By KATHLEEN T. OKUBO

“Money, gold and silver will be consumed very fast, so will our life, but not the forest, the mountains and our water sources that sustain our ricefields. As long as they remain nurtured and protected they shall continue to sustain the generations that shall come after us – our children, grandchildren and great grand children and so forth, forever,” an excerpt translated from the Ilocano speech of one who had drawn life sustenance, nurtured the faith and trust of his congregation for fifty years in Baay-Licuan.

The elders and officialdom of Baay-Licuan in the province Abra are worried that the entry of a big commercial mining company into their mountains would destroy their community, their homes, their livelihood…and, the continuity of their story as a distinct people. Read the rest of this entry →

By REV. LUNA L. DINGAYAN

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Never rely on what you think you know. Remember the Lord in everything you do, and he will show you the right way.” — Proverbs 3:5-6

Wisdom in the Scriptures

Wisdom in the Scriptures is a lesson learned from observations in the natural world and from life experiences that would lead us into a good and successful life, rather than a life of evil, destruction, and death. For the Israelites, the elderly people are believed to be the fountain of wisdom in the family and community, because they are presumed to have learned a lot of lessons through various life experiences and observations in the natural world.

Interestingly, this is also true in traditional Filipino families and communities. That is why old people are regarded highly in the family and the community, even if they could no longer work physically. They serve as advisers especially in making decisions that would affect the life and future of the family and community. The elderly are highly regarded and respected unlike in the modern world wherein they are confined in the so-called homes for the aged. Read the rest of this entry →

By INNABUYOG-GABRIELA

This paper was presented by Vernie Yocogan-Diano of Innabuyog (an alliance of indigenous women’s organizations in the Cordillera, Philippines) during the APWLD All-Task Forces and Governance Meeting on last April 6-7, 2008 at Siem Reap, Cambodia. Yocogan-Diano is also the Convenor of APWLD’s Task Force Women and Environment. This is the second of three parts. Click here to read the first part. — Ed.

Deregulation and privatization measures and policies by government is virtually giving up the delivery of basic social services. A decrease in the budget for health, education and housing is observed each year. Women’s access to health care as a whole is endangered by government cutbacks of different items as part of debt servicing requirements. In 2007, each Filipino received only P163 or P0.45 a day which is 25% decrease from 2001. There is also an exodus of medical professionals like nurses and doctors to go overseas hence further endangering public health service. The Department of Health says that seven out of 10 doctors who resigned from public hospitals are now working as nurses overseas.

The abject lack and inaccessibility of facilities for mothers giving birth account for the reason of a high maternal mortality rate in the country. Everyday, more than 10 women die from causes related to pregnancy and childbirth. Read the rest of this entry →

By ALBERT LAWRENCE IDIA

Sa kasaysayang itatakda ng yearbook ng aming batch na magtatapos ngayong Abril, hindi ako kasama.

Wala naman akong problema sa babayaran. Kahit nga matagal nang tapos ang panahon ng pagkuha ng litrato, sinusubukan pa ng tiyahin ko na mapilit akong kumuha ng yearbook. Palihim akong naiirita sa pagtatangka nitong mag-abot ng pera. Kasama ang nanay ko, pareho nila akong pinapanood habang naghihintay ng bus na pabalik sa Baguio nang minsang umuwi ako sa amin, tinatanong kung bakit hindi ako kumuha. Matamlay lang na “hindi, ok lang… ayoko rin” ang naisasagot ko. Read the rest of this entry →