Indigenous People in the Philippines; Who? And How indigenous they are. (A Reaction Paper)

Indigenous People are the Native people, ethnic groups who are the original or earliest known inhabitants of an area. They are the ones who needed most attention from the government since they aren’t as civilized as us but for me they are the richest ones since they own massive lands and properties just like in cordillera group specifically the Ifugao’s who created the well-known rice terraces. Indigenous peoples, also known in some regions as First People. They should be supported and taken good care of the Government for collective natural resources governed by indigenous peoples and local communities are biodiversity hotspots that maintain the ecological balance of our planet and help regulate the climate that enables global food production. On the other hand IP’s are the carrier of the Rich and extinct customs and traditions which was passed by our forefathers, these customs reflects and magnify the soul of our nation. But are we really aware about How Indigenous are Filipino Indigenous Peoples? Are the Indigenous Peoples of the Philippines really considered as indigenous or not?

Dr. Danilo Gerona a Historian gave lecture in Partido State University during the round table discussion on “Mainstreaming Indigenous Knowledge in the Tertiary Education”. Upon reading the transcription, my mind was opened regarding different things and some questions entered my mind. His big revelation about history of Magellan and Lapu-lapu captured my attention. Dr. Gerona said that he spent his time researching about the life and the things about Magellan. He said that we always thought of Magellan as a warrior but he was just a short fellow, less than five-footer and he was in fact limping! I do visualize Ferdinand Magellan as a tough guy before when I learned the things related to him and Lapu-lapu. And also, the things what Dr. Gerona said about Lapu-lapu that he was an old man aging around 70 years old. That was a big revelation! I am just so fascinated by these things but also wondering if is these things all true? Why aren’t these things published and broadcasted publicly? For the people to know about the real stories about Magellan and Lapu-lapu’s identity if these things are considered legitimate? But this is not our main topic. It’s about How Indigenous are Filipino Indigenous Peoples? Are the Indigenous Peoples of the Philippines really considered as indigenous or not? Based on the things that Dr. Geroda mentioned, I am astonished about the things he said related to Indigenous Peoples. It is indeed true that the society, our society is treating Indigenous Peoples as others, which is wrong. We must embrace cultural differences. That even indigenous people can surpass community standards through their own ways. Although being different makes them marginalized which often results to discrimination and other harsh realities. Dr. Gerona widens my understanding about how people were considered as Indigenous Peoples. He mentioned about the Wave Migration Theory of Henry Otley Beyer wherein the ancestors of the Filipinos came to the islands first via land bridges which would occur during times when the sea level was low, and then later in seagoing vessels such as the balangay. Beyer believed that Agta’s were the first inhabitants in the Philippines. Then another information was presented to him by his professor that was contrary to what was said by Beyer on his Theory. Believe me or not but I am a bit confused knowing these things about who was the first inhabitants in the Philippines. But knowing the Different Classifications of Indigenous Peoples such as the Agta, Remontados, mortar-to climb, remontar-to climb again. Cimarrones, cima-peak, this group went to the summit or the peak of mountain. Malvado-evil people, Bagamundos-travel without homes. Made me realized how important Indigenous peoples are. But sad reality was about the reasons why we have Indigenous people, it was not because they are different, it is because they chose to be different. It is because of the oppression of the Spaniards to Filipinos before. When the Spanish took over the islands in the mid-1500s, their fierce religious orders, the natives were of no consequence to the Spaniards, except as a source of revenue. The Spanish religious orders and charitable groups were originally assigned encomiendas (Spanish for commissions). The grants gave the Spanish warlords the absolute right to control all the Filipinos living within the boundaries of the encomiendas, and the right to force them into labour up to 12 hours a day, six days a week, and collect the resulting “tributes” (50 per cent of their crops). Under the “share-cropping” that took place on the vast haciendas throughout the islands, the indigenous Filipinos were routinely deceived. Corpuz explains: “In the matter of the payment of the tributes, the natives were regularly cheated by the Spanish assessors and collectors.” Corpuz goes on to say it was easy “to cheat the native cultivators through intimidation, arbitrary prices and the use of crooked weights and measures.” Through the tricks and devices of the Spanish, many indigenous families fell into a life of bondage with the warlords. “After harvest, the individual farmer was left with a share that almost invariably made it impossible to put aside anything for savings”. The Filipinos would also lose their traditional lands. “The encomienda grants were for limited periods but were repeatedly extended for the religious orders … Somewhere along the way, probably starting in the late 1700s the “encomenderos” became owners, and not merely holders of the plantation-sized tracts”. The Spanish were cruel and cunning in usurping the traditional lands. (Onofre D. Corpuz). Because of how the Spaniards control the people of the Philippines. Based on what Dr. Gerona said, it triggered the Native people to isolate themselves in the lowlanders. How Indigenous are Filipino Indigenous Peoples? Are the Indigenous Peoples of the Philippines really are indigenous or not? Based on my own understanding, Yes, Native people in the Philippines are indeed considered as Indigenous ones. How indigenous they are? Philippines was a barbaric country, less civilized than other nations back then. Our people practiced unique cultures and ways of relating to people and the environment. They possessed characteristics which are not yet influenced by the modern world.

From those unjustified misfortunes, crown of thorns, unreasonable endurances did not exist and taken upon, we would’ve stayed primitively barbaric — deprived of rights, still on the verge towards dampened economy, and many more unimaginable severity any nation wouldn’t risk of having. Since, we don’t have much of the resources others accustomed themselves with to be competent, being colonized was the price we all have to pay for a future we seek to envision ourselves. Sometimes, we all have to learn in the hard ways — some ways might pull you into the deepest threshold, gravitate you away from the most decent manner one could’ve learned from without suffering detrimentally. Few of whom we labelled as champions and successful ones learned in myriad ways they do not deserve. Truly “We do not get what we deserve, we get what we negotiate.”