19 Subanon students finish traditional music course in South RP

Subanon students who graduated Saturday, August 14, 2010 from two-month summer classes on traditional music and culture. (Contributed photo)

PAGADIAN CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Aug. 15, 2010) – At least 19 indigenous students have graduated Saturday from a two-month summer class on the Subanen music in Zamboanga del Sur province in the southern Philippines.

Funded by National Commission for Culture and the Arts, the Pikhumpongan Dlibon Subanen, Inc., a non-government organization, started the summer classes on the Subanen music through the School of Living Tradition project.

The students graduated at the Provincial Capitol in Pagadian City where Sangguniang Panlalawigan member Pepito Degamo, representing Governor Antonio Cerilles, graced the occasion.

The purpose of this project is to restore and promote the traditional craftsmanship of Subanen in the province. The PDSI promotes the Subanen music and oral tradition in the province.

Every anniversary celebration of the province, Subanen cultural show is a part of the Megayon Festival activities.

The organization is targeting Subanen children from parents who migrated to Pagadian City to conserve their cultural heritage while they live under a dominant culture.

To serve that vision, a school of living tradition on native songs, dances and musical instruments was launched at PDSI compound in Napolan village in May.
Victoria Cajandig, the PDSI executive officer and SLT coordinator, said they are hoping the Subanen community will recognize their effort and join them to save their dying culture.

“Our objective is to train young maters of Subanen traditional songs, dances and musical instruments that will then serve as trainers and promoters in the future,” said Cajandig.

Cajandig said the NCCA provided 200,000 thousand pesos for the project.

Bae Labi Marjorie Paulin, PDSI chairperson, said their organization is committed to help promote the cultural heritage of Subanen and contemplated on the integration of the subject in the public school curriculum.

The students who completed the two months training on cultural subjects are Angel Faith Cathag, Jeorgiea Faith Cathag, Joycebell Dayondon, Frincess Dayondon, Criz Ryshell Derama, Adrienne Natalie Ebillo, Mary joy Huminis, Hannah Kristine Paragas, Apple Tabayag, Jemaica Dayuhan, Keineth Cajandig, Xavier Cajandig, Christian Jeorge Cathag, Kenny Ren Ebillo, Janilan Hatad, Nielboy Mangilay, Chris Jethro Paragas, Christian Louise Paragas and Mark Doin Tomabao. (Becky de Asis and Tony Bayamban)

Zamboanga City Hall At Night

Colourful lights adorn the century-old Spanish fort now the seat of government of Zamboanga City in the southern Philippines. Zamboanga, which was formally called Jambangan, was invaded by Spain, the United States and Japan. It was originally home to indigenous tribe called the Subanon. It is popularly known in the Philippines as the City of Flowers. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)

Siocon Tribal Leaders Reunite For Good

Subanon tribal leader Jose Anoy is being assisted as he dons a traditional garb during the reunification of tribal leaders in Mount Canatuan in the town of Siocon in Zamboanga del Norte province in Mindanao on August 27, 2009. And Anoy shakes hands with TVIRD President Eugene Mateo as as TVIRD Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer John Ridsdel looks on. He is also greeted by other Subanon tribal leaders. (Mindanao Examiner Photo Service)

MOUNT CANATUAN, Philippines - The Subanon tribal leaders of Siocon in Zamboanga del Norte province – after almost a decade of conflict – have finally united to set aside their differences and strengthen their tribal leadership through a gradual process of reconciliation and reunification.

The decision enabled them to put their past differences aside and work together in the future to take advantage - through the Ancestral Domain Sustainable Development and Protection Plan (ADSPP) that they will draft together as one tribe - of the opportunity provided by a mining project and create a sustainable indigenous community.

The reunification was formally acknowledged in a memorable ceremony of all the tribe on August 27 when Jose Anoy was bestowed the title of timuoy which means chieftain of Siocon, following the customary rites of the Subanon indigenous people of the Pito Kodolongan or Seven Rivers of the Zamboanga Peninsula.

Gulang Gukom Noval Lambo, the senior timuoy of the Seven Rivers, reaffirmed Anoy’s position in the tribe, which was recognized and endorsed by all the members of the Siocon tribe’s Council of Elders (COE).

“Moktolipun numunkitu kinilolaan si Boy Anoy nog iyon og timuoy sog CADT (From now on, Boy Anoy is recognized as the timuoy of the CADT),” Lambo said in Subanon as he placed a traditional timuoy garb on Anoy’s shoulders.

Anoy responded: “Mokposolamat u nog moktolipun numunkitu kinilolaan na og golal u kuni. Na’amu mog kalanngalang mokpolani dianakon bila ongon og glogon niu. (I am grateful that my rank in the CADT area has been recognized. Do not hesitate to approach me whatever your problem may be and I am ready to help you as best as I can.)

At one point during the ceremonies, Anoy danced to the beat of indigenous musical instruments before his tribe and people.

By “CADT”, Lambo and Anoy were referring to the Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title awarded by the Philippine government to the Subanons of Siocon on June 12, 2003, benefiting some 2,000 tribal members.

The CADT encompasses a total of 8,213 hectares of land straddling the villages of Tabayo and Candiz, both in the town of Siocon, as well as the village of Kilalaban in adjacent Baliguian town.

Within the CADT is the 508-hectare area under the Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA), which had been signed by the Philippine government and TVI Resource Development Philippines, Inc. (TVIRD) on October 23, 1996, prior to the awarding of the CADT to the Subanons.

TVIRD has been producing copper concentrates from its Canatuan MPSA area since March of this year, following the company’s previous operations at the same location that produced gold and silver from July 2004 to April 2008.

“We are pleased with the reunification of the leaders of this tribe,” TVIRD President Eugene Mateo said in Filipino. “We waited for this to happen for a long time. We congratulate you for agreeing to come back together as one tribe. Let us help each other in the development of your CADT. You can be assured that while our company is here, we will support your plans for the progress of your community.”

Mateo stressed that TVIRD will keep its commitment to support the Subanons during the formulation of their ADSDPP.

Abdul Puengan, Director of the government National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) in Western Mindanao, said he is happy to have witnessed “this memorable day.”

“At last tribal leaders recognize Timuoy Anoy. Congratulations! Your CADT was given to you in 2003, but it failed to take off because of the disunity among its leaders. Today is indeed a remarkable moment for all Subanons,” he said, speaking before the Subanon people who witnessed the historic reunification ceremony.

For her part, Jessica Lucero, Director of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) for Western Mindanao, said she hopes “this occasion will mark the beginning of a stronger teamwork (among the Subanons, the government and TVIRD) towards the attainment of our dream of developing the Subanon homeland.”

Under the Philippine Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act of 1997, the CADT claimants should draft the ADSDPP with officers of the NCIP. The Plan should include sections on indigenous knowledge systems and practices, a profile of the domain’s natural resources, analysis of the area’s development needs, and a commitment to maintain ecological balance. Once the Plan has been fine-tuned, the community as a whole will be responsible for managing the domain.

The reunification of the tribe and the reaffirmation of Anoy’s leadership have finally put an end to years of disagreements over the personalities of leadership, as well as the direction of the community with regard to development.

The tribal spokesman Onsino Mato said the formal conferment of the timuoy rank to Anoy is the “ultimate day ng ating pagkakaintindihan (of our agreement)…as we recognize the traditional leader of our tribe.”
Addressing the members of the COE, Mato said: “In the name of Apo Manglang (in Subanon tradition, the founder of the Siocon tribe)...we will never forsake you or leave you. Lahat ng mga pangulo sa tribo, moghambulok na! (All the leaders of the tribe, unite!)”

Bonifacio Patoh, village chairman of Tabayo and the Siocon Subanon Association, Inc. (SSAI), said “Anoy can bank on our full support, especially during the drafting of the ADSDPP. We’ve always wanted to do the ADSDPP. Now that the tribe is united, we can proceed with the ADSDPP because our fellow tribe people in the CADT have been waiting for the plan for a long time. I wish to thank all those who helped us become one again. Thank you, Timuoy Lambo. Thank you TVIRD.”

Paul Arias, manager of the TVIRD Canatuan, said in his speech that “the only way to development is through peace and the only way to peace is through reconciliation.”

The path to Subanon oneness - spurred by the need to draft their ADSDPP - began in August 2008, when members of various Subanon groups in Canatuan participated in a capacity-building workshop on the ADSDPP. These organizations were the COE, the Siocon Subanon Association Inc. (SSAI), the Siocon Subanon Women’s Association Inc. (SSWAI), and the Siocon Youth Organization (SYO).

In May and June 2009, the NCIP facilitated separate meetings between the COE members and Anoy who all agreed then to start their ADSDPP formulation process. And on June 12, on the occasion of the 6th Anniversary of the Siocon CADT, Timuoy Lambo spearheaded the initial talks of the Subanon peace process. On June 27, a “cleansing ritual” became the highlight of the reconciliation and reunification meeting among members of Anoy’s group, the COE and the SSAI.

During the August 27 rites called Gumpia Nog Pigbogolalan Sog Bonua Nog Siocon, Zamboanga Del Norte which means “Putting in order the tribal leadership and organizational structure in Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte,” Timuoy Doring Sangila of Baliguian led the burning of incense, which, according to Subanon belief, would carry their prayers to their god Mikpongon.

Sangila also passed around to the other timuoys who participated in the ritual a white chicken, symbolizing peace and purity of intention to reconcile and unite and in keeping with the ritual’s theme Gomigus Bu’supali Biniyanan Sogpopaya’ or “In friendship there is oneness.”

“The reconciliation is one of the best things that ever happened in our CADT area,” said Nena Anoy, a member of the SSWAI. “It means the beginning of the development that we have dreamed of since we forged a partnership with TVIRD. I say this because before the reconciliation, our tribal leaders failed to sit down to formulate a development plan for the CADT. Now I heard that soon, the formulation of our ADSDPP will start. I am one of those who are happy that Timuoy Boy Anoy and other leaders have reconciled and reunited.”

“The Paduan event was something that I am very proud of,” said Joel Comisas, vice president of SYO. “It showed that our tribal leaders are able to set aside their personal differences and interests for the good of the entire tribe. This is something worth emulating by Subanon youths like me. Like other Subanon in the CADT, I hope and pray that the unification process will continue forward and that, soon, our tribal leaders, with Timuoy Boy Anoy taking the lead, will complete the ADSDPP for the CADT area so that every Subanon will be able enjoy the benefits of mining.”

The Subanons gifted TVIRD’s top management officials with the traditional Subanon timuoy clothing, which the guests wore for the entire duration of the ritual. Apart from Mateo, the other officials who participated in the event were John Ridsdel, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, who also conveyed his best wishes to the Subanons in their own language; Feliece Yeban, Vice President for Social Commitments; Jay Nelson, Vice President for Environment and Civil Works; and Rocky Dimaculangan, Director for Public Affairs.

Arias was joined by other members of TVIRD’s Canatuan Management Team, led by Germidas Laspinas, Officer-in-Charge of the Canatuan Operations; Pete Remoto, Mine Manager; Theresa Limpin, Community Relations and Development Office (CReDO) Manager; Edilberto Nercuit, Civil Engineering Services Manager; Lullie Micabalo, Public Affairs Manager; and Ulysses Silorio, Company Physician. Rosalie Tiongco, Corporate Human Resources and Development Manager; and Valentin Edang, Security Consultant, also came to witness the event.

TVIRD staff members were also on hand to show their support for the reunification of the company’s gracious Subanon hosts. They were Rocelle Magpayo, Social Commitments Program Officer; Rowena Adem, Executive Assistant to the General Manager; Gemma Tolentino, Company Forrester; Jose Dagala and Noelle Nazareno, CReDO Information Officer and Communication Specialist, respectively; Joana Tiglao, Public Affairs Assistant; and Lois Ladera, Company Nurse.

“While the ritual was ongoing, the skies opened momentarily to bring rains – believed to be a good sign that God was showering the event with blessings,” one Subanon said.

“It was already mid-afternoon when the traditional ceremonies ended. Mato invited everyone to take a sip of panggasi – Subanon rice wine – in the jars onstage. As people began to leave the hall, many heaved a sigh of relief; there was an unmistakable feeling of joy in everyone.”

“But everybody also agreed that the road to peace and development will still be long, winding and paved with challenges for this tribe. Nonetheless, with the openness and sincerity demonstrated by the leaders in the long process leading to this event were to be a gauge, the future looks promising indeed for the Subanons of Siocon,” said Dimaculangan. (Lullie Micabalo)

Grant Us Our Ancestral Domain, Tribal Leader Asks

KABASALAN, Zamboanga Sibugay (Mindanao Examiner / Dec. 11, 2007) – A tribal leader said granting the indigenous people’s legitimate claims for their ancestral domain would be an effective tool for empowerment.

Wilfredo Sanggayan, an indigenous people (IP) representative to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (Provincial Legislative Council) of Sibugay province, said the other way of looking at the several ancestral domain claims is to view it as a tool of empowering the indigenous peoples.

Sanggayan is the first Lumad representative to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan nationwide.

Zamboanga Sibugay is also the first province throughout the country to have IP representative to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan. Compostela Valley province is second.

“By granting the indigenous peoples their legitimate claims for their ancestral domains is to allow them to manage and govern themselves,” Sanggayan said.

Some 35 tribal leaders last week appealed to the concerned government agencies “to respect their legitimate claims of ancestral domain in this region.”

In a recent assembly held at the Ateneo de Zamboanga University, these tribal leaders also slammed what they called government “discrimination” against the rights of the Subanons in the peninsula.

The tribal conference dubbed “Glumpuk Nog Kobogolalanan Sog Pigsungan Nog Nawan (Assembly of Tribal Traditional Leaders of Zamboanga Peninsula) was part of the activities for the Mindanao Week of Peace, which started on November 29 and ended on December 5.

Early this month, Subanons from the three villages of Zamboanga City staged protest actions before government centers here.

“Our ancestral land is our kingdom where we have the chance to self-governance,” Sanggayan said, adding that part of his priority initiatives as Lumad representative to the provincial board is to undertake the titling of some 14 identified ancestral lands in Sibugay.

The provincial office of the National Commission of Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) also held a seminar here last week about the rights of the IP to ancestral domains.

Margarita Baya, officer-in-charge of NCIP provincial office, said “we need to help the Lumad in reclaiming their lands.”

“Gani, dili na yutang kabilin ang gusto nato bawi-on kundili yutang nabilin (In fact, it is no longer the ancestral land that we wanted but just a portion of that land),” Baya told this writer in jest.

There are four ancestral domain claims that are now pending at NCIP. These claims are from the towns of Siay, Naga, Roseller T. Lim, and Kabasalan, comprising at least 80,000 hectares of land of the province.

Another priority initiative that will benefit the indigenous peoples in the province, according to Sanggayan, is the establishment of Sibugay Indigenous Peoples Economic Zone Cum Indigenous Park and Living Museum.

“But as of now, we are now working for the recognition of Lumad representatives to the 14 local Sangguniang of the province,” Sanggayan said.

Fourteen of the 16 towns of this province need Lumad representatives to the local Sangguniang as mandated by Republic Act 8371, also known as “The Indigenous People's Rights Act of 1997”, according to Sanggayan.

RA 8371 mandates that “indigenous peoples shall be represented in all Sangguniang at all levels whose representatives shall be selected in accordance with the customs and traditions of the indigenous people concerned.”

Signed into law on October 29, 1997 by then President Fidel Ramos, the IPRA underwent many years of legislative study and deliberation before it became a law.It is the result of various consultations, consolidated bills related to ancestral domains and lands, and international agreements on the recognition of land/domain rights of the IPs.

In general, the IPRA seeks to recognize, promote and protect the rights of the IPs. These include the Right to Ancestral Domain and Lands; Right to Self-Governance and Empowerment; Social Justice and Human Rights; and the Right to Cultural Integrity.

Sanggayan pointed out that 14 of the 16 towns of Sibugay are inhabited by indigenous peoples with the Subanen tribe as the largest group.

The Subanen numbered around 1.3 million as of 2000 census scattered mostly in the provinces of Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte, Misamis Occidental, and Zamboanga City.

At present, according to Sanggayan, there are 11 local government units who had passed an ordinance recognizing the indigenous representatives to their respective Sangguniang Panlalawigan.

“But only seven of the 11 have formally accepted and installed an IP representative as a member of their local councils,” Sanggayan, who earned the distinction as the first IP representative to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan throughout the country, lamented.

”We will continue to reiterate our request to the different local government officials concerned concerning the representation of the indigenous people in the council as mandated by RA 8371,” Sanggayan said. “We are only asking what is due us.” (Antonio Manaytay)

Subanon Rice Terraces, Hailed In South RP

Subanon native, Fernandez Anda shows grains harvested from rice terraces in Siocon town in Zamboanga del Norte province in southern RP. Anda, (far right)also poses with TVIRD personnel (from left) CReDO Information Officer Jose Dagala, CReDO Canatuan Manager Thess Limpin, and Vice President for Philippine Operations Yulo Perez. (Photos by Rene Patangan)

ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Dec. 03, 2007) – Subanon native Fernandez Anda’s face lit up when he saw us emerged from the bushes and clump of trees and into the clearing.

He eagerly welcomed us to his thatched hut and waited for us to catch our breath after an hour’s trek to the steep and rugged mountains of Gulangan, a hamlet in the town.

He was thrilled to tell us his story.Our group was headed by Yulo Perez, TVIRD vice president for Philippine Operations; and Thess Limpin, TVIRD manager for Community Relations and Development Office (CReDO). We were joined by CReDO Information Officer Jose Dagala, and Social Development Consultant German Romano.

Barely three months since our last visit to this piece of land in the Subanon ancestral domain in Siocon town in Zamboanga del Norte province, Anda’s farm is now a picture of abundance. What used to be a muddy terrain is now covered with yellow-green rice stalks, with their golden grains standing out under the blazing sun. The model rice terraces project is a success.

Anda, 51, is the first beneficiary of the Farmer-Instructor Technician (FIT) program, a livelihood through agro-forestry component of the Social Development and Management Plan for the indigenous people (IP) hosts of TVI Resource Development Philippines, Inc. (TVIRD). The company has been, since mid-2004, operating gold and silver mine in Mount Canatuan, also in Siocon town, and will begin producing copper and zinc by the middle of 2008.

The success of Anda’s farming can easily be adopted or duplicated by means of irrigated multi-cropping scheme using the rice terraces farming technology, the same technology applied by generations of the Ifugao natives in the mountainous terrains of Northern Philippines.

“Dako kaayo akong kalipay nga nahimong magmalampuson kining akong uma gamit ang teknolohiya nga gitudlo kanako sa TVI(RD). Dili na gayud kami kinahanglang magbalhin-balhin pa sanglit mahimo kaming magtanum ug mag-ani makatulo matag tuig dinhi lamang sa mao ra gihapong umahan ug igo ra usab ang abot nga pangkunsumo hangtud sa sunod ani.”

(I am extremely pleased that my farm is successful using the technology that TVIRD had taught me. We do not need to move from one place to another anymore since we can plant and harvest three times a year in the same paddies; and the yield is enough until the next harvest),” said Anda.

“Labaw sa tanan, malipayon usab ako tungod kay interesado ug ganahan usab mosuhid ang akong mga kauban ug kadugong Subano niining pamaagi sa panguma. Subay sa programa, komitado ako nga itudlo usab kanila ang akong nabatonan nga kahibalo.”

“(More than anything, I am happy because my fellow Subanons are interested and would like to follow the farming techniques that I used here. Under the program, I am committed to teach and transfer to them the skills I have learned),” he said.

The initial plotting and forming of the second rice terraces project have actually begun on a land owned by Rene Tii, another Subanon holder of the Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title, adjacent to Anda’s plot.

Unable to contain his pride for his feat, Anda shared his plans with us: “Plano nako nga palapdan ug padak-an pa ang akong uma para sa sunod nga tanum aron makabaligya na sa abot niini. Sa pagkakaron, igo lamang ang abot niini para makaon sa akong pamilya sanglit testing pa lamang kini (I plan to expand my farm for the next planting season so I would be able to sell its produce. For now, the harvest would just be enough to feed my family since it is still in the trial stage).”

In the past, Anda, like most Subanons, would always worry every harvest time. The yield was usually scant and could not be sustained until the next harvest. And under this method, they could only harvest rice once a year.

“Pinaagi niining teknolohiya, ako masaligon nga dili magutman ang akong pamilya ug makabaligya pa sa abot sa mosunod nga mga pag-ani (Through this technology, I am assured that my family will not go hungry and could even sell my produce in the succeeding harvests),” Anda stressed.

After a few more minutes of rest, our group followed Anda’s lead as he descended to the lower portion of the rice terraces. It’s harvest time. (Rene Patangan)

Black Propaganda Targets Canadian Mining Firm In South RP

Yulo Perez, TVIRD vice president for Philippine operations, gestures as he explains to reporters the safety of mine tailing dams on Mount Canatuan in Siocon town in southern Philippines as shown in the map. Anti-mining activists have spread rumors of a sulphide dam collapsing under heavy rains and spilling toxic chemicals in rivers and creeks. Filipino authorities say the reports were false. Nelson says heavy rains washed away red soil and that the dam is still under construction. Some 400 natives in the area called Subanon are working for TVIRD, but many who were not hired accused the Canadian mining firm of polluting the environment, an allegation denied both by the TVIRD and the Philippine government. And Jay Nelson, TVIRD vice president for environment and civil works, gestures as he explains to Zamboange del Norte provincial board members, led by lawyer Felixberto Bolando, the safety of mine tailing dams on Mount Canatuan in Siocon town in southern Philippines, where the heart of the TVIRD operation is located. (Mindanao Examiner Photo Service)

ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / 19 Aug) – Provincial government officials inspected a Canadian gold mine area after anti-mining activists spread news that a dam had collapsed and spread toxic chemicals in rivers and creeks in the southern Philippine province of Zamboanga del Norte.

The reports said the sulphide dam, one of two operated by the TVI Resource Development Inc., in Mount Canatuan in Siocon town collapsed after days of heavy rains. The reports were false.

“There is no (dam) collapse really, but erosion of the red soil due to rains,” a provincial lawmaker Felixberto Bolando, chairman of the committee on natural resources and environment protection, told the Mindanao Examiner.

“There is no issue of toxic waste spill at all. The sulphide dam is not yet being used by the company,” he said.

Bolando said the reports had no legal basis since no one among those who complained had signed an affidavit to back up their claims. “We urged those who have other complaints to properly file your affidavits and have them duly notarized before submitting them to us,” he said.

Rocky Dimaculangan, TVIRD’s public affairs chief, told reporters that the rains washed away red oil to the rivers. “Soil has washed away by heavy rains and it is common in the area. There is no truth to the reports that one of our dams had collapsed because we have one of the safest structures that can withstand even an earthquake of 8.5 in the Richter scale.”

“We follow a strict environment safety compliance that is world-class standards and our area is being inspected regularly by government environment people,” he said.

Bolando together with three other officials – Aniceto Darunday, Edgar Baguio and Cedric Adriatico -- inspected the site Saturday and later presided over a public hearing in the town’s Jose Rizal Memorial College.

Darunday said they were satisfied with the ocular inspection and that the public hearing is in aid of legislation. “We have to really listen to all sides here and find out the truth,” he said.

Jay Nelson, TVIRD vice president for environment and civil works, and Magi Bagayao, the firm’s Canatuan general manager, demonstrated to the provincial officials the structural integrity of both the gossan dam, currently being used to impound gold and silver tailings, as well as the sulphide dam now being constructed to contain tailings of copper and zinc concentrates that TVIRD will produce next year.

”The design criteria used for both dams were based on Philippine standards and regulations as well as various operations and engineering criteria used in North America, and in fact the detailed design and construction supervision have been provided by top international firms,” Nelson said.

Bagayao, for his part, sought to disprove rumors that there are secret outlets orundeclared exits in the gossan dam intended to be used during heavy rainfallto prevent the overflowing of waste tailings or the collapse of the dam. ”These persistent rumors are just silly,” Bagayao told reporters here.

Adriatico, who was former priest, said his group conducted the probe because of reports the dam had collapsed.

“There were reports about this so we have to do our jobs and inspect the (TVIRD) facility and hold public hearing. We will also conduct a committee hearing before we can come out with a recommendation,” he said.

The gossan dam has a capacity of about one million tons of mine tailings, while the sulphide dam hold a capacity of up to 7 years of continuous operation, said Yulo Perez, TVIRD’s vice president for Philippine operations.

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau earlier inspected the mining site, situated inside a 500-hectare area, and said there was no truth to the reports that the sulphide dam collapsed.

TVI invested nearly $48 million for the construction of the gossan and sulphide dams, both considered as the safest in the southern Philippines. Gossan dam is used to contain the mine tailings from gold and silver ores and the sulphide dam for the copper and zinc tailings.

The TVI project in Mount Canatuan employs more than 700 people and about 60 percent of them are natives belonging to the Subanon tribe. It has paid over P50 million in government taxes and built roads and schools and clinics in the area since it started operation in 2004.

Pro-mining advocates and local tribesmen have blamed anti-mining activists, backed by a few Catholic priests opposed to TVIRD, as behind the false reports allegedly to get funding from international anti-mining groups in Canada.

Some activists are also members of militants groups with links to communist insurgents, who are active in the province. (Mindanao Examiner)

Katutubo Nagbanta Kontra Pamahalaan, TVI Mining!

ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE (Mindanao Examiner / 24 Mar) – Nagbabanta ang ilang grupo ng mga Subanon kontra sa pamahalaan na hindi susuportahan ang TEAM Unity kung patuloy ang operasyon ng TVI mining sa kabundukan ng Canatuan.

Mistulang blackmail naman ang ginagawa ng mga Subanon upang puwersahin ang pamahalaan na ipasara ang naturang gold mine operation ng TVI – na siyang nagbibigay naman ng milyon-milyong buwis sa kaban ng bansa at sa lalawigan.

Idinulog pa sa Zamboanga City ng mga opisyal ng grupong Subanon ang kanilang hinaing at nagpatawag pa ng press conference kamakailan. Hindi kasi umano pinapansin ng media sa Dipolog ang mga protesta ng Subanon.

Ngunit karamihan sa mga Subanon sa Zamboanga del Norte at Zamboanga del Sur ay pabor sa TVI dahil nabibigyan nito ng trabaho ang libo-libong mga mamamayan at naipagawa rin ang maraming kalsada at gusali upang gawin paaralan at health centers.

Hinihinalang pakana ng Simbahan ang protesta ng mga Subanon laban sa TVI.

Hindi naman agad makunan ng reaksyon ang TVI at TEAM Unity ukol sa nasbaing banta. Ngunit naunang pinaboran ng pamahalaan ang operasyon ng TVI dahil sa mga modernong gamit nito sa pagmimina at suporta rin ng malalaking grupo ng mga Subanon ang pagmimina.

Ang Subano ay ang mga katutubong naninirahan sa lalawigan. (With a report from Ely Dumabog)

Learning To Chart Their Own Course, Subanons Participate In Capacity-building Workshop

ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE (Rene Patagan / 20 Feb) - Self-determination, empowerment, cultural preservation, sustainable development. Lofty but seemingly elusive ideals for indigenous peoples (IPs) the world over as they strive to strike a balance between the need to develop in a modern age on one hand, and to preserve generations-old traditions on the other.

Stories of IP struggles in the face of the inevitable advance of modern civilization abound, as in those of the North American First Nations. Some tribes still struggle to cope. Others initially faltered; but, through lessons learned from past mistakes, were able to rise – and prosper.

With these lessons in mind and as part of its continuing efforts to support the capacity building for self-determination of its Subanon hosts in Mount Canatuan in Siocon towmn in Zamboanga del Norte province, TVI Resource Development Philippines, Inc. (TVIRD) recently conducted a three-day Organization Development and Training Workshop at the adjacent Ipil town in Zamboanga Sibugay province.

The workshop was designed to assist the Subanon leaders define their responsibilities to their immediate community, to appreciate their strengths as individuals and as an organization, as well as to clarify their rights under the Mining Act of 1995 and the Indigenous Peoples Rights Law (IPRA).

By working with the IPs toward this knowledge, TVIRD hopes to support them in their efforts to implement their Ancestral Domain Sustainable Development and Protection Plan (ADSDPP), a tool for the empowerment of IPs towards the fulfillment of the general well-being of the current IP generation without compromising the needs of future generations.

“The discussion on Mining Act and IPRA made us aware of our rights and responsibilities as IPs”, said Lydia Dandana, Siocon Subanon Association, Inc. (SSAI) Board of Trustee of the Workshop conducted by TVIRD’s Community Relations and Development Office (CReDO).

“This training workshop has been enlightening,” averred Bonifacio “Boy” Patoh, Chairman of Canatuan’s host barangay, Tabayo, and newly elected SSAI President. “We are able to set our plans concerning the implementation of ADSDPP.”

For his part, SSAI Vice President Danilo Bason stressed that “this activity is helpful to us as SSAI Officers. We are able to understand more our duties to the community.”

In the workshop sessions, the Subanon participants were asked to imagine a better Subano community: one that has equal rights to, among others, education, livelihood and health services; one that is united; and one where the Subanon culture is preserved. The participants agreed that a deeper understanding of their fellow Subanon’s needs will eventually eradicate frictions between and among members of their tribe.

Resource persons included fellow Subanons who are now well-respected members of society, as well as national and local officials of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples led by Noella Zunega and Zamboanga del Norte Provincial Director Lista “Jun” Cawanan. Noted IP Rights Lawyer Marilyn Cepe, who helped draft the IPRA, also provided valuable insights during the workshop.

Apart from Dandana, Patoh and Bason, the other Subanon leaders who joined the workshop were: SSAI Secretary Chirino Limpuson, Paho Fuentevilla, Pasing Bason, Alberto Mais, Andres Ansani, Santiago Sumampang, Yolanda Herolaga, Erdulfo Comisas, Celestino Guinagag, Zenaida Dandana and Danilo Tumangkis. Asst. Treasurer Nenita Davi as well as Julie Lobrigas, personal secretary of Patoh were also present.

Among the workshop outputs is SSAI’s plan of action for the first quarter of 2007. The plan includes the conduct of Capability Building Training for the immediate community which, in turn, will involve Community Organizing Training, Leadership Training, Financial Management and Auditing, Cultural Refresher, Values Formation, as well as Project Development training for the ADSDPP, slated to be implemented in April this year.

The Organizational Development Training for SSAI was inspired by the IP Capacity-Building Workshop sponsored by the Canadian Embassy late last year in Dipolog City, the capital of the Canatuan Project’s host province. (Rene Patangan)