𝐁𝐄𝐘𝐎𝐍𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐖𝐂𝐀𝐒𝐄: 𝐑𝐄𝐂𝐎𝐆𝐍𝐈𝐙𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐋 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐔𝐆𝐆𝐋𝐄𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐃𝐔𝐌𝐀𝐆𝐀𝐓 𝐏𝐄𝐎𝐏𝐋𝐄

The recent spotlight on the Dumagat people in Niyugyogan Festival, often presented as a picturesque display of indigenous culture, masks a deeper reality: the ongoing struggle for their ancestral lands. While their vibrant traditions and resilience are rightfully celebrated, it's crucial to move beyond the "showcase" and acknowledge their real challenges.

The Dumagat, an indigenous group with a rich history and deep connection to their ancestral lands, are not mere cultural artifacts to be displayed at our convenience. They are living, breathing individuals with complex lives, facing threats to their very existence.

The ongoing construction Kaliwa Dam project, for instance, poses a significant threat to their ancestral domain, jeopardizing their livelihoods, cultural practices, and the very environment they depend on.

The Dumagat people have long been stewards of their land, protecting its biodiversity and ensuring its sustainable use for generations. Their ancestral lands are not just geographical spaces; they are the foundation of their cultural identity, their spiritual connection to the earth, and the source of their sustenance. Displacing them from their ancestral lands is not just a physical displacement but a cultural and spiritual devastation.

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐅𝐎𝐑 #𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐎𝐊𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐖𝐀𝐃𝐀𝐌 𝐈𝐒 𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐉𝐔𝐒𝐓 𝐀 𝐇𝐀𝐒𝐇𝐓𝐀𝐆; 𝐈𝐓'𝐒 𝐀 𝐂𝐑𝐘 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐉𝐔𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐂𝐄 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐑𝐄𝐂𝐎𝐆𝐍𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐃𝐔𝐌𝐀𝐆𝐀𝐓 𝐏𝐄𝐎𝐏𝐋𝐄'𝐒 𝐑𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒. It's a demand to acknowledge their agency and their right to self-determination. It's a plea to recognize that their voices matter, and their struggles deserve to be heard.

Instead of viewing the Dumagat people as mere subjects of our curiosity or fleeting displays of cultural diversity, we must engage with them as partners in safeguarding their ancestral lands and ensuring their well-being. It's time to move beyond the superficial and delve into the heart of their struggles, recognizing their resilience, their wisdom, and their rightful claim to their ancestral domain.

𝐋𝐄𝐓 𝐔𝐒 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐈𝐍 𝐒𝐎𝐋𝐈𝐃𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐘 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐃𝐔𝐌𝐀𝐆𝐀𝐓 𝐏𝐄𝐎𝐏𝐋𝐄 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐀𝐌𝐏𝐋𝐈𝐅𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐈𝐑 𝐕𝐎𝐈𝐂𝐄𝐒. 𝐋𝐄𝐓 𝐔𝐒 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐊 𝐓𝐎𝐆𝐄𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐎 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐓𝐄𝐂𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐈𝐑 𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐋 𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐒, 𝐄𝐍𝐒𝐔𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐅𝐔𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐄 𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 𝐂𝐀𝐍 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐔𝐄 𝐓𝐎 𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐈𝐍 𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐌𝐎𝐍𝐘 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐈𝐑 𝐄𝐍𝐕𝐈𝐑𝐎𝐍𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓.

Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) National Commission on Indigenous Peoples

Update News on Kaliwa Dam Project:
https://www.bworldonline.com/.../kaliwa-dam-hits-30.../...

https://mb.com.ph/.../kaliwa-dam-set-to-finish...

https://rightsindevelopment.org/.../philippines-the.../