Lumad Mindanao Peoples Federation

Seal of Lumad Mindanao

Lumad Mindanaw Peoples Federation Facebook Page

Who are the Lumad People?

The Lumads are non-muslim indigenous people. A member of a particular tribe (e.g. Manobo, Mansaka, Subanon, etc...) can be either Muslim or non-muslim. The non-muslim member of any indigenous tribe gets only less 10% of any government program. Actually the NCIP (national commission on indigenous peoples) gets only P35M a year while the NCMF (national commission on muslim filipinos) gets P469.67 million.

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The Lumad is a term being used to denote a group of indigenous peoples of the southern Philippines. It is a Cebuano term meaning "native" or "indigenous". The term is short for Katawhang Lumad (literally "indigenous peoples"), the autonym officially adopted by the delegates of the Lumad Mindanaw Peoples Federation (LMPF) founding assembly on 26 June 1986 at the Guadalupe Formation Center, Balindog, Kidapawan, Cotabato, Philippines. It is the self-ascription and collective identity of the non-Islamized indigenous peoples of Mindanao.

There are 18 Lumad ethnolinguistic groups namely, Atta, Bagobo, Banwaon, B’laan, Bukidnon, Dibabawon, Higaonon, Mamanwa, Mandaya, Manguwangan, Manobo, Mansaka, Subanon, Tagakaolo, Tasaday, Tboli, Teduray, and Ubo.

source: verbatim: https://intercontinentalcry.org

About Lumad Mindanao Peoples Federation (LMPF)

1979-1985 is considered to be the formative stage of LMPF. It was first incepted as Lumadnong Alyansa sa Mindanao alang sa Demokrasya or Lumad Alliance in Mindanao for Democracy (LUMAD-Mindanao). It is a multi-sectoral alliance composed (80% non-lumad and 20% lumad) of Lumad and non-lumads eg religious groups (bishops, priests, Moro, nuns, brothers, laywo/men), peasants, workers, youth, women, and the like chaired by a lumad (Subanen) human rights lawyer, Atty. Fausto Lingating of Pagadian City. The Alliance’s purpose was to project the plight and aspiration of the Lumad Peoples in Mindanao in the face of the Marcos dictatorial rule that widely violates peoples’ human rights including that of indigenous peoples.

In the eve of the so-called EDSA Revolution/People’s Power in 1986 that toppled down the Marcos hegemony, the Lumad group asserted to separate and form their own “pure” Lumad organization. At first the dominant members particularly the non-lumad opposed the idea considering that Lumad lack technical sophistications to handle and manage its own affair. But the Lumad insisted and in June 1986, the Lumad Mindanaw/LM was inaugurated. LM served as the umbrella organization of the Lumad Peoples’ in Mindanao. On this very occasion, the delegates of the assembly adopted the Bisayan word “Katawhang Lumad” (Lumad Peoples or Lumad, for brevity) as the collective identity of the un-Islamized original peoples of Mindanao. Following year in 1987 during the 5th session of the United Nations Working Group on Indigenous Population/UNWGIP, Genève, the word Katawhang Lumad or Lumad Peoples entered into the UN lexicon as identity of the un-Islamized peoples in Mindanao, Philippines. And 11 years later in September 1998 LMPF was accredited by the Economic and Social Council-ECOSOC of the United Nations as nongovernmental organization pursuant to UNCHR res. 1995/35 and 2001/58. In 2007, Wikipedia recognize LMPF as its No. 1 Reference when it comes to “Lumad peoples”.

In September 1994 during the LM Special Assembly held in a Bla-an Community in Mul’bulen, Sarangani Province, the Assembly owing to the new direction of the LM of revitalizing the indigenous political structure as expression of self-determination approved to affix “Peoples’ Federation” to Lumad Mindanaw making it Lumad Mindanaw Peoples Federation/LMPF. Currently LMPF is an independent organization-cum-movement that stands for the inherent, inalienable and collective rights to land (ancestral domain/territory and natural resources) and self-determination (tribal governance through indigenous people’s structure). Such rights are recognized, protected and promoted by national and international laws and standards. Being an independent organization means LMPF neither sides or subservient to the state or to any non-state stakeholders eg revolutionary groups.

The Lumad of Mindanao

Article below is copied verbatim from: http://www.filipinaslibrary.org.ph/

The indigenous cultural communities (ICC) in the Philippines are believed to make up about ten percent of the national population. Also known as cultural minorities, they had been pushed to the mountains and forests by lowlanders ever since towns and cities were built. Most of the ICC do not possess money or private property and, widely discriminated against, find it hard to integrate with mainstream society. With the destruction of the forests as well as with efforts of the lowland majority to assimilate them into Christian culture, the ICC struggle to protect their ancestral domain and cultural identity.

In 1986, fifteen of the more than eighteen ICC in Mindanao adopted the term lumad, a Bisayan word for “native” or “indigenous,” to distinguish themselves from the Christians and Muslims in Mindanao. Republic Act 6734, enacted during Corazon Aquino’s time, used the term to differentiate these ethnic communities from the Bangsamoro people.

Lumad are non-Muslim or non-Christian, although “the orientation of their cultural developments … appears to be toward the Muslim groups” (Jocano, 1998). The anthropologist Felipe Landa Jocano stresses that “in most cases, language is the only differentiating element in ethnic cultures, particularly among those which occupy adjacent and contiguous territory.” Most of the ICC in Mindanao speak languages belonging to the Manobo family of languages, except the Blaan, T’boli, and Teduray.

Broadly speaking, the ICC in Mindanao can be found in the following overlapping regions:

• South Central Mindanao (esp. Davao, Bukidnon, Cotabato): Bagobo, Tagakaolo, Teduray, Manobo, Kulaman, Blaan, T’boli
• Eastern Mindanao (esp. Agusan, Bukidnon, Davao, Surigao): Mandaya, Ata, Mansaka, Dibabawon
• North Central Mindanao (esp. Bukidnon): Bukidnon/Higaonon
• Western Mindanao and the Sulu Islands (esp. Zamboanga, Cotabato, Lanao): Maguindanao, Iranun, Maranao, Tausug, Samal, Yakan, Kalibugan, and Subanen

The lumad who live within the southern highland ranges are swidden farmers, and practice little trade. Like many of its neighbors, Bagobo society is ruled by a class of warriors known as magani or bagani. The Bagobo’s elaborate dress and personal adornment are well known among anthropologists. The T’boli and Teduray are also known for their baskets, trinkets, bracelets, and earrings made of brass. The T’boli’s t’nalak are prized fabrics believed to be inspired by the dreams of the woman weavers.

The Mandaya, Agusan Manobo, and Ata share numerous cultural traits and social institutions such as in clothing and religious rituals. They practice slash-and-burn farming and trade with neighbors. Warriors, headed by the datu, are greatly valued and respected.

On the mountains and plateaus of Bukidnon live a number of ICC collectively known as Bukidnon (from a Bisayan word for “mountain people”) but who call themselves Higaonon, or “mountain dwellers.” The mountains and ravines had separated them from their neighbors, and may account for why many of their traditions and practices have been maintained. In recent years, however, the Higaonon are slowly being assimilated into the prevailing lowland culture.

The Subanen also refer to a several ethnolinguisiticgroups found in the hills and coastal lowlands of Zamboanga. They are slash-and-burn farmers who fish, hunt, gather, and practice little trade.

The Minoritization of the Indigenous Communities of Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago outlines “what the Lumads (sic) desire,” which can also be said to reflect the struggles of the lumad throughout history up to the present. According to the book, the lumad want:

• the return of all lands taken from them through deceit, harassment, illegal manipulation, or simply grabbed;
• the government to cancel permits secured by individuals and companies operating logging, mining, pastures, rattan gathering, and other agri-based industries within lumad territories. These businesses may operate within areas of ancestral domain only with the permission of individual “tribes”;
• the migration of settlers into ancestral domain controlled;

their culture to be learned, respected, and taught as part of the DepEd curriculum;

• the government to stop militarization in lumad territories, stop the recruitment of lumad into paramilitary units, and stop the improper use of the lumad pangayaw (revenge raids); and
• the government to stop recognizing “fake Lumad organizations and fake datu which has become standard practice not only to foil or diffuse legitimate Lumad aspirations but also to advance selfish interests among government officials and their influential friends.”

Leaders: Governing Council

Gukom Joe Macarial-Subanen

Guhom Sonny Latao-Subanen

Datu Balitēngteng Antonio-Higaunon

Datu Untung Fidel Bisoy-Higaunon

Datu Mandagase Venancio Rico-Agusan Manobo

Datu Tagulambong-Banuwaon

Datu Emil Hide-Mamanuwa

Datu Rico Maca-Surigao Manobo

Datu Edwin Omo-Ata Manobo

Datu Art Davao-Talaingod

Datu Ambungan Lolito Manlubatan-Agusan Manobo

Fulong Gospel Moranos; Datu Crispin Simfal-Taboli

Timuay Maestro Sayot Masandil-Teduray

Timuey Elencio D Tipunan-Erumanen ne Menuvù

Edtami P Mansayagan-Erumanen ne Menuvù/United Nations HRC EMRIP Mandate Holder

Matikadung Sarx Lanos Sr.-Mansaka and Pependayan Jimid Mansayagan-interim Chairman.

References

Fr. Albert E Alejo, SJ
Ateneo de Zamboanga University
Zamboanga City
Email: paringbert@yahoo.com
Phone: 09177045474

Rep. Nancy A Catamco
Cotabato District II, Representative
Chairperson, House Committee on National Minorities
House of Representatives
Quezon City

Edtami Mansayagan
Mandate Holder
Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples/EMRIP
Office of the High Commission on Human Rights
Human Rights Council
Mobilephone: 09177196367
Email: pulasag@yahoo.com

LMPF have given up all hopes dealing with NCIP in relation to IP plight and aspiration. This government agency for indigenous peoples is hard to deal with when it comes to defending the rights IPs against companies in the ancestral domain especially when it is own by politicians with strong connection with Malacañan. However, the current weaknesses of NCIP cannot be construed as weaknesses of RA 8371 or IPRA, the law that establishes NCIP.

News About the Lumads

• Group of lawyers willing to assist ‘Lumads’ in Mindanao - Monday, September 14, 2015
• Lumad schools to open soon - Sunday, June 21, 2015
• Lumads of Davao del Sur students without a school

Article Contributors

• Jimid P. Mansayagan - chairperson of LUMAD MINDANAW PEOPLES FEDERATION/LMPF