Indigenous Women Celebrate International Women’s Month:

Demands gov’t to prioritize food and livelihood, not CHA-CHA

Women’s Month Community Action 2024 at the Midsayap Municipal Plaza with Erumanen ne Menuvu, Teduray, Lambangian, Kirinteken, Pulangiyen, and Manobo women. Photo courtesy of LILAK

Every year, LILAK celebrates International Women’s Month to remember the bravery of all women who fought for women’s human rights worldwide. It is a time when we celebrate the women who offered their lives, stood up, and raised women's voices, place, and status in different aspects of society. Ultimately, this month is more than just a celebration. It is a protest where women continue to assert and demand a better life and meaningful participation in all spaces.

A report from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in 2023 reveals that half of the world’s food insecurity is in Asia and the Pacific Region. The report also shows that women are hungrier than men, despite how women undertake critical roles in farming and food production. In the Philippines, indigenous women are confronted with multiple burden as they are expected to simultaneously do care work at home, ensure that they have enough food and sustenance for their family each day, and participate in community work. All this while continuously sounding off the continuing violence and harassment of indigenous leaders under the Marcos-Duterte administration, when those who speak against corporate-driven development projects are seen as a hindrance to development and are met with hostility and violence.

To honor the pivotal role of indigenous women as frontrunners in the struggle of women and indigenous communities, and as key contributors to food production, 200 indigenous women gathered at Midsayap, North Cotabato on March 5, 2024. It served as a platform for indigenous women to voice their strong opposition to all forms of violence and harassment directed at indigenous peoples and indigenous women. The Erumanen ne Menuvu of North Cotabato, the Teduray and Lambangian of Maguindanao, and the Manobo from Bukidnon also expressed strong opposition to the recent moves toward Charter Change – standing against the extractive and anti-poor provisions that will gravely affect indigenous communities.

The Marcos-Romualdez camp pushes for a unicameral system through Charter Change, citing the alleged rigidity of our economic policy as reason behind altering our legislative process. Notably, the Resolution of Both Houses No. 6 (RBH 6) was previously filed in Congress to allow 100% foreign ownership of public services, media, and academic institutions, and 100% foreign exploration of the country’s natural resources – a resolution awaiting the success of a dubious People's Initiative to hasten its legislation.

Tessie Ambol, a Lambangian woman leader opposes the proposed Charter Change as it would mean more mining explorations within and around their ancestral domains in Maguindanao and this will disrupt their traditional ways of life and destroy the environment where they get food, water, and their livelihood. She added that the projects would only benefit a few but would have a massive and negative impact on their community.

Cheryl Polutan of LILAK delivers a solidarity message with other iDEFEND member organizations at the Women’s Day Action against Charter Change at the Bonifacio Shrine. Photo courtesy of LILAK

Further carrying the stance against Charter Change, LILAK joined an International Women’s Day Action led by the In Defense of Human Rights and Dignity Movement (iDEFEND) on March 7, at the Bonifacio Shrine, Ermita, Manila. The protest denounced attempts at constitutional reform and called for the prioritization of women and Filipino people’s welfare, saying “Pagkain, Trabaho, Lupa, Hustisya, Hindi Cha-Cha!” The mobilization drew attention to how across sectors, women bear the brunt of the greedy, corrupt, and corporate-led framework of development at work in the country.

In her message of solidarity, Cheryl Polutan of LILAK said that women will not permit our constitution to be amended for such vested interests. She declared that now, as we celebrate Women’s Month, women will continue to condemn violence, and refuse to allow such violence to persist – violence that splinters from various directions, violence that will only be exacerbated by the interests of the few as they forward their version of Charter Change.

Fëgëlukës at Linggëng artists with producers LILAK and AMP3 in the album launch event held at UP Fine Arts Gallery. Photo courtesy of LILAK

Women’s Month is a protest, and protests can take many forms, including music. In collaboration with Asian Music for Peoples’ Peace and Progress (AMP3), LILAK previously organized a songwriting workshop for indigenous women in March 2023 to provide a safe space for indigenous women to share their stories and struggles and express their activism through music.

These songs were compiled in an album entitled “Fëgëlukës at Linggëng: Awit at Kwento ng mga Katutubong Kababaihan,” and launched last March 22, where Judy Pasimio of LILAK emphasized the organization's dedication to exploring creative forms of criticism, activism, advocacy, and resistance, as spaces for such are marred by red-tagging, overt harassment, and marginalization. Combatting false narratives necessitates us to innovate and engage in creative approaches to connect with more people, especially the youth.

International Women’s Month continues to serve as a platform for resistance, demanding better circumstances and meaningful participation for women across sectors. Over the decades, indigenous women have maintained steadfast resistance against the harassment and exploitation of women and indigenous communities, defended their claim over their ancestral domain, and asserted the protection of our natural resources.

Through various forms – mobilizations, gatherings, art, and music – LILAK strives to amplify the voices of indigenous women who challenge profit and power-driven politicians and corporations that continue to marginalize and victimize women, indigenous people, and indigenous women. LILAK hopes to carry on her goal to foster solidarity and empowerment by bringing women and advocates together – drawing strength from each other’s courage and spirits.

(Originally published in the Panaghiusa Newsletter for January - March 2024)