05/03/2026
๐๐๐โ๐๐๐ช | A Call to the Heart of IP Leaders
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โThe words of Datu โAmarilloโ Marcelo A. Alejo Jr. were resounding. โHimoa kini nga klaro. Dili kita ania aron lang molingkod sa lingkoranan. We are here to protect our lands, preserve our identity, and secure the future of our children.โ
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โThe conference room at NCIP Regional Office XI was filled with quiet anticipation. One by one, Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representatives (IPMRs) of Davao City gathered not just as officials, but as guardians of their peopleโs stories, culture, and ancestral lands. And when Datu Alejo, Commissioner for Southern and Eastern Mindanao began to speak, the atmosphere shifted. His words did not simply echo across the room, they spoke to the hearts of every IP leader present.
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โโThis is not just another assembly,โ he began, his voice steady and full of meaning. โKini nga panagtigom usa ka klarong pahimangno nga ang tingog sa atong mga ICCs/IPs buhi, organized, ug empowered.โ The Weight of Representation Datu Alejo reminded the IPMRs that their roles were not ceremonial, but sacred. โYou are not visitors in the Sangguniang,โ he said. โYou are rightful persons chosen to represent the will of your people.โ His message was both empowering and sobering. It was a reminder that every time an IPMR speaks in council, they carry the voices of generations, the struggles of their ancestors, and the hopes of their children.
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โโIf the IPMR is silent, the community is silent,โ he said. โBut if the IPMR stands firm, the voice of the people becomes strong.โ Leadership Rooted in Unity and Integrity Datu Alejoโs call for leadership was not about politics or power, it was about purpose. โChoose leaders with principle, not just those who are popular,โ he urged. โUnity is power. Division weakens our cause.โ He encouraged the IPMRs to focus on what truly matters like land security, FPIC enforcement, basic services, and institutional strengthening. โWe are not here for politics,โ he said. โWe are here for protection, promotion, and empowerment of our Indigenous Peoples.โ
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โA Call That Resonated Deeply Then came the words that struck every heart in the room:
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โโHimoa kini nga klaro. Dili kita ania aron lang molingkod sa lingkoranan. We are here to protect our lands, preserve our identity, and secure the future of our children.โ The room fell silent, and the message sank deep. This was more than a statement. It was a mandate for every Indigenous leader: to rise, to defend, and to serve with courage. Datu Alejoโs voice softened, but his conviction never wavered: โSo stand tall. Lead with integrity. Serve with courage. Padayon ta sa pagtindog. Kitay manguna sa hugot nga panaghiusa. Padayon ta magmaisugon nga pagserbisyo alang sa atong Magbabaya ug sa atong lumadnong katilingban.โ
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โThe Spirit of Leadership
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โAs the assembly drew to a close, the message lingered like a flame. It was warm, steady, and alive. For the IP leaders who listened, it was not just a speech to remember, but a calling to live by. In every community, in every council, and in every ancestral land, Datu โAmarilloโ Marcelo A. Alejo Jr.โs words continue to echo reminding every Indigenous leader that true leadership begins not in position, but in purpose.
