s o n t h e i r
h e a d s . B u t t h e r e a r e a l s o t r i b a l p e o p l e wh o h a ve e i t h e r vo l u n t a r i l y l e f t o r we r e
fo r c i b l y di s p l a c e d fr o m th e i r h o m e l a n d. Th e y a r e n o w s e e k i n g a n e w l i fe i n
u r b a n a r e a s , s t r u g g l i n g t o s u r vi ve i n a n u n f a m i l i a r wo r l d .
Am o n g t h e m a r e t h e we a ve r s a n d a m b u l a n t ve n d o r s wh o a r e m e m b e r s o f t h e
B a g u i o Ci t y I n d i g e n o u s Wo m e n ’ s Co u n c i l . T h e y b e l o n g t o t h e Ka n k a n a e y, I f u g a o ,
a n d Ka l i n g a t r i b e s i n t h e Co r d i l l e r a r e g i o n b u t f o r a va r i e t y o f r e a s o n s , t h e y h a ve
s e ttle d in th e po o r e r s e c tio n s o f th e b us tlin g r e s o r t c ity o f B a guio . Fr o m tim e to
t i m e , t h e y s t i l l r e t u r n t o t h e i r “ i l i ” o r n a t i ve c o m m u n i t i e s i n t h e r u r a l h i n t e r l a n d s
b u t fo r th e m o s t p a r t, th e i r i n di ge n o u s h e r i ta ge h a s b e e n s i de tr a c k e d b y da i l y
c o n c e r n s t o m a k e a l i vi n g . P r o j e c t m a n a g e r Ge r a l d i n e Ca c h o s a ys m a n y o f t h e
wo m e n h a ve b e c o m e “ ve r y i n d i vi d u a l i s t i c a n d h a ve n o c o n c e r n f o r o t h e r s ” m u c h
u n l i k e t h e s t r o n g s e n s e o f c o m m u n i t y i n t h e i r h o m e t o wn s . M a n y o f t h e c h i l d r e n
wh o we r e b o r n a n d r a i s e d i n t h e c i t y a r e u n a wa r e o f t h e i r e t h n i c h e r i t a g e , e ve n
te a s in g o th e r tr ib a l c h ildr e n in s c h o o l a b o ut th e ir in dige n o us r o o ts un til th e ir
m o t h e r s c h i d e t h e m , “ I g o r o t k a m e t , ” ( B u t yo u a r e a l s o a n I g o r o t ) a d d s Ca c h o .
14
ILO BOOK FINAL2.p65
14
2 9 .1 0 .0 1 , 1 4 :3 9
T H E CH AN GI N G SCEN E
I n a r e s e t t l e m e n t a r e a i n B o t o l a n , Z a m b a l e s , Ae t a f a m i l i e s wh o b e l o n g t o t h e
S a m a h a n g Ka t u t u b o n g M a s i k a p d o n ’ t h a ve m u c h o f a p r o b l e m r e m e m b e r i n g
t h e i r b a c k g r o u n d . Y o l a n d a Ab r i g o , p r e s i d e n t o f t h e a s s o c i a t i o n , r e c a l l s wi t h
p r i d e t h a t vi s i t o r s f r o m t h e f o r m e r n a va l b a s e i n S u b i c B a y u s e d t o d r o p b y
wh e n e ve r t h e y wa n t e d t o s e e a u t h e n t i c Ae t a p e r f o r m a n c e s . Al t h o u g h t h e y h a ve
h a d t o a d a p t t o t h e i r n e w l o wl a n d e n vi r o n m e n t f r o m t h e m o u n t a i n s t h a t t h e y
u s e d t o i n h a b i t , t h e s m a l l Ae t a c o m m u n i t y o f 7 6 f a m i l i e s h a s n o t f o r g o t t e n i t s
i n d i g e n o u s p r a c t i c e s . T h e i r m a i n c o n c e r n i s t h e i r t e n u r e o ve r t h e l a n d , wh e r e
t h e y w e r e r e s e t t l e d b y t h e f o r m e r g o ve r n o r d u e t o vi o l e n t i n c i d e n t s i n t h e
m o u n t a i n s o f Za m b a l e s n e a r l y 3 0 ye a r s a g o . Un t i l n o w, n o n e o f t h e f a m i l i e s h a s
a t i t l e a n d t h e r e a r e t h r e a t s t o e vi c t t h e m .
T h e p i l o t p r o j e c t s i t e s h a ve ye t t o a c h i e ve t h e l e ve l o f d e ve l o p m e n t e n j o ye d
b y m a i n s t r e a m s o c i e t y. F a c e d wi t h a m u l t i t u d e o f m o d e r n - d a y c o n c e r n s , t h e y
s t r i ve t o m a i n t a i n a s p e c t s o f t h e i r c u l t u r e . Li f e i s a n e ve r - e n d i n g s t r u g g l e t o
b a l a n c e t h e i r n e e d t o k e e p u p wi t h t h e p a c e i n m i x e d c o m m u n i t i e s , a n d t h e
e f f o r t t o p r e s e r ve t h e h e r i t a g e t h a t g i ve s t h e m a u n i q u e i d e n t i t y i n p o s t - c o l o n i a l
tim e s .
R e ve r t i n g t o t h e i d e a l l i f e s t yl e a n d c o m m u n i t y t h a t wa s e n j o ye d b y t h e f o r e s t
T e d u r a y o f F i g e l i s a r e m o t e p o s s i b i l i t y i n t h i s d a y a n d a g e , b u t wi t h t h e i n f u s i o n
o f n e w i de a s a n d a b e tte r a p p r e c i a ti o n fo r th e i r h e r i ta ge , s o m e i n di ge n o u s
c o m m u n i t i e s h a ve f o u n d i t e a s i e r t o c o p e wi t h t h e i r e ve r - c h a n g i n g e n vi r o n m e n t ,
a s we wi l l s e e i n t h e n e x t s e c t i o n .
15
ILO BOOK FINAL2.p65
15
2 9 .1 0 .0 1 , 1 4 :3 9
16
ILO BOOK FINAL2.p65
16
2 9 .1 0 .0 1 , 1 4 :3 9
B efore she goes to the loom, a weaver has
to sort the threadsand decide which colors
are needed to create a certain design. S he
untanglesthe thread, countsout rows, and
arranges them in a pattern on the loom.
T hen she sits for long hours, sliding the
spool to and fro, tugging the thread tight
so the fabric will not unravel easily.
S ometimesshe weaveswith a partner, two
pairsof armsand legsworking in harmony
with the loom. T he quality of the finished
product is a result of the combination of
thread, loom, and the human hands that
shaped the fabric into itsfinal form.
17
ILO BOOK FINAL2.p65
17
2 9 .1 0 .0 1 , 1 4 :3 9
W EAV I N G A N EW W EB O F LI FE
I
n th e d u s ty vi l l a ge o f S i n u d a i n B u k i d n o n , tr i b a l l e a d e r P a q u i to Ub a n r e c o u n ts
th e fa i l u r e o f a h i gh - p r o fi l e go ve r n m e n t p r o gr a m b a c k i n th e ‘ 7 0 s th a t wa s
s u p p o s e d to i m p r o ve th e l i ve s o f i n di ge n o u s c o m m u n i ti e s . A do ze n c a r a b a o s
we r e d o n a te d to th e Ma ti gs a l o g a n d Ma n o b o c o m m u n i ti e s , b u t th e a n i m a l s h a d to o
m a n y o wn e r s s o th e s e we r e o ve r wo r k e d. He p o in ts to a r o w o f s tu n te d m a h o ga n y
tr e e s o n th e r o a ds i de , a n d s a ys th o s e we r e p l a n te d 2 5 ye a r s a go fr o m s e e dl i n gs
di s tr i b u te d b y th e s a m e p r o gr a m . Ac r o s s th e fi e l d, h e ge s tu r e s to wa r d a n e m p ty
b u i l di n g, o n e o f th e “ wh i te e l e p h a n ts ” th a t th e go ve r n m e n t p r o gr a m h a d c o n s tr u c te d
du r i n g th e Ma r ti a l La w ye a r s , wh e n i n fr a s tr u c tu r e p r o j e c ts m u s h r o o m e d a c r o s s th e
c o u n tr y.
Pr o j e c t
m a n a ge r
Co s m e
La m b a yo n
of
FEMMATR I CS
a gr e e s
wi th
Ub a n ’ s
o b s e r va ti o n . I n th e p a s t, o th e r a ge n c i e s h a d gi ve n th e m va r i o u s fo r m s o f m a te r i a l
a s s is ta nc e , b ut the e ffo r ts fa ile d due to la c k o f tr a ining. Se e ds o r fe r tilize r fo r ins ta nc e ,
we r e
di s tr i b u te d to
pr o pe r ly so
th e i r
fa r m e r s
b u t th e y we r e
h a r ve s t r e m a i n e d di s m a l .
n o t ta u gh t h o w to
Th e
fe de r a ti o n
use
th e s e
i n p u ts
l a gge d b e h i n d o th e r
gr o u p s e s p e c i a l l y i n l o c a l go ve r n a n c e , fa r m i n g o f h i gh - va l u e c r o p s , a n d o th e r s k i l l s .
Th e
same
ill- planne d
appr o ac h
wa s
applie d
in
th e
Ma n gya n
vi l l a ge
of
B a l a n ga b o n g i n Oc c i d e n ta l Mi n d o r o . S o c i a l wo r k e r s ta u gh t th e tr i b a l c o m m u n i ty to
make
c o m m e r c i a l i ze d
hammoc ks
so
th e y c o u l d
a u gm e n t
th e i r
inc o m e ,
b ut
th e
p r o du c ts s o l d ve r y c h e a p l y a n d we r e l a b o r - i n te n s i ve a s we l l , e a r n i n g th e m o n l y
P1 5 0 fo r th r e e da ys ’ wo r k .
I n th e pr o c e s s , th e b us in e s s ve n tur e a ls o de s tr o ye d th e ir
tr a ditio n a l c r a ft o f m a k in g h a m m o c k s c a lle d a r ur e o r s a la fuda n . Ofte n , th e y h a d little
c h o i c e i n r e s p o n di n g to th e go ve r n m e n t p r o gr a m s . Th e a c ti vi ti e s we r e di c ta te d to
th e c o m m u n i ty a n d i f th e y d i d n o t l i k e th e p r o j e c t, i t wa s wi th d r a wn . On th e o th e r
h a n d , s o m e n o n - go ve r n m e n t o r ga n i za ti o n s i n th e a r e a s i m p l y ga ve d o l e - o u ts to th e
tr i b a l c o m m u n i ty, s a ys p r o j e c t m a n a ge r No l i Ha b l o .
Wh e n
I NDI S CO
i n tr o d u c e d
i ts
c o m m u n i ty- d r i ve n
and
p a r ti c i p a to r y a p p r o a c h
to th e fe d e r a ti o n i n B u k i d n o n , Ma n o b o tr i b a l l e a d e r B a i La u r a B a l u c a n s a ys th e r e
we r e a lo t o f c o m pla in ts a t fir s t. Th e a r e a h a d r e c e ive d va r io us fo r m s o f a s s is ta n c e in
th e p a s t, a n d th e tr i b a l p e o p l e h a d b e c o m e u s e d to o u ts i d e r s m a k i n g th e d e c i s i o n s
fo r th e m . With I NDI SCO, th e fun ds wo uld b e e n tr us te d to th e c o m m un ity o r ga n iza tio n ,
a n d th e y wo u l d h a ve to i m p l e m e n t th e i r o wn p r o j e c ts . Lo c a l c o m m u n i ti e s wo u l d
p a r ti c i p a te i n m a k i n g p l a n s a n d a c ti vi ti e s o n h o w to i m p r o ve th e q u a l i ty o f th e i r
18
ILO BOOK FINAL2.p65
18
2 9 .1 0 .0 1 , 1 4 :3 9
CH AN G I N G LI V ES
l i ve s . I f th e y m a d e m i s ta k e s , th e y wo u l d h a ve n o o n e to b l a m e b u t th e m s e l ve s .
Wh i l e I ND I S CO wo u l d p r o vi d e th e m e a n s fo r th e fe d e r a ti o n to a tta i n i ts go a l s , th e
members
wo u l d
h a ve
to
le ar n
to
ta k e
r e s p o n s i b i l i ty
fo r
c h a r ti n g
th e i r
o wn
d e ve l o p m e n t .
B a luc a pa tie n tly e xpla in e d th e b e a uty o f th e pr o c e s s to villa ge r s in Ea s t Do lo r o n g,
wh e r e s h e h e a ds th e tr i b a l c o u n c i l . “ On c e th e y u n de r s to o d i t, th e y a gr e e d wi th th e
a p p r o a c h , ” s h e s a ys i n Ce b u a n o . “ E ve n I d o n ’ t wa n t to b e gi ve n s o m e th i n g wi th o u t
h a vi n g to u s e m y b r a i n s . Th e p r o j e c t h a s e n c o u r a ge d p e o p l e to wo r k , ” s h e a dds .
Ub a n a gr e e s : “ Wi th th e I LO- I NDI S CO p r o gr a m m e , we h a ve l e a r n e d to e a r n a
l i vi n g. We we r e ta u gh t h o w to fi s h a n d we we r e n o l o n ge r j u s t gi ve n fi s h . ”
Am o n g o th e r th i n gs , fe d e r a ti o n m e m b e r s h a ve l e a r n e d a l o t fr o m th e va r i o u s
k inds
of
tr a i n i n g
c o n d u c te d .
Un d e r
th e
I ND I S CO
p r o gr a m ,
members
u n d e r go
a p p r o p r i a te tr a i n i n g fi r s t b e fo r e a n a c ti vi ty i s i m p l e m e n te d . Fo r i n s ta n c e , th o s e wh o
wa n t to s ta r t a b u y- a n d- s e l l b u s i n e s s a r e tr a i n e d o n b o o k k e e p i n g wh i l e fa r m e r s wh o
wa n t to pla n t h igh - va lue c r o ps a r e tr a in e d o n la n d pr e pa r a tio n a n d pr o pe r te c h n iq ue s
to ge t a go o d h a r ve s t. Da tu J a c i n to La n to n g, a m e m b e r o f th e FE MMATR I Cs B o a r d
o f Tr u s te e s , s a ys o n e r e a s o n th e o r ga n i za ti o n d i d n o t c o l l a p s e d e s p i te th e d a m a ge
to c r o p s fr o m El Ni ñ o a n d wa ve s o f p e s ti l e n c e i s th e k n o wl e dge th e y ga i n e d fr o m
th e tr a i n i n g o n e n vi r o n m e n ta l a wa r e n e s s .
La m b a yo n s a ys I NDI S CO’ s r e q u i r e m e n t fo r th e gr o u p to m a k e p o l i c i e s o n th e
use
o f d o n a te d e q u i p m e n t b e fo r e
p u r c h a s i n g th e m
he lpe d m ak e
vi l l a ge r s m o r e
r e s p o n s i b l e i n ta k i n g c a r e o f th e fa c i l i ti e s . B e yo n d th e m a te r i a l b e n e fi ts h o we ve r , h e
s a ys fe de r a tio n m e m b e r s h a ve r e a lize d th a t th e pr o j e c t’s s uc c e s s c a n a ls o b e m e a s ur e d
i n th e i r c o l l e c ti ve a n d p e r s o n a l gr o wth , wh i c h a r e n o t r e a di l y s e e n . Th e r e i s a
c h a n ge in a ttitude fr o m th e te n de n c y to live b e yo n d th e ir m e a n s , to pr o pe r b udge tin g
a n d p l a n n i n g.
S l o wl y, tr i b a l o ffi c i a l s a l s o b e ga n to s e e th e m e a n i n g o f i n di vi du a l a n d c o l l e c ti ve
s e l f- r e l i a n c e a s e n vi s i o n e d i n th e p r o gr a m . Th i s b e c a m e p a r ti c u l a r l y e vi de n t e a r l y
th i s ye a r , wh e n I NDI S CO r e gu l a r fi n a n c i a l a s s i s ta n c e wa s p h a s e d o u t. Un l i k e o th e r
p r o j e c ts th a t s i m p l y s to p o p e r a ti o n s wh e n th e a l l o c a te d d o n o r a s s i s ta n c e h a s b e e n
e x h a u s te d , e x te n s i o n wo r k e r Vi r gi e E n a n gk i l n o te s th a t th e fe d e r a ti o n m a n a ge d to
c o n ti n u e i m p l e m e n ti n g i ts a c ti vi ti e s b e c a u s e o f th e i r e ffe c ti ve tr a i n i n g i n p r o j e c t
19
ILO BOOK FINAL2.p65
19
2 9 .1 0 .0 1 , 1 4 :3 9
W EAV I N G A N EW W EB O F LI FE
m a n a ge m e n t a n d a d m i n i s tr a ti o n . Al th o u gh th e p a y wa s l o we r a n d th e s ta ff h a d to
p r o vi de
vo l u n te e r
s e r vi c e s
s o m e ti m e s ,
she
s a ys
th e y
lo o k e d
at
th e
l o n g- te r m
de ve l o p m e n t o f th e c o m m u n i ty a n d n o t m e r e l y th e i r p e r s o n a l ga i n fr o m th e p r o j e c t.
S i m i l a r o b s e r va ti o n s we r e m a de i n o th e r p i l o t s i te s . Th e tr i b a l c h a i r m a n o f th e
Ta u B u i d c o m m u n i ty i n Oc c i de n ta l Mi n do r o s a ys h e a p p r e c i a te s th e fr e e do m gi ve n
to th e tr i b e i n c h o o s i n g a n d p l a n n i n g i ts o wn a c ti vi ti e s , wi th th e i r p r o j e c t m a n a ge r
s i m p l y th e r e to gu i de th e m a n d p r o vi de a dvi c e wh e n e ve r n e c e s s a r y. Ma r a n a o tr i b a l
l e a de r B a i De r o n o f th e Da ya wa n Wo m e n Lo o m We a ve r s As s o c i a ti o n i n La n a o de l
Sur wa s a ls o gr a te ful fo r th e s up p o r t s h e r e c e ive d —
fr o m th e e x te n s io n wo r k e r
wh o r e s p o n ds to th e gr o u p ’ s p r o b l e m s to th e vi l l a ge a n i m a to r s wh o a s s i s t h e r i n
m a k i n g r e p o r ts .
I n th e i s l a n d o f S i m u n u l i n Ta wi - Ta wi , Ch a i r m a n Am i l h u s s i n Ab d u r a u p s a ys th e
gr a s s r o o ts a p p r o a c h h a s gr e a tl y s tr e n gth e n e d th e c a p a b i l i ty o f th e Ka s i - La s a Mu l ti P u r p o s e Co o p e r a ti ve . Afte r th e I NDI S CO p r o j e c t s u p p o r t wa s p h a s e d o u t, th e gr o u p
r e m a i n e d ve r y a c ti ve wi th th e s u p p o r t o f th e l o c a l go ve r n m e n t. I n fa c t, Ab d u r a u p
s i ts i n b o th th e m u n i c i p a l a n d p r o vi n c i a l d e ve l o p m e n t c o u n c i l s .
I n a ti n y Ae ta vi l l a ge i n B o to l a n , Za m b a l e s , c o m m u n i ty l e a d e r Yo l l y Ab r i go o f
th e
S a m a h a n g Ka tu tu b o
n g Ma s i k a p r e m e m b e r s th e
ti m e
wh e n o u ts i de r s l o o k e d
d o wn o n th e m . Vi l l a ge r s wh o wo r k e d a s h i r e d l a b o r e r s i n n e i gh b o r i n g fa r m s o fte n
go t a n d s p e n t th e i r p a y i n a dva n c e . P e o p l e th e n c a l l e d Ma s i k a p vi l l a ge “ p a h i m a l a ”
o r a p l a c e th a t i s j u s t wa i ti n g fo r m i r a