Ginsalugen Subanen women not just housewives but multi-taskers

In an episode of Let's Talk MisOcc, virtual media forum the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) discusses programs and projects of the Indigenous Peoples (IPs) in celebration of the National IP Month in October. (PIA MisOcc)

The women in Ginsalugen Subanen, the sole indigenous community or indigenous peoples in Misamis Occidental have learned not to simply depend on their husband to provide for their needs but are multi-tasking as a way to contribute to their family’s income.

“Dili lang mi mag uuma, dili lang mi magluto, dili lang mi inahan, kun dili tanan buluhaton sa usa ka tao, babae man o lalaki, amon gisudlan, mag daro mi, mag tanom mi, mang guna mi ang tanan among himuon para makatabang sa amoang pamilya, amoang gihimo,” said an IP mother.

(We are not just farmers, we are not just cooks, we are not just mothers, but we do everything that a person can do, men or women, we have entered it, we farm, we plant, we harvest, we do everything so that we can help our family, all this we do)

Emily T. Silva, provincial head of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) Misamis Occidental shared in Let’s Talk MisOcc, virtual forum and e-Talakayan of Philippine Information Agency Misamis Occidental that the women Subanen have realized that it is not enough to have a one income household.

“Ang ilaha gyud longing is matabangan sila mahatagan og livelihood program og projects nga mahimo nilang ika contribute sa kapanginabuhian sailang pamilya,” Silva said.

(What they really long for is to be provided with livelihood program and projects that will become a way to contribute in the income of their family)

Subanen women would also like to be aware of their rights especially on Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC) and how to take care of themselves, which the NCIP in coordination with other government agencies have provided through advocacies and fora in the province.

In terms of ancestral domains, NCIP Misamis Occidental provincial office was able to work on and submitted to the commission for approval of two areas which is Oroquieta City and the municipality of Tudela which now possess the certificate of ancestral domain title.

They are now working on the process of segregation of title properties within that title for registration with the Register of Deeds, said Silva.

“We are always aiming ang ilahang dream, their aspirations to have security to their lands nga dili na sila mapapahawa, dili na sila ma-ilogan, and one way of having it is to process the issuance of title par ama secure ilang panag-iya nii-ni,” she added.

(We are always aiming that their dream their aspirations to have security to their land that they will not be pushed or thrown out, or bribed and one way of having it is to process the issuance of title to secure their ownership)

This year, the NCIP MisOcc is working on four municipalities to have their ancestral domain particularly Concepcion, Lopez Jaena, Don Victoriano, and Bonifacio.

For the youth, NCIP implements a four-year Educational Assistance Program (EAP) which provides P10,000 per semester per student.

When an IP student avail of the program, it is continuous until the student graduates. The criteria is the student must not fail his or her subjects or they do not have an INC grade, Silva said.

“Our hopes and dreams that one day our IPs will be resilient, responsive and will become part of the development that we dream for our nation,” said Silva.

October is National Indigenous Peoples Month through the approval of the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act on October 29, 1997. (JMORucat/PIA10)