Name: HANNAH GRACE A.

EBOÑA Course&block: BSDC 2A

Subject: SSP PHILIPPINE INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY

Date: SEPTEMBER 2, 2021

Write a reflection paper based on the study of Jose Mencio Molintas entitled 
"THE PHILIPPINE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES’ STRUGGLE FOR LAND AND LIFE:  CHALLENGING LEGAL
TEXTS".

REFLECTION PAPER

Reading “The Philippines Indigenous Peoples' struggle for land and life” has awakened

the Filipino spirit inside me. The text clarified the struggles of the Indigenous Peoples as they

fight for their rights in lands and existence. The steps to take to claim the ownership of the land

promise was not easy due to some circumstances. It was the Government and foreign business

owners who eagerly wants the territories for their interest. There are laws for the Indigenous

Peoples' right of ownership to live and protect their ancestor's land and ancestral domain. The

more they conserve its richness and beauty the more Business owners want to have it.

Funny how the government allows foreign business owners to build developmental

projects among Philippines lands without thinking nor examining its effect on our people. I have

remembered the news about the 55 Lumad schools who suspected of an NPA factory, imagine

the children who have lost their right to go to school and chase their dreams. The government

will do anything to get what they wanted without deliberation on who will affect their actions.

Also, I have experience talking to a Badjao here in Mercedes she looked uncomfortable talking

to normal people and I ask her why did they seem uneasy, she answered in a different language

which I cannot understand but I've felt the sadness in her voice and to interpret what she says,
some Filipinos are not that friendly to them, they have been discriminated and unwanted just like

they are not a human, they have no place to go, they've lost their primary source of food and

shelter and they are engaging randomly to live. In addition, she said they look at them as a threat,

as a slot without education and manners but what we Filipinos do not understand is that they

have sacrificed a lot just for Million Filipinos.

Our Traditions and Culture should preserve as well as our natural resources and animals habitats.

Moreover, the government must centralize its laws for the Katutubos privilege as they are the

people who have rights and will on the preservation of our lands, conserve its beauty and

diversity. The prior campaign of the (IPRA) or Indigenous People Rights Act of 1997 was to

protect indigenous people ancestral lands and domain, let them governance and empower

themselves, in contrast, there is an existing law "The Philippine Mining Act of 1995" which

contradicts on IPRA to protect Indigenous Peoples lands, it turns out Indigenous Peoples have to

beg for the ownership of the land in the same vein with lowland owners who need apply for

titling of land. Almost three-fourths of the land was being owned by foreign business owners.

Government inclines toward establishing Dams and structures which devastate the

environment for the development of the country, aggressively impacts Indigenous Peoples taking

away their traditional and ancestral domain. They are the owner of the land, the preserver's

people who cherish their traditions and embrace their culture. But how will they fight for their

right when they have no legal Identity?