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Over fourteen years ago, I ventured into Mindanao with preconceptions etched in my mind. But the longer I stayed, the more I saw, the more I learned to reject the narratives I was fed. A colleague once said, ‘There are over 200 books written about Mindanao, yet none come close to capturing its essence.’ Conflicts are full of contradictions, and the real reasons are often obscured by those who want to hide them.
For the Dayak, it is not just about the food but it is about preserving their connection to the land that defines their identity and survival as Indigenous Peoples.
While the Masungi Georeserve continues to fight on all fronts – legal, political, and territorial – forest rangers like Nilbert remain on the ground, steadfast in their daily work of protecting and growing the forest.
In 2022, as tourism in the Philippines began to reopen after the pandemic and Kaputian Falls gained popularity online, the youth of San Gabriel saw the need to establish a group dedicated to protecting their community’s natural resources.
“Our victory in EDSA is a temporary victory. It is not final. Because there is still inequality, injustice, poverty, and corruption in the Philippines. Our enemy today is not only Marcos, not only Duterte. But our enemy right now is the political families reigning in the Philippines.”
More than a decade ago, Srang Lanh alongside members of the Bunong indigenous communities in Kbal Romeas raised multiple concerns on the implementation of the Lower Sesan 2 Hydropower Project – a 400-megawatt dam project funded by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) through its financial intermediary. The Lower Sesan 2 dam is situated below the confluence of the Sesan and Srepok rivers and 25 kilometers from the Mekong River.
The juvenile system in the country continues to lack facilities that could accommodate and properly rehabilitate children in conflict with the law. Organizations like the People's Recovery, Empowerment, Development Assistance Foundation Inc. (PREDA) step up to provide facilities.
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