Tolentino, Kyle Osbert Lim 2016-00029

BS Business Administration Lingg 1

Reflection Paper: Status of the Indigenous People in the Philippines

Since the month of October is National Indigenous Peoples Month, the Filipinas Heritage Library
and the Mangyan Heritage Center present BAMBOO WHISPERS: A People Writes Their Story in the Ayala
Museum. Basically, this event is composed of different activities throughout the month. Last October 14
from 2 to 5 p.m., I listened to a lecture about the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IRPA), Indigenous
Peoples (IP), and Mangyan issues. The speakers were Nestor Castro, Resti Reyes Pitogo, and Kevin
Kunishi. Meanwhile, the reactors were Ma. Teresa Guia-Padilla and Priya Pillai. Moreover, the
moderator of this talk was Tatine Faylona. In general, this paper will highlight my realizations to this talk.

My main take-away from this lecture is that even if there is a legislation (Indigenous Peoples
Right Act) that recognizes and promotes the rights of indigenous communities, up until this day, they are
still being excluded, exploited, disrespected, and scorned by the mainstream society. One can see how
the large real-estate developers and the government itself are ganging up against these defenseless
indigenous people. They are not treated as people with dignity. Instead, they are regarded like garbage,
sweeping them out from their own land. Indeed, selfish capitalism is trampling upon our society. One
can see how society today is ruled by money, money, and money alone. This awakened me, as it was
only this moment that I truly realized the fundamental importance of ethics and corporate social
responsibility in my discipline. I now see the value of my business major professors reiterating the
concept that business is not only about profit, it is also about protecting the environment and
empowering the surrounding community. I became conscious about my social responsibility to the
Filipino people as a future businessman or an entrepreneur. Furthermore, it pains me to see how these
indigenous people have no control of their life whatsoever. External parties, like the government and
other multi-national companies are dictating who they are and what they should do. They have no voice
in their own life. For instance, some indigenous groups are forced to wear their traditional costumes in
exchange of money, mainly for the tourist market. One can see the commercialization of their culture,
not at their own will. Once again, money and capitalism is in control of society.

With all these reflections, most certainly, there is a need to spread awareness about the
struggles that our indigenous communities are facing. It is only through a concerted effort by the Filipino
nation in fighting alongside our indigenous people against the injustices they face, can they regain back
their dignity and right to self-determination.