INDIGENOUS PEOPLE RISING IN THE PHILIPPINES
By: Kakay Tolentino
National Coordinator – BAI Indigenous Women’s Network
OBR Organizers / Philippines

Last April 27th, the Indigenous Mangyan peoples held a One Billion Rising against Mining. They danced and rose against the National Greening Project that widely land grabs the ancestral lands of the Indigenous Mangyan in the Island of Mindoro in the Philippines. The OBR event was held during the Mangyan Day 2017 and the lead organizers were BAI Indigenous Women’s Network. BAI is a progressive network of indigenous women’s organizations working together in advancing the rights of indigenous peoples and women. They have been leading and organizing Rising events together with the GABRIELA National Alliance of Women.

At the Mangyan Day 2017, Occidental Mindoro: BAI National Coordinator/Spokesperson Kakay Tolentino discussed the IP (Indigenous People’s) situationer and the role of the indigenous peoples in crafting the Comprehensive Agreement on Socio-Economic Reforms and the importance of continuing the Peace Talks. The 10th year Mangyan Day 2017 was attended by around 2, 000 delegates from the seven Mangyan groups and national local advocates from the ranks of the church peoples, National alliance of teacher’s (ACT), KATRIBU National, KATRIBU Youth and Non-government organizations – who are also part of the OBR Philippines task force group.

BAI Indigenous Women’s Network is part of the National Council of KATRIBU.
KATRIBU (Kalipunan ng mga Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas) is a national alliance of regional and provincial indigenous peoples’ organizations representing various indigenous communities in the Philippines – and is composed of over 500 Indigenous organizations in the Philippines. KATRIBU and BAI have been organizing OBR’s and have been part of One Billion Rising for several years.

Mangyan is the generic name for the eight indigenous groups found on the island of Mindoro, southwest of the island of Luzon, the Philippines, each with its own tribal name, language, and customs.

One Billion Rising Against Mining – by the indigenous Mangyan people: last April 27, 2017

Kakay Tolentino – National Coordinator: BAI Indigenous Women’s Network

Indigenous Mangyan Iraya “kuyay” Marcelo Carculan with Bai spokesperson facilitates the discussion about the life and struggle history of the Mangyan Iraya in Occidental Mindoro

Kakay Tolentino with Monique and Eve at the OBR Manila event last February 14, 2016

BAI Indigenous Women Rising in 2016