Moneeze Bernardo
- Mangyans set foot on kids’ Daycare graduation ‘barefoot’ and proud
- Netizens admired and respect the Mangyan parents, others want to send support
- Indigenous people have always been the subject of discrimination and marginalization, also with education
- Other social media users called on the government to focus on their plight
The Philippine archipelago is a culturally-diverse nation with an estimated 14-17 million indigenous peoples (IPs) belonging to 110 ethno-linguistic groups.
While these varying tribes have different ways of life and cultural heritage, IPs share the similar experience of discrimination and marginalization, most especially when it comes to receiving quality education.
One netizen shared on Facebook a touching event from the Mangyans when they attended their children’s Daycare graduation rites “shoeless,” even coming down from the mountain in that state that has earned respect and admiration from social media users.
Shiela Mae Matre-Ruiz wrote on her account, attaching proud pictures of the parents and their kids: “Kmjs n yan! (Kapuso Mo Jessica Soho mo na yan) Sila dapat tinutulungan 😍 Sila po ay bumaba pa ng bundok makaattend lang ng graduation ng daycare. (Nakasanayan na po nila ang lumakad ng nakapaa, kahit po kami ay nahabag nang makita namin ang mga kababayan namin na ganito, meron pong pinahiram na sapatos pero hindi po mailakad ng ayos kaya pinili na lang na magyapak) Sila po ay mangyan at kalakip na sa kanilang kultura ang hindi pagsuot ng tsinelas o sapin sa paa.”
Her post has now gone viral with a staggering 39 thousand reactions and 40 thousand shares online.
The Episcopal Commission on Tribal Filipinos (ECTF) estimates that there are approximately 6.5 million indigenous peoples, composing about 10 percent of the total Philippine population and belonging to over 40 distinct ethno-linguistic groups
They are located in different parts of the country with more than sixty percent in the Mindanao island, around thirty percent in Luzon island, and less than ten percent in the islands of the Visayas region.
Back in 1997, the government passed the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act or Republic Act 8371 that recognizes and protects the rights of indigenous communities. Its effective implementation, however, is yet to be seen and asserted by indigenous communities, especially now that the country has been riddled with news of Lumad killings.
Yawinay Mendez commented on the viral post, “Saan ang pundo para mga IP’s? Pa-shout out naman sa mga taga-gobyerno.”
“Kung mayaman lang ako, di ako magtatatlong isip para tulungan sila. Sana makita ko ulit sila na nakasuot naman ng itim na toga. godbless <3” wrote Christian Paul Evarolo Cunanan.
Another netizen, Daechel Dara Granada, even said, “Nakakadurog ng puso. At the same time saludo sa inyo mga magulang! Sana ma feature sila sa #kmjs para madameng makapaghatid ng tulong”.
