A Mindful and Respectful Approach to Indigenous Land

My eldest asked as we traversed the back roads of Porac, on our way to Villa Maria.

Nature really has its way of keeping my kids quiet and curious.

It’s the same reason why I always try to bring them along whenever I go to the mountains.

Pero ayun nga, sino nga ba ang may-ari ng bundok?

If you asked me this a few years back, I would’ve said,

“Wala. Walang may-ari ng bundok. It’s for everyone to enjoy and nature is everyone’s property.”

And that’s what I thought.

That’s what I believed in.

In fact, that’s the same mindset I used to share with my friends.

Pero ngayon, looking back…

naisip ko, swerte ako at walang Kulot na nakarinig sa akin noon.

Kung hindi, baka napana na ako sa leeg.

Not until I met Pinatubo Mountainero did I learn that this is not the case.

“Ang may-ari ng bundok na ito ay ang mga Ayta Mag-indi at Ayta Mag-antsi ng Porac,” I said.

That means sovereignty of the land belongs to them — all 18,660 hectares of it. (Awarded CADT 123 or Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title)

It means this land is their territory. Hindi ka basta pupunta dito na parang extension lang ng bakuran mo, tapos gagawin mo kung ano’ng gusto mo.

You are entering a domain with a culture to respect and laws to obey.

You are not entitled to do as you please, you are given the privilege to be their guest.

“This is their home, and we are their guests.”

Papayag ka ba na gawing public na daanan ang bakuran mo?

Papayag ka ba na anytime, any day may mag-camp sa backyard mo?

O may mag-setup ng videoke at mag-ala Aljur hanggang umaga?

I don’t think so.

But sadly, that’s what’s happening, and I have to admit, I was once part of the problem.

Not because of malice, but because of ignorance.

to be continued..