This is a call to action speech I was supposed to deliver in a webinar organized by the NCIP last August 5 for Indigenous Peoples Day. Unfortunately, my draft was rejected by the coordinators and I was replaced by another IP youth speaker. https://link.medium.com/vR9pzHtnO8 

The issues I identified— militarization, red-tagging, aggression towards Lumad schools—were called “false and fabricated claims”. There was no mention by the new speaker of climate change, dev't aggression, and violation of the FPIC process, challenges faced by IPs on the daily.

It was extremely demoralizing for me, a legitimate indigenous voice to be silenced by the government. I may have grown up in Manila but I value my indigenous identity and continue to do my share in learning more about IP communities around to avoid tokenistic representation.

And like my cousin @tuwalimarge has pointed out, it is scary to know how easy it is for IP voices to be weaponized by the government to prop up their agenda of militarization, erasure, and IP-specific oppression.

To conclude, please listen to IP voices. We have long been marginalized, harassed, oppressed, displaced. There are many IP activists and environment defenders that have come before us and new ones that are starting to speak out. Listen to our cries for justice and peace.