A RESOLUTION to hold Lakbayan sessions in Ateneo is being proposed by the Sanggunian in order to shed light on the plight of the indigenous peoples (IPs), particularly the Lumads.

According to the minutes of Sanggu’s 7th Central Assembly Session held last October, Lakbayan sessions aim to “show what is happening in the communities of Lumads, and introduce Ateneans to their way of life.” This is also in the spirit of Ateneo’s Ignatian value of solidarity as men for others.

Their target partnerships include school assemblies, the Office of the President, the Ateneo Resident Students Association (ARSA), and Save Our Schools (SOS), a network of child-focused non-government organizations, for various donations such as food, clothes, books, and lab equipment.

While the School of Humanities (SOH) is spearheading the event, Sergei Lim, who is in charge of passing the resolution, claimed that they are “unable to have a substantial comment at this time” as the resolution is still being streamlined.

The Lakbayan sessions were expected to be moved this February instead of the originally planned November schedule to finalize logistical concerns and to avoid coinciding with the hectic academic months.

However, as of writing, the Coalition of Ateneans for Indigenous People (CAIP) Head Pierce Manlangit noted that the Lakbayan sessions may not be pushing through in February either, since “there seems to be no movement [with the resolution] at all” with SOH.

Although CAIP is in support of Lakbayan, they are unable to spearhead the event themselves since they believe “there are better means to achieve similar outcomes given the strengths and weaknesses of Coalition.”

Prompting the resolution

In an interview with The GUIDON, Sanggunian President Hya Bendaña stressed the importance of awareness when it comes to Filipinos experiencing marginalization.

“There’s a need for us to immerse ourselves in the struggle of the IP community and the politics behind it, nag-decide ang Sanggu na mag-organize ng sariling Lakbayan,” she said.

(Sanggu decided to organize its own Lakbayan sessions.)

Around two years ago, the Ignatian Initiative for Transformative Empowerment (IgnITE) supported a donation drive for the Lakbayan ng Pambansang Minorya 2016. With the sessions hosted by the University of the Philippines-Diliman (UPD), its delegates included Lumad, Moro, Igorot, Aeta, Mangyan, and Agta groups who protested against the military and mining operations in their ancestral lands.

The donation drive was organized by Sandugo: Kilusan ng mga Moro at Katutubong Mamamayan para sa Sariling Pagpapasya, which was coursed through the Sanggu Promote and IgnITE. IgnITE was a movement of Ateneans who aimed to push for involvement in the Loyola Schools through access, community-building, and transformative empowerment.

However, in February 2017, the IgnITE Movement decided to dissolve itself due to its failure to be sustain itself in line with its goals as a “reaction party.”

Bendaña also stated that there was an attempt to organize Lakbayan sessions in Ateneo last school year during the term of former Sanggunian President Ia Marañon. However, some of the external organizers were unable to submit the proposals, causing the sessions’ failure to push through.

“[The organizers of Lakbayan are usually externals.] Never has there been any instance where a Sanggu officer organized Lakbayan internally or pushed for its organization inside,” Bendaña said.

Bendaña noted that a number of Ateneans have been going to UPD for their Lakbayan sessions. In the sessions, Ateneans listen to Lakbayanis talk about their experiences as indigenous people, and human rights abuses they have gone through.

Negotiations with admin

The Lakbayan sessions were originally intended to be held in November 2018. However, problems have risen when in terms of logistics and security.

One reason as to why universities such as UP and University of Santo Tomas have held previous Lakbayan sessions, while the Ateneo has not, is because of the campus security protocols observed by the Ateneo schools, particularly Ateneo de Manila, Ateneo de Davao, Ateneo de Naga, Ateneo de Zamboanga, and Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan. According to Bendaña, the circumstances at hand are incomparable to those of other universities.

“For example, UPD is a public road. It’s a public university. Kahit sino halos puwede pumasok sa campus, so having Lakbayans enter the campus is not that big of an issue. In the Ateneo de Manila, we have parents who are very concerned. Ang primary concern talaga nila ay ang kaligtasan ng kanilang mga anak on campus,” Bendaña said.

(For example, UPD is a public road. It’s a public university. Anyone can enter the campus so having Lakbayans enter the campus is not that big of an issue. In the Ateneo de Manila, we have parents who are very concerned. Their primary concern is the safety of their children on campus.)

One major area of concern was the possibility of IPs being “red-tagged.” Bendaña noted that the issue of Lakbayan sessions being an alleged possible recruitment ground for communists was closely linked to the “Red October” plot to oust President Rodrigo Duterte.

“A lot of these individuals can’t submit their name to the Ateneo security personnel kasi nga nare-red tag sila. It might be dangerous for their safety if their identity is known,”  she explained.

She clarified that there are no specific people “red-tagging” the IPs. However, the lumad schools claim that the military itself tags them as members of the New People’s Army and other rebellious groups.

On the other hand, Bendaña noted while she is adamant on ensuring the safety of the IPs from being red-tagged, completely bypassing security measures isn’t the solution either.

“Naiintindihan naman natin kung bakit hindi nila puwedeng i-surrender yung mga pangalan na iyon, pero mahirap lang talaga para sa mga magulang at para sa institusyon.”

(We understand why they can’t surrender their names, but at the same time it’s also difficult for the parents and the institution [to accept that].)

“So that’s what we’re negotiating right now: to be able to allow them to enter without following the full security protocol especially listing of names, giving their [identification cards], etc.,” she said.

In solidarity

Bendaña emphasized the importance of immersing oneself during Lakbayan sessions.

“The thing about Lakbayan is pupuntahan mo siya. Bababad ka. So, kung hindi ka bababad, hindi rin siya magkakaroon ng impact sa iyo,” she said.

(The thing about Lakbayan is you actually have to go there. You immerse yourself. If you don’t engage, there won’t be any impact on you.)

“Hindi mo talaga maiiwasang mamulat ka kung bukas kang pakinggan ang boses ng minoridad (You can’t help but be educated if you’re open to listen to the voice of the minority),” she added.

Editor’s note: The external organizers for Lakbayan sessions in Ateneo last school year did not submit the proposals after the set-upon deadline, rather, they were unable to submit the proposals, causing the sessions’ failure to push through. The article has been updated accordingly. We apologize for the oversight.