My personal view on the plight of IP

Advocating for IP education and equal opportunity for all human beings, I am very much happy to take part and volunteer my time to anyone who pursues the same advocacy as I am.

Alohaeigo is an organization based in Japan who does volunteer service here in the Philippines, their primary objective is helping the deserving student in EDUCATION. Their focus group is the Igorot Community based in Itogon, Benguet.

Poverty and education are the most overlooked systematic problem faced by the IP’s. Although we have supposedly NCIP whose mandate is to advocate for IP rights, EDUCATION is not available to all the IPs. Given the geographical location of some of the IPs particularly the Manobo Bla’an, their group is nonetheless the farthest this is mostly the excuse of the policymakers and implementers of the government.

Setting aside the geographical locations of the IPs, there is a glaring resonance of non-exercise of their rights, LGU’s do not have available avenues for them and the assistance of NCIP at times are dismal. 

We can notice that only those who have strengthened and forward-thinking IP’s have progressive communities and education at their disposal. Culture and tradition play a role in the plight of the IP’s. Rich Maranaonun have access to education because they have schools built within their proximity. Some groups of Igorots like Ibaloi and Kankana-ey are well educated because of the strong support of the LGU’s towards helping educate them. 

Aetas of Zambales are the most educated amongst their group, and this is brought upon by treaties of the Americans through the SBMA agreements that allow them to have the resources but unless enforced by the council of elders some of these agreements are overlooked.

The plight of the IPs can only be improved through proper education as this will empower them to fight for their land against the tyranny of subjugation, and to demand social services that should be given to them.

National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) is the agency tasked in preserving the historical traditions and customs of the IPs. The real fight of the IPs is the dying tradition as most of the IP groups are getting influenced by modernity and other groups are too tired to maintain their history.

We can also notice that there are IP groups who were able to maintain their history through documentation and community museums.

In general, the Philippines need to do more towards implementing IP-specific programs towards preserving its heritage and towards igniting capacity-building in the communities.