Tribal leader prefers medicine-making over mining as livelihood means

MALAYBALAY CITY (MindaNews/25 September)—Harnessing the potentials of indigenous peoples to produce medicines from plants and herbs as a livelihood opportunity is better than allowing mining in their ancestral domains, a… »

Political, economic rights on top of Malaybalay Lumads’ 8-point agenda

MALAYBALAY CITY (MindaNews/19 Sept) – Political and economic rights are on top of the eight-point legislative agenda of the indigenous peoples in Malaybalay City, according to a lumad leader. Umayamnon… »

Bukidnon Lumad leaders on SONA: Silent again on indigenous peoples

MALAYBALAY CITY  (MindaNew/23 July) —   “Silent again on indigenous peoples.” This was the reaction of Lumad (indigenous peoples) leaders here to President Aquino’s nearly 90-minute State of the Nation Address… »

Lumads appeal for release of logs; Greens cry foul

BUTUAN CITY (MindaNews/09 June) – Tribal chieftains from Agusan del Sur and a town in Agusan del Norte have come out to claim ownership of some 2,400 confiscated Lauan logs… »

Mamanwas want mining firm out of Surigao

CAGDIANAO, Claver, Surigao del Norte (MindaNews/11 May) – Mamanwas vowed to continue barricading the mining site of Shen Zhou Mining Group Corporation here until the company shuts down and leaves… »

IP support group on tension at Balabag mines: “cease provocations and de-escalate the situation”

BAYOG, Zamboanga del Sur (MindaNews/21 April) –  A support group for indigenous peoples (IPs) is calling for support to “multi-stakeholder action and calls to cease provocations and de-escalate the situation”… »

Dialogue tempers rift between military, tribe

KORONADAL CITY (MindaNews/23 March)—A brewing rift between the military and a tribal community in the coal-rich town of Lake Sebu, South Cotabato was averted after the parties patched things up… »

Tribal river ritual celebrated to help spare Cagayan from another tragedy

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (MindaNews/10 March 2012) — Indigenous People (IP) of the Higaonon tribe from the 13 barangays here and tribal leaders of Bukidnon together with the Manobo tribe… »

Lumad, Moro leaders reaffirm kinship, sign covenant

SONGCO, Lantapan, Bukidnon (MindaNews/09 March) – Representatives of eight Moro tribes and most of the Lumad or non-Islamized tribes in Mindanao yesterday signed a five-point kinship covenant in a gathering… »

Bukidnon-Tagoloan tribe reclaims riverside sacred site

MALAYBALAY CITY (MindaNews/14 January) – Members of the Bukidnon-Tagoloan tribe today held a ritual symbolizing their recovery of a spring along the Sawaga River bank, which their ancestors had used… »

Mamanwas rue ‘substandard’ housing units donated by mining firms

CLAVER, Surigao del Norte (MindaNews/07 December) — Who wouldn’t want to live around rolling hills set against the backdrop of a scenic coastline? Definitely not the Mamanwa tribe residing in… »

Surigao Mamanwas push for IP council representation

SURIGAO CITY (MindaNews/27 Nov) – Members of the Mamanwa tribe in Agusan del Norte and some parts of Surigao del Norte  appealed to the city government to implement the law… »

Impasugong proposed as Bukidnon’s tribal capital

MALAYBALAY CITY (MindaNews/25 September) – Impasugong, Bukidnon’s 134-year old town has been proposed to be declared as the tribal capital of the province. Provincial Board member Nemesio Beltran Jr. said… »

Bukdinon Lumad farmers decry killing of Higaonon farmer

Early in the morning of  Thursday, September 1, residents near the regional office of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) along the corner of Tiano and Del Pilar Streets… »

Lumads decry killing of leaders

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/10 May) – The Lumad communities have express alarm over the consecutive killing of three tribal leaders in Monkayo, Compostela Valley these past few years. The latest killing… »

Bagobo-K'latas in Kahusayan protest alleged encroachment of their land

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/28 Apr) – On the second day of their march for justice and land, at least 300 Bagobo K’lata lumads and farmers from sitio Kahusayan in barangay Guianga… »

Lumads wonder what land to give the next generation

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (MindaNews/14 Apr) – The location of the early morning “Pamalas” ritual to ward off evil spirits from the “yutang kabilin” was perfect. The even this morning… »

Tempest sinking in at Tampakan project’

KORONADAL CITY (MindaNews/28 March) – One of the worst fears expressed years back by the local Catholic Church over the massive Tampakan copper-gold project of foreign-backed Sagittarius Mines, Inc –… »

Sagittarius Mines halts work as tribal chief, wife killed

KORONADAL CITY (MindaNews/23 February) — A tribal chieftain who staunchly supported the Tampakan copper-gold project of foreign-backed Sagittarius Mines, Inc was killed Tuesday night by still unidentified gunmen, prompting the… »

Lumad group opposes move to ban open-pit mine in Zambo Norte

ZAMBOANGA CITY (MindaNews/11 February) – A group of Subanens in Zamboanga del Norte has expressed opposition to a proposed ordinance filed at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) that would, among others,… »

‘Respect our traditions,’ Lumads elders tell Pulangi hydro plant opposition

MALAYBALAY, Bukidnon (MindaNews/8 Feb) – A stakeholders’ forum on the proposed Pulangi 5 hydro electric power project in Kibawe town with about a thousand participants turned into a stage for… »

House to probe irregularities in royalty payments to Mamanwa tribe

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/2 Feb) – The House of Representatives will conduct an inquiry on the alleged irregularities concerning the multimillion-peso royalty payments made by a mining company to the Mamanwa… »

Lumads ask Bayog officials to name mining firms with conflicting claims

BAYOG, Zamboanga del Sur (MindaNews/28 January) — Indigenous communities here have asked the local government to reveal the identities of companies that have conflicting mining claims in this town. Timuay Lucenio Manda, barangay chairperson of Conacon, raised the question after municipal officials said that aside from failing to comply with legal requirements, some companies have conflicting mining claims that cover portions of the Lumads’ 30,000-hectare ancestral domain.

CA declares as null and void CMU titles over 3,000-hectare land; Lumads hail decision

MALAYBALAY CITY (MindaNews/25 January) — “A landmark victory for indigenous peoples in Mindanao,” Bae Alma Binayao of the Manobo-Talaandig tribe, said of the Court of Appeals Mindanao decision declaring “null… »

DARAB says Bukidnon sugar mill, not tribe, is owner of 230-hectare land

BUTONG, Quezon, Bukidnon (MindaNews/13 December) — The Department of Agrarian Reform Adjudication Board (DARAB) has reversed a decision it made in 1998 that favored a tribe’s claim that the 230-hectare… »

Tribal leaders spurn caroling by Lumads

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/07 December) — Tribal leaders have disapproved of what has become the practice of Lumads to come down from the mountains for Christmas and do some caroling in… »

Talaandigs celebrate life; dance to the beat of the drums

The tribe’s art is everywhere in the Talaandig village in Songco. It is in their music, paintings, inside their houses and even on their doors. Children learn to beat the drums as soon as their hands can reach thecowhide canvases and Talaandig grandmothers see to it that this tradition is passed on by teaching the children how to dance to the beat of the drums.

Surigao Norte reps want inquiry on issuance of CADTs to alleged fake IPs

SURIGAO CITY (MindaNews/02 October) –  The congressional representatives of  Surigao del Norte are seeking an inquiry, in aid of legislation, on the issuance of Certificates of Ancestral Domain (CADT)  to… »

Group builds micro-hydropower plant in T’boli village

KIDAPAWAN CITY (MindaNews/17 September) – Some 300 mostly T’boli households in Lake Sebu town in South Cotabato are seen to benefit from a clean energy source once the construction of… »

Cotabato gov, NGO head named Manobo bais

KIDAPAWAN CITY (MindaNews/31 August) – In a ceremony that some leaders of indigenous peoples may frown upon, Cotabato Governor Lala Talinio-Mendoza and the head of a Manila-based non-government organization were… »

GenSan LGU vs NCIP on ancestral land claim of part of airport

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/19 Aug) – The city government here has filed administrative and criminal charges against top officials of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) and the Register… »

Rep. Catamco seeks inclusion of subjects on IP cultures in school curricula

KIDAPAWAN CITY (MindaNews/17 August) – Cotabato 2nd District Rep. Nancy Catamco is set to propose the integration in elementary and high school curricula the study of cultures and traditions of… »

Opposition to privatization of Mindanao’s hydropower complexes growing

MALAYBALAY CITY (MindaNews/15 August) – Opposition to the privatization of Mindanao’s Agus and Pulangi hydropower complexes as provided for in the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 (EPIRA) is… »

Save Talaingod Network holds medical mission, calls for unity amidst “alarming health situation”

DAVAO CITY (STN/08 August) — Insisting on the urgency to mitigate the poor health situation in the indigenous community, the Save Talaingod Network (STN) pushed through with its major medical… »

Mining firm pays P72.5 million to IPs from 2006 to 2008; Mamanwa to go into “pizza and pasta” business

SURIGAO CITY (MindaNews/03 August) – Taganito Mining Corporation, now under the Nickel Asia Corporation Group of Companies, has paid a total of P72.5 million to the Mamanwa, the indigenous peoples… »

Lumads to form body to deal with peace panels

SONGCO, Lantapan, Bukidnon (MindaNews/02 August) — Some 90 Lumad leaders from various parts of Mindanao and Luzon capped their gathering here last week with an agreement to form a body… »

P-Noy urged to include Lumad in Mindanao peace process

SONGCO, Lantapan, Bukidnon (MindaNews/27 July) – President Benigno Aquino III must fulfill  his commitment in his first State of the Nation Address to include the lumads in the Mindanao peace… »

SONA silent on program for indigenous people, Lumad leaders say

SONGCO, Lantapan, Bukidnon (MindaNews/27 July) – President Benigno Simeon Aquino III’s first State of the Nation Address was silent on his program for the indigenous peoples, Lumad leaders said. “Where… »

Lumads meet in Kitanglad for 4th State of the Indigenous Peoples’ Address (SIPA)

DAVAO CITY  (MindaNews/24 July) – An estimated 100 Lumads (indigenous peoples) from various parts of the country will gather at the foot for Mt. Kitanglad in Bukidnon for the fourth… »

Creation of tribal town in Cotabato eyed

KIDAPAWAN CITY (MindaNews/19 July) — Cotabato 2nd district Congresswoman Nancy Catamco will file a bill seeking the creation of a tribal municipality in her legislative district once Congress opens on… »

CBCP to Aquino: review all ‘anomalous and controversial’ mining deals

MALAYBALAY CITY (MindaNews/19 July) – The influential Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) recently called on President Benigno Aquino III to review all “anomalous and controversial” mining contracts and… »

Tribal leader to PEF: Secure FPIC before eagle releases

MALAYBALAY CITY (MindaNews/17 July) – Manobo tribal leader Datu Ampuan Jeodoro Sulda has a word of advice to the people at the Philippine Eagle Foundation — secure a free and… »

Lumads protesting FPIC grant to Kibawe rancher shave heads

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (MindaNews/13 July) – A datu and two women who are among the Lumads from Kibawe town in Bukidnon who have picketed since Monday the regional office… »

Lumads want NCIP to revoke FPIC for ranch in Kibawe

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (MindaNews/13 July) — A group of lumads from Bukidnon yesterday picketed the regional office of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples here to demand the revocation of a Free and Prior Informed Consent granted to a ranch developer. The contested land is a 480-hectare property in Barangays Panalsalan and Dagumbaan , Kibawe town in Bukidnon.

Lumads hit ‘deception’ in carbon trading, demand ‘climate justice’

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/12 July) – Lumads or indigenous peoples belonging to 12 tribes in Mindanao’s southern provinces have declared their opposition to what they call the deceptive nature of treaty-based… »

IP rights activist from Davao detained in Indonesia freed

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/07 July) — Indonesian authorities last night released an official of an indigenous peoples’ rights advocacy group here along with 12 other foreign activists who were arrested Monday… »

Davaoeña among detained activists in Indonesia

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/6 July) — The Davao team leader of an indigenous peoples rights advocacy group, along with other activists of  different nationalities, has been detained by Indonesian police in… »

Pay royalty to lumads, solon tells Surigao mining firms

SURIGAO CITY (MindaNews/2 July) – Surigao del Norte Rep. Guillermo Romarate Jr. (2nd Dist.) has warned mining firms operating on ancestral lands to pay their royalty share to the Mamanwas… »

Lumad leader urges Noynoy to give scholarship to indigenous youth

MALALAG, Davao del Sur (MindaNews/1 July) — As President Benigno S. Aquino III conveyed his plans and promises to the Filipino people during his inaugural speech at Quirino Grandstand Wednesday,… »

New Bukidnon gov favors new Pulangi dam project, small-scale mining

MALAYBALAY CITY (MindaNews/29 June) – Bukidnon’s new governor has underscored his support to environmental protection by pledging to increase the allocation for the Mt. Kitanglad and Mt. Kalatungan natural parks… »

About MindaNews

Mindanao News and Information Cooperative Center (MNICC) is a cooperative composed of independent, professional journalists who believe and practice people empowerment through media. We also believe that Mindanao is not all bad news and that our responsibility as journalists and information providers is to ensure a mixed balance of reports beyond the usual fare published in national newspapers or aired on radio and TV.