“MAGPUYONG MALINAWON

SA YUTANG KABILIN”
[To live in peace in our Ancestral
Domain]

Rudy B. Rodil
Mindanao Historian
UP Academic Congress 2 February 10
 Lumad Mindanaw
1986: Lumad Mindanaw formed
- proclaimed collective self as Lumad with

- right to self-determination and to govern

themselves

- within their respective ancestral domains

- In accordance with their customary laws

 Lumad Peace Agenda
2001: Magpuyong malinawon diha sa Yutang
Kabilin katungod namong mga Lumad nga
dili mahimong ikalimod ug yatakan ni bisan
kinsa – [To live in peace in our Ancestral
Domain is our right as Lumad that cannot
be denied nor trampled upon by anyone.]
(Lumad Peace Agenda, 67 lideres, 20 tribu, Jan 17-19, 2001)
 Lumad Situation
2001:

 wala kami nakabaton ug kalinaw ... padayon nga hulga sa among yutang kabilin ...
sa pagkawala sa among kultura... [the absence of peace among us ... the
continuing threat to our ancestral domain ... the degradation of our culture...]
 kadaghanan sa mga yutang kabilin sa mga Lumad gisudlan na sa plantasyon, logging
concessions, dams, geothermals, minahan, ranchohan, gihimong eco-tourist
spots... [most of our ancestral lands have been penetrated by plantations, logging
concessions, dams, geothermals, mines, cattle ranches, or were converted to eco-
tourist spots]
 diin buot isilsil sa among alimpatakan nga kini alang sa kalambuan, apan sa lalum
namong pagsusi ug pagpamalandong kini nga mga proyekto makapahanaw sa
among katungod sa malinawon namong pagpuyo sa among yutang kabilin ug
makapahuyang sa among gahum sa pagdumala sa tribu... [where we are told that
this is for development, but from our deeper examination, these are projects that
diffuse our right to a peaceful life within our ancestral domain and weaken our
authority to govern our own tribe.]
 ang pagpahawa kanamo gikan sa among yutang kabilin wala lamang kini naka-
apekto sa among pamuyo apan labaw sa tanan sa among pagkinabuhi isip
katawhang Lumad. [Our displacement from our ancestral lands has affected not
only our lives, but especially our being Lumad communities.]
(Source: Lumad Peace Agenda, 67 lideres, 20 tribu , Jan 17-19, 2001)
 Lumad the numerical minority

– Lumad (35 tribes/subtribes) - - - - - - 8.9%

– Moro (Muslim/ 13 ethnic groups) - 18.5%

– Migrants and descendants - - - - - - - 72.5%

 So unlike the situation in 1890 and previous

three centuries
MINDANAO 1890
US: Institutionalized Dispossession
• Regalian doctrine enshrined
• Traditional system of land disposition
nullified
• Non-recognition of communal customary
laws
• Torrens system institutionalized
• Land classification: alienable and inalienable;
disposable and non-disposable
• Public Land law and land distribution
• Adoption of resettlement programs
 Public Land Law and Resettlement:
Discriminatory Policies
Hectarage Allowed

Year Homesteader Non-Christian Corporation

1903 16 has. (no provision) 1,024 has.

1919 24 has. 10 has. 1,024 has.

1936 16 has. 4 has. 1,024 has.

 Resettlement: Case of Cotabato
1918, 1939, 1970 Census
Year Moro Maj Lumad Maj Settler Maj
Towns Towns Towns
1918 20 5 0

1939 20 9 3

1970 10 0 38
 POPULATION CHANGE IN COTABATO
1918-1970
1918 1939

1970

Bayan ng Moro
Bayan ng Lumad
Bayan ng Settler
 Fruit of Displacement: Mindanao
Towns with Majority Lumad
1970 Census 2000 Census
• Esperanza – 66.35% Add:
• Impasugong – 75.97%
• San Fernando – 61.43% • South Upi – 62.39%
• Sumilao – 78.26% • Lake Sebu – 58.52%
• Talakag – 56.93% • T’boli – 67.69%
• Jose Abad
Santos – 60.57%
• Malita – 61.90%
• Lapuyan – 60.25%
 Mindanao Provinces with Majority Moro
1970 Census
Maguindanao --- (part of Cotabato)
Lanao del Sur - - - 91.97%
Basilan - - - - - - - -63.29%
Sulu - - - - - - - - - -97.23%
Tawi-Tawi - - - (part of Sulu)

• At 15 municipalities in other provinces:

Palawan (1), Zamboanga Norte (2), Lanao Norte
(9), Sultan Kudarat (2), Cotabato (1)
 In sum, 1913 to 1970…

They have been marginalized, meaning:

Displaced and dispossessed in their own

traditional territories
Transformed into numerical minority
Voiceless in governance
Their culture fast slipping away before their eyes
 Proactive Moves: Aug 2008 Declaration
 affirms that Mindanao is inhabited by Bangsamoro
people, by Indigenous peoples and by migrant
settlers
Calls for respect for the right to self-determination of
the Indigenous Peoples, the right to use their
traditional governance systems, their ownership of
their ancestral domains and their ownership of the
resources therein
 Seeks the promotion and accords the highest respect
to various traditional peace pacts done through
diyandi, sapa, tampuda hu balagun, pakang and
khandugo/ sandugo between ancestors of indigenous
peoples and the Bangsamoro peoples
Source: The CAGAYAN DE ORO DECLARATION ON THE MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT ON ANCESTRAL DOMAIN OF THE GRP-MILF PEACE
PANEL, by 200+ Lumad leaders, August 27, 2008. (Bisaya-English version)
 Lumad View of Their Development
Demand from Government:
To fast track the delineation and approval of titles
of their ancestral domains
Enforce NCIP's mandatory role in promoting and
upholding the Indigenous Peoples' cultures
Respect their traditional governance over
ancestral domains, its utilization and maximization
To stop calling or associating the Indigenous
Peoples in Mindanao and Palawan as Bangsamoro
peoples.
Source: The CAGAYAN DE ORO DECLARATION ON THE MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT ON ANCESTRAL DOMAIN OF THE GRP-MILF PEACE PANEL, by 200+ Lumad
leaders, August 27, 2008. (Bisaya-English version)
 Appeal to the MILF
propose the immediate revival and
institutionalization of the traditional peace
pact agreements between our respective
communities and the Magindanao and
Maranao groups of the MILFs, in order to
establish lasting peace and build strong
cooperation with them in the quest for peace
and development in our territories;
Source: Letter Panagtagbo to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, 22 Oct 2003
 Kalamboan sa Yutang Kabilin
[Development in Ancestral Domain]
Ang Lumad malipay sa kalamboan nga wala
makadaot sa kultura ug kinaiyanhan ug haum sa
panginahanglan sa Lumad: (a) ekonomiya; (b)
kultura; (c) edukasyon, (d) pulitika. [Development.
The Lumad are happy with development that is not
destructive of culture and environment, and
responsive to the needs of the Lumad in the sphere
of: (a) economy; (b) culture; (c) education, and (d)
politics.]
Source: Lumad Peace Agenda, 67 lideres, 20 tribu , Jan 17-19, 2001.
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