Mindanao Climate Justice

13/08/2026

🌿 𝐔𝐏 𝐃𝐈𝐋𝐈𝐌𝐀𝐍 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐌𝐄𝐓𝐑𝐎 𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐈𝐋𝐀 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐓𝐇—𝐉𝐎𝐈𝐍 𝐔𝐒!

Mindanao Climate Justice, Inc. joins Kinaiyahan - YCJM Youth and the UP Institute of Human Rights in organizing the 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐢𝐲𝐚𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐎𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.

𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSclgvqDnkhTcaEaOJ2GMZ1lPCgQRJFwVaC959idIDLfjIcxlQ/viewform?usp=header
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSclgvqDnkhTcaEaOJ2GMZ1lPCgQRJFwVaC959idIDLfjIcxlQ/viewform?usp=header
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSclgvqDnkhTcaEaOJ2GMZ1lPCgQRJFwVaC959idIDLfjIcxlQ/viewform?usp=header

📅 𝟏𝟓 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 | Saturday
⏰ 𝟏:𝟎𝟎–𝟒:𝟎𝟎 𝐏𝐌
📍 𝐌𝐚𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐦 𝐇𝐚𝐥𝐥, UP College of Law
UP Diliman, Quezon City

As part of the continuing commemoration of the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples and National Indigenous Peoples Day 2026, the orientation invites young people from UP Diliman and across Metro Manila to learn, connect, and organize in solidarity with the Lumad and other Indigenous Peoples of Mindanao.

Come and learn about Kinaiyahan Youth’s vision, principles, and work for Indigenous Peoples’ rights, ancestral domains, self-determination, climate justice, and meaningful youth participation.

Solidarity begins with listening and respect. It grows through relationships and collective action guided by the leadership and aspirations of Indigenous communities themselves.

𝐁𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐝. 𝐁𝐞 𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝. 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠.

𝐏𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐰. 𝐏𝐚𝐠𝐤𝐚𝐭-𝐨𝐧. 𝐏𝐚𝐠𝐡𝐢𝐮𝐬𝐚. 𝐏𝐚𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐡𝐨𝐤.
Listen. Learn. Come together. Act in solidarity.

𝐃𝐮𝐲𝐨𝐠 𝐭𝐚. 𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐢𝐮𝐬𝐚 𝐭𝐚. 🌱

10/08/2026

🌏 𝗔𝗦𝗘𝗔𝗡’𝘀 𝗲𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱.

Mindanao Climate Justice joined the sectoral consultation on ASEAN’s Declaration on the Right to a Safe, Clean, Healthy, and Sustainable Environment, organized by the Commission on Human Rights in partnership with the UP Law Center–Institute of Human Rights.

MCJ’s delegation included Lumad and Bangsamoro representatives—among them women and young people—who brought Mindanao’s realities and demands into the regional policy process.

For communities confronting environmental destruction, displacement, red-tagging, and threats against defenders, recognition alone is not enough. ASEAN’s Regional Plan of Action must:

▪️ Protect ancestral domains and environmental defenders
▪️ Uphold genuine Free, Prior and Informed Consent
▪️ Ensure accessible remedies and accountability
▪️ Enable communities to shape decisions affecting their lands, waters, livelihoods, and future

𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝘃𝘂𝗹𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀-𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻-𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲-𝗯𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴-𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁.

📖 Read the full article:
https://mindanaoclimatejustice.com/mcj-brings-mindanao-voices-to-asean-environmental-rights-consultation/

QUEZON CITY, Philippines — Mindanao Climate Justice (MCJ) joined Indigenous Peoples, government representatives, human rights advocates, and civil society

07/08/2026

🌿 𝗜𝗗𝗪𝗜𝗣 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 | 𝗟𝗨𝗠𝗔𝗗 𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲
𝗗𝗨𝗬𝗢𝗚 𝗦𝗔 𝗞𝗔𝗧𝗔𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗚 𝗟𝗨𝗠𝗔𝗗
𝘈𝘤𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘥 𝘗𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘔𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘰

This August, we mark the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples by standing with Lumad communities across Mindanao.

This year, we honor Indigenous midwives, ancestral lands, cultures, and community knowledge that sustain Indigenous peoples across generations.

𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗟 𝗗𝗢𝗠𝗔𝗜𝗡 𝗜𝗦 𝗟𝗜𝗙𝗘, 𝗖𝗨𝗟𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘, 𝗦𝗘𝗟𝗙-𝗗𝗘𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 & 𝗖𝗟𝗜𝗠𝗔𝗧𝗘 𝗝𝗨𝗦𝗧𝗜𝗖𝗘.

📍 𝟭𝟳–𝟭𝟴 𝗔𝗨𝗚 | 𝗕𝗨𝗞𝗜𝗗𝗡𝗢𝗡 — Talaandig community celebration, rights education & health services

📍 𝟮𝟮 𝗔𝗨𝗚 | 𝗠𝗘𝗧𝗥𝗢 𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗜𝗟𝗔 — Lumad situation sharing & youth organizing

📍 𝟮𝟲–𝟮𝟳 𝗔𝗨𝗚 | 𝗦𝗨𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗔𝗢 𝗗𝗘𝗟 𝗡𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗘 — Rights, climate justice & community well-being

📍 𝟯𝟬 𝗔𝗨𝗚 | 𝗦𝗔𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗚𝗔𝗡𝗜 — Humanitarian solidarity with Lumad communities affected by earthquakes & flooding

🤝 𝗗𝗨𝗬𝗢𝗚 𝗧𝗔 • 𝗠𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗜𝗨𝗦𝗔 𝗧𝗔
𝗗𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗘 • 𝗩𝗢𝗟𝗨𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗘𝗥 • 𝗦𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗘

Your support helps provide community meals, transportation, medical and humanitarian services, and learning materials.

📱 𝗚𝗖𝗮𝘀𝗵: 0916 600 1095
Account: MCJ / LYA RO***E V.

💳 𝗩𝗲𝗻𝗺𝗼: -Network
🌐 𝗣𝗮𝘆𝗣𝗮𝗹: paypal.me/panaad
📧 𝗘𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗹: [email protected]

Help widen the circle of solidarity. 𝗗𝘂𝘆𝗼𝗴 𝘁𝗮!

27/07/2026

𝗦𝗢𝗡𝗔 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 | 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗧𝗘 𝗢𝗙 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡, 𝗝𝗨𝗗𝗚𝗘𝗗 𝗙𝗥𝗢𝗠 𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗗𝗔𝗡𝗔𝗢

“𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗼 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗽𝗼𝗼𝗿 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗸𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵. 𝗣𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱, 𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀.”

Today, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivers his fifth State of the Nation Address. His government will speak of growth, infrastructure, investment, and peace. But from Mindanao comes the question that every claim of progress must answer: 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘄𝗵𝗼𝗺?

Mindanao’s contributions are counted nationally, while many of the costs are borne by its communities—through land dispossession, displacement, destructive development, militarization, criminalization, and exclusion from decisions over their lands and resources.

Drawing from the voices and struggles brought together at KATUNGOD Conference 2026, this article offers a Mindanawon judgment on the state of the nation. It brings together the continuing struggles for justice for the Talaingod 13, Moro and Indigenous self-determination, dignified return and rehabilitation, land and livelihood, climate justice, peace, national sovereignty, and accountable government.

A SONA must be judged not by the projects announced or investments pledged, but by whether people can return to their lands and homes, educate their children, defend their rights without criminalization, and share in the wealth they create.

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗹𝗲:
🔗 https://mindanaoclimatejustice.com/the-state-of-the-nation-judged-from-mindanao/

When President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivers his fifth State of the Nation Address, he will likely speak of growth, infrastructure, investment, and peace. He

26/07/2026

𝗦𝗥. 𝗢𝗗𝗜𝗟𝗜𝗔 𝗕𝗨𝗟𝗔𝗬𝗨𝗡𝗚𝗔𝗡, 𝗢𝗦𝗕

“Ang Lumad ay hindi humihingi ng awa. Humihingi sila ng hustisya. Ang Mindanao ay hindi humihingi ng simpatiya. Humihingi ito ng pagkilala, pagkakaisa, at pagkilos.”

𝐊𝐀𝐓𝐔𝐍𝐆𝐎𝐃 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐅𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 | 𝐇𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐋𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒

In her closing synthesis, Sr. Odilia Bulayungan, OSB, challenged everyone present to consider what responsibility follows from everything they had heard and learned: What will we defend? With whom will we stand? How will we translate understanding into sustained solidarity and action?

Her message brought together one of the conference’s central lessons: the struggles for education, ancestral land, human rights, peace, livelihoods, democracy, and climate justice cannot be separated. The communities defending their schools and ancestral domains are also protecting forests, waters, cultures, and ways of life. When they are displaced, criminalized, or silenced, the consequences reach far beyond a single community.

The case of the Talaingod 13 makes these connections unmistakable. It is not only about thirteen individuals. It raises urgent questions about how the country treats Indigenous education, humanitarian action, church accompaniment, and solidarity with communities seeking safety and justice. As Sr. Odilia warned, schools may be closed and teachers persecuted, but the aspirations of the Lumad and the truth they carry cannot be imprisoned.

Mindanao is not poor because it lacks wealth. Its lands, waters, forests, and communities are rich, yet many of its peoples continue to bear poverty, displacement, violence, and environmental destruction while wealth is extracted without justice. Responding to this reality requires more than sympathy. It requires listening to communities as teachers and rights-holders, standing with them, and carrying their calls into our schools, churches, organizations, institutions, and wider movements.

𝗔𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝗴𝗮𝘆𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝘆 𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶 𝗹𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗸𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗼 𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗴. 𝗔𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘆: 𝗔𝗻𝗼 𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗮𝘄𝗶𝗻 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻 𝗻𝗴𝗮𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗺 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻?

26/07/2026

𝗕𝗔𝗘 𝗥𝗛𝗢𝗗𝗔 𝗝𝗘𝗔𝗡 𝗘𝗡𝗘𝗖𝗜𝗧𝗢 𝗖𝗔𝗟𝗨𝗣𝗘

“Kapag wala kang pera, walang hustisya para sa mga Lumad. Kapag mahirap ka, walang hustisya; pero kapag mayaman ka, tila lahat ay luluhod sa iyo dahil may pera ka. Iyon ang pinakamasakit sa amin.”

𝐊𝐀𝐓𝐔𝐍𝐆𝐎𝐃 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐅𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 | 𝐇𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐋𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒

Speaking as a Talaandig woman human rights defender, Bae Rhoda Jean Enecito Calupe confronted a painful reality: for poor and Lumad communities, justice can remain beyond reach while those with wealth and influence secure legal representation, institutional access, and attention more readily.

The inequality extends beyond the cost of pursuing a case. Indigenous communities may also face distance from legal services, limited access to counsel, discrimination, and institutions that fail to recognize their rights and respond to their circumstances. These barriers become even heavier when communities must confront individuals or interests with greater financial and political power.

When wealth and influence affect who receives protection, whose complaints are acted upon, and how quickly institutions respond, the justice system does not merely reflect inequality—it reinforces it.

Bae Rhoda’s testimony calls for concrete change: accessible and affordable legal assistance, culturally and linguistically responsive services, timely and independent proceedings, protection from discrimination, and equal treatment before the law. Justice must never depend on a person’s income, identity, or political influence.

𝗔𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘆𝗮 𝗮𝘆 𝗸𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗻 𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗮𝗵𝗮𝘁—𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗵𝗶𝘆𝗼 𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮 𝗮𝘁 𝗸𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗴𝘆𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗵𝗮𝗻.

26/07/2026

𝗠𝗦. 𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗔𝗛 𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗜𝗟𝗟𝗢
Mindfulness, Love and Compassion (MLAC) Institute

“Let us continue telling our stories and speaking about our experiences. By listening and sharing in one another’s struggles, we create spaces for healing and for our lives to flourish.”

𝐊𝐀𝐓𝐔𝐍𝐆𝐎𝐃 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐅𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 | 𝐇𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐋𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒

In her solidarity message, Ms. Hannah Morillo emphasized the importance of telling our stories, listening with compassion, and practising 𝘱𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘬𝘪𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘬𝘢𝘱𝘸𝘢-𝘥𝘢𝘮𝘥𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘯—recognizing and accompanying one another through difficult experiences. For communities and human rights defenders carrying trauma and continuing struggles, being heard can help break isolation, affirm dignity, and open pathways toward collective healing.

At the heart of MLAC Institute’s work is the pursuit of 𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘩𝘢𝘸𝘢: the possibility of living meaningful lives with dignity, freedom, care, and well-being. Mental health and psychosocial support matter not only because they help people face adversity, but because every person deserves the space to heal, flourish, and experience 𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘩𝘢𝘸𝘢.

Ms. Morillo also affirmed MLAC Institute’s continuing partnership with Mindanao Climate Justice. Even after external funding for their jointly developed mental health program was cut, the relationship endured through bayanihan, trust, care, and friendship—a reminder that solidarity extends beyond projects and funding cycles.

𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲. 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝘄𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹, 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝘂𝗿𝘀𝘂𝗲 𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗵𝗮𝘄𝗮 𝘁𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿.

26/07/2026

𝗠𝗦. 𝗡𝗢𝗦𝗔𝗜𝗥𝗔 𝗚𝗔𝗦𝗠𝗔𝗟𝗔

“Naninindigan kami na ang bawat kabataang naapektuhan ng karahasan ay hindi lamang mananatiling biktima lamang, kundi mabigyan ng pagkakataong maging lider, tagapagtaguyod, at katuwang sa pagbuo ng isang makatarungan at mapayapang Mindanao. At ang pagbabago po sa Mindanao ay hindi po hiwalay sa pagbabago sa Pilipinas.”

𝐊𝐀𝐓𝐔𝐍𝐆𝐎𝐃 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐅𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 | 𝐇𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐋𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒

Ms. Nosaira Gasmala called for young people affected by violence to be recognized not only through the suffering they have endured, but through the leadership, knowledge, and capacity they already bring to their communities.

In different parts of Mindanao, young people continue to confront the consequences of armed conflict, displacement, discrimination, and exclusion. Too often, they are invited to recount their experiences while remaining outside the processes that design peacebuilding initiatives, recovery programs, public policies, and other decisions affecting their future.

Meaningful participation requires more than representation at consultations or public events. Institutions must remove barriers, provide protection and adequate resources, and ensure that young people can genuinely influence decisions. Those who choose to participate and lead must also be supported on their own terms—with safety, education, psychosocial care, and spaces where they can organize and speak without fear.

Ms. Gasmala’s message is also a challenge to the entire country. The violence, inequality, and exclusion confronting Mindanao’s youth are not distant regional concerns; they reflect national failures in achieving justice, peace, inclusive governance, and accountable leadership.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗼’𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲.

26/07/2026

𝗠𝗦. 𝗠𝗔𝗥𝗜𝗔 𝗟𝗔𝗟𝗔𝗜𝗡𝗘 𝗧𝗢𝗞𝗢𝗡𝗚

“Welcoming others should never mean becoming invisible in our own home. Development must include the people whose lives it will change—because progress without its people is not progress at all.”

𝐊𝐀𝐓𝐔𝐍𝐆𝐎𝐃 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐅𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 | 𝐇𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐋𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒

Ms. Maria Lalaine Tokong called attention to a recurring injustice in Mindanao: communities are expected to welcome development, yet the people who live with its consequences are too often pushed to the margins of decision-making.

Development cannot be considered inclusive when plans are made for communities without their meaningful participation. Consultation must begin before decisions are finalized, provide complete and accessible information, and give affected people a genuine opportunity to influence the direction and outcome of projects that will change their lives.

For too long, Mindanao has been viewed mainly through its land, resources, and economic potential, while the knowledge, priorities, and aspirations of its peoples have received far less attention. Communities must be recognized not merely as beneficiaries or obstacles to development, but as rights-holders and partners in determining their own future.

𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗹.

26/07/2026

𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗨 𝗥𝗢𝗟𝗔𝗡𝗗𝗢 𝗔𝗡𝗚𝗟𝗔𝗢

“Parang hindi tao ang tingin sa amin—parang basura at marumi sa kanilang paningin. Sampung taon na kaming naninirahan sa gilid ng kalsada, habang patuloy naming hinihintay ang pagkilala at pagbabalik ng aming lupang ninuno. Hanggang kailan kami maghihintay?”

𝐊𝐀𝐓𝐔𝐍𝐆𝐎𝐃 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐅𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 | 𝐇𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐋𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒

Datu Rolando Anglao’s testimony exposes more than a prolonged dispute over ancestral land. For ten years, his community has lived beside the road—displaced, neglected, and made to feel as though their lives and dignity do not matter.

A decade of waiting has meant a decade without the security of home, stable livelihoods, and the freedom to sustain community life on the land they have long claimed and defended. Their situation cannot be dismissed as an administrative delay. It is a continuing injustice borne by Indigenous families whose rights and demands have remained unanswered.

Ancestral land is inseparable from Indigenous identity, culture, livelihood, spirituality, and collective survival. Authorities must act with urgency, uphold the community’s right to dignity and meaningful participation, and work toward a just, safe, and community-determined resolution.

No Indigenous community should be condemned to another generation of roadside displacement while action on its ancestral land is repeatedly delayed.

𝗛𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗸𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗻 𝗸𝗮𝗺𝗶 𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗵𝗶𝗵𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘆?