Dr. Danilo Gerona devoted his life doing research on Magellan and it clarified our misconceptions of our own history – what we believed; that has been taught to us for the last five centuries. His book serves as a major contribution in understanding indigenous peoples, these people whom Magellan first encountered. Spaniards was outnumbered by Filipinos yet they were able to gain control and pursue their dominion, not because of the use of weaponry but the power of language that immensely influenced the Filipinos. The indios became slaves who obeyed what the Spaniards dictate and command upon them – like puppets in strings. The indigenous people also have something to do with this kind of linguistic transaction. We regard indigenous peoples as “indigenous” without really examining the word itself.
The Wave Migration Theory of Beyer which proposes that Agtas were the first people to inhabit the Philippines was refuted after archaeologists found out that the skull that had been discovered does not belong to Agtas but rather Tabon Man that migrated through land bridges. Therefore, Agtas are considered as migrants and not indigenous. These are some of the aspects of culture and heritage that we are oblivious about. Indigenous people are different from us not because of nature, but because of culture, environment, and politics. Moreover, Dr. Gerona stated that: “We have to reexamine certain categories in our pursuit of this particular study. We have to clarify the nature, categorization, the classification of these particular people.” Probing these aspects enables us to comprehend the underlying causation of why they are indigenous.
According to Michael Crichton: “If you don’t know history, then you don’t know anything. You are a leaf that doesn’t know it is part of a tree.” This concept applies to what we really know about indigenous peoples. It is our own interest and intrigue that allows us to unfold the ancient past and become aware of it. For example, who would have expected that Magellan was a playboy and Lapu-Lapu was of seventy years old? These are all part of history that only after five centuries was proven hoax. If these “fakelores” kept on searing the minds of generation, then we really don’t know anything. The major problem is, we believe in lies without seeking for the truth and these emanated various stereotypes.
I agree on Dr. Gerona’s point in producing scholars that will study and investigate more about indigenous people and explore their cycle of life, which enables us to develop appreciation and recognition of indigenous people and their roles as our fellowmen, in order to prolong cultures, tradition, and practices which is part of our history, and the history we are presently making. Furthermore, he added: “We have to look at the IP’s in the context of a more sophisticated perspective: that these are products of our Filipino sense of resistance; these people were not created as such by nature, but they chose this particular socio-political status as an “outsider” in the colonial world. These people who left the lowland territories and went up the mountain.” Throughout childhood, my knowledge about Agtas were superficial, that they are short and black people with curly hairs and snubby nose. Children my age make fun of them, and to be called “Agta” is considered as an insult. In reality, we do classify them as “others” without grasping that we came from this ethnicity, thus, we have to acquaint ourselves wholly with their identity.
Typology has been used as a basis for categorization, which is inclined with politics. The color black is always associated with something devious. Many people were apt to thinking that indigenous people who are black-complexioned is considered evil, because of this implication they have chosen to separate themselves entirely among others. Discrimination really is incessant and clearly evident up to this contemporary time. To be born in this particular color is not their sin, but humans are always quick to judge, and jump into conclusions without proving their hypothesis. I can see this issue as something related to the controversial death of George Floyd who was an African-American, the police treated him unfairly and was deprive of his own right to live, for the reason that he is black. Indigenous people were tremendously oppressed by Spaniards. They were forced to work in order to construct ships, galleons, etc. – getting ready for war. Technology did not yet existed during this time, so it requires massive man power and strength. Everyday they were obliged to do this job without incentive. In order to escape tyranny they chose to live in the mountains and hide. After the colonization ended, they tried to interact with the lowland people, but they were still mistreated and degraded, tricking them in terms of commerce, limiting opportunities, etc. These lowland people think that “they are only IP’s”. For the second time they went back to the mountains and remain there for good. Up until now , they are part of the social hierarchy labeled as marginalized, who are neglected, less privileged and one who lacks the capabilities. I can relate myself whenever I feel anxious around people whom I feel like I don’t belong, this way I prefer solitude and stay in my personal space, where I can be myself without judgments and without having to please anyone. The mountain serves as their haven, like it serves as my home, away from oppression.
Filipinos are known to consider that their territory is part of their identity, that explains why indigenous peoples are fond of their environment, because it plays a major role in their entirety as human beings. They are already accustomed in this way of life and has adapted to it since various colonization. They are dependent on their environment because it complements their daily necessities . Their cultural beliefs is also associated with it. They practice animistic belief and glorify things that surround them, because they believe that every living thing contains spirits. One of the reasons why we are prone to these colonization is because of our natural resources, the treasures that they steal and benefit for themselves which was supposedly our own. The inability to protect what we hold dearly are taken away from us. I think that we should partake in their movement in protecting our environment, we can truly contribute in our own simple ways. Indigenous peoples are epitome of what it means to be a “makakalikasan” person. They put much importance on nature that it makes me realize our responsibilities as protectors of this land.
Indigenous peoples are indigenous for having unique cultures. They value different things in different ways. For example, their identity as proclaimed by Dr. Gerona is built in one’s accomplishments. From grade school, we have received different certificates, medals, ribbons in order to acknowledge our achievements. In the case of indigenous peoples, at first, his name is taken from what is simultaneously taking place in nature, later on it is based from what he does in his life in the society. Therefore, they are addressed after their deeds, greatness, or nobleness, these essential aspects they acquired for growth. This is indeed remarkable. I’ve known friends and relatives who was also named after angles and saints. This proved that Filipinos acknowledge important things that has happened throughout their lives.
This talk profoundly changed my perspective about indigenous peoples. To understand their importance in deeper context. I have met people who seems unfamiliar even to our very own Bikol language, this made me wonder: what more could they know about indigenous peoples? And how many are those people who have little knowledge about them? It saddens me to discover that they chose to live far into the mountains, for the reason of being frightened by the thought of being oppressed again, and for thinking that they no longer belong to our contemporary society. We ourselves who have the capability to support and reach out to them has to act. We should break the stigma and start embracing diversity towards unity. I believe that we will attain progress and development as one nation if all of us are in this together, with no one left behind.
Let me reiterate what Dr. Gerona said in the last part of his speech: “We have to rethink our own selves, we have to rethink our own traditions, and probably emphasize our own history.” Indeed reading this gave me time to absorb that indigenous peoples were the ones who fought for their freedom, they rebelled in silence and peace without violence. They did not let the Spaniards engulf them with tyranny. They went to the mountains in order to escape oppression and forced labor. Now I fully understand that this magnificent act had led to why they were called and distinguished themselves as indigenous peoples. We should think on how to elaborate our traditions. We have to teach and diffuse history because ignorance is one thing that put our lives in jeopardy. Padayon Filipinos, Padayon IP’s!
