Upholding Indigenous Peoples’ Dignity and Defending the Environmental Human Rights Defenders of Mindanao
Conference Hall, Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro | July 14, 2025 | Organized by MCJ and the Social Action Center of the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro
Why We Gathered: A Forum Rooted in Justice and Jubilee
Held on the eve of the first anniversary of the Talaingod 13 conviction, the Katungod 2025 Conference brought together Indigenous communities, Church leaders, environmental defenders, legal advocates, youth, and grassroots organizers in a united call for justice and solidarity.
Anchored in the Catholic Church’s Jubilee Year—a sacred season of healing, reconciliation, and hope—the forum was both a commemoration and a commitment: to call for the reversal of the unjust conviction of the Talaingod 13, to expose the systemic repression they represent, and to renew collective vows to uphold Indigenous rights and demand justice for defenders of land and life.
The Talaingod 13—a group of Lumad teachers, elders, and advocates—were convicted on July 15, 2024, for helping evacuate children from militarized Indigenous schools. Their case symbolizes the broader criminalization of Indigenous education and resistance in Mindanao. Though currently out on bail, their continued prosecution remains a profound injustice.
A Morning of Truth-Telling and Sacred Resistance
The morning session was rooted in cultural grounding, theological reflection, and first-hand testimony. It created space not just for programmatic input but for shared memory, pain, and moral clarity.
Opening Ceremonies: Prayer, Dance, and Purpose
The session opened with the Philippine National Anthem, followed by an Interfaith Prayer led by:
- Ustadz Patah (Moro)
- Datu Anglao (Lumad)
- Sr. Benito, O.D. (Christian)
Their prayers called for peace, healing, and protection for land and life. Immediately after, participants were welcomed by a Maral—a traditional B’laan dance of greeting—performed by Angelika Moral and Lerma Diagone. As survivors and cultural bearers, their dance was an offering of rooted strength that set the tone for the rest of the day.
Archbishop Jose Cabantan: “A Hiniusang Direksyon”
Most Rev. Jose A. Cabantan, D.D., Archbishop of Cagayan de Oro and MCJ board member, delivered the conference’s formal welcome. He affirmed the Church’s solidarity with Indigenous Peoples and emphasized:
- The spiritual connection between human dignity and the rights of nature
- The continuing mission of the Episcopal Commission on Indigenous Peoples (ECIP) to support Lumad education
- The need for a hiniusang direksyon—a united front to uphold the rights of Lumad, Moro, and all who defend life
His presence was a source of gratitude among participants across faiths and sectors.
Victoria Nolasco: Bearing Witness to Injustice
Delivering the conference rationale, Victoria Nolasco spoke not primarily as Executive Director of Mindanao Climate Justice, but as one of the Talaingod 13. Her words were shaped by lived experience—of persecution, resistance, and solidarity.
She recalled how, in 2018, she and fellow advocates were unjustly charged with child abuse for helping Lumad students escape militarized schools. She reflected on how compassion was criminalized, and how churches, communities, and legal allies became lifelines in their ongoing struggle for justice.
Drawing from the theology of St. Augustine, she emphasized that nature is not property, but shared responsibility—a belief deeply aligned with Indigenous worldviews.
Her message underscored:
- That Mindanao’s natural wealth is being plundered while its peoples are dispossessed
- That Indigenous education is under attack, with schools shut down and defenders vilified
- That the path to justice is not linear—but forged through persistence, pain, and collective hope
“Hope is not passive. Hope is struggle—pagbarog, pakigbisog bisan kapoy, sakit, lisod.”
Although the PANAAD Network would be launched formally in the afternoon, her reflection helped ground the day in the urgency and dignity of ongoing resistance.
Atty. Glocelito Jayma: Exposing Legal Repression
Atty. Glocelito Jayma of the Union of Peoples’ Lawyers in Mindanao provided a legal analysis of the Talaingod 13 case and its implications. He explained how:
- The use of fabricated charges like kidnapping and child abuse has become a common tactic to suppress Indigenous resistance
- These cases are part of a larger pattern of legal warfare and red-tagging
- The legal system is often used not to protect, but to displace
His message emphasized the urgent need to reclaim justice as a tool of the people—not of fear or control.
Stories of Hope
Angelika: “Biktima kami ng kasinungalingan.”
In a voice that trembled with pain but stood with truth, Angelika Moral recounted the night of November 28, 2018, when Alamara paramilitaries raided her Lumad school. She described:
- Being forced to flee barefoot and hungry in the rain
- Hearing gunfire and witnessing armed harassment
- Being detained and interrogated as a child for wanting to study
“Hindi kami biktima ng aming mga guro. Biktima kami ng karahasan. Biktima kami ng kasinungalingan.”
Her testimony left the room in silence. Many were visibly moved.
Teacher Lerma: “Kinsay mubarog kon kita pahilumon?”
Lerma Diagone, a B’laan educator and former detainee, shared how she and her husband were imprisoned for nine months for their role as volunteer teachers. She recounted:
- The trauma of separation from her child
- The criminalization of culturally rooted education
- The targeting of schools to pave the way for mining and agribusiness
“The attack on the Talaingod 13 is an attack on education, on our land, and on our future.”
Her voice—measured, painful, and clear—reminded everyone that these stories are not history; they are ongoing.
Fr. Renerio “Jong” Sabuga Jr.: Walking with the Wounded
Fr. Renerio Sabuga Jr., SSJV, of the Indigenous Peoples Apostolate, delivered a theological reflection grounded in solidarity. He emphasized:
- That to understand the Lumad, we must go to them, not speak about them
- That Indigenous Peoples are bearers of wisdom and stewards of creation
- That the Church cannot remain neutral when communities are under attack
He pointed out that as of 2024, 785 mining permits had been approved in ancestral domains. He challenged all present to hear both the cry of the Earth and the cry of the poor, and to respond with action rooted in faith.
Sr. Ma. Concepcion Gasang: A Collective Commitment
To close the morning, Sr. Ma. Concepcion Gasang, m.a., EdD—lovingly called Sr. Ching by many—read the Unity Statement in support of the Talaingod 13. Her words carried the weight of the morning’s truths and the clarity of a collective stand.
As the statement was passed around for signatures, the room recommitted itself not just to justice for the 13, but for all who defend the land and its peoples.
Toward Part 2: The Struggle Continues
The morning session stood as a solemn commemoration of the Talaingod 13—and a powerful act of truth-telling and solidarity. But the struggle is not confined to one case, or one community.
The success of this gathering was made possible not only by those on stage, but also by the dedication of the Kinaiyahan: Youth for Climate Justice in Mindanao volunteers. Quietly working behind the scenes, they ensured the logistics, coordination, and care that held the space together. Their commitment embodied the very solidarity the conference sought to inspire.
In the afternoon session, voices from Lumad, Moro, and rural communities revealed how human rights violations persist across Mindanao. Participants witnessed new testimonies, reflected on legal and environmental inputs, and took part in the launching of the PANAAD Network, a symbolic pledge, and a cultural closing to affirm collective resistance.
