Kathryn Joy E.

Ramos
BSA 1 – 11

Indigenous People: Study Prospects and Challenges

Indigenous people of the Philippines represent the origin of us Filipinos and might
possibly be the only true and pure blooded Filipinos. With this being stated, they should be
protected and should be offered the best care at all costs but the reality especially in the
present time says otherwise. Even the statistics provided by the Local Government Units are
not methodical, therefore, not accurate. Data on the Indigenous people is also definitely
lacking.

Despite the fact that 17 million of the population belongs to the indigenous people and
even has an act provided under the Republic Act 8371 to protect them it still could not hinder
the facts that they are still the poorest and most disadvantage people. Living in remote
settlements without access to basic services such as professional healthcare and food
supplies. They have to solely depend on their own way of living to sustain living a humane
life.

It has also been said that indigenous people used to live in the lowlands but all thanks
to reduccion and the migrants, they are now living in the highlands where living is as hard as
a mice’s life especially right now where natural resources are being lessened day by day and
the abuse to mother earth is worsening. And up until now, food security remains a problem
among them but the government takes no action to this. Even when the indigenous people
live their lands to fight for their rights in the lowlands, they are still being neglected not only
by the government but by the Filipino citizens as well.

Due to the pushing of the indigenous people they are also pushes to the peripheral
side because of the marginalization as well as the society’s and government’s neglect. Not
only that, but as well as the violation of human rights towards them. Their way of living might
be different from the lifestyle of the modern Filipino but it does not mean to say that their rights
as a human should also be different. They should not be killed or harassed just for the sake
of attaining more and more lands. What is theirs should be theirs and they should be protected
from all the greediness of human.

In order for all of these challenge to end there should be a spreading of awareness all
throughout the country in order for people to at least have an idea about what happens to the
indigenous people of our country. As well as to strengthen the regulation on access to basic
needs and benefit sharing for everyone to live a harmonious life not only benefiting the people
in the lowlands but as well as the people in the highlands as obtaining resources needed are
difficult nowadays considering the worsening of the scarcity regarding our natural resources
and increasing of human population and demands.

All people of race, color and culture should work as one in order to provide the best
service and give benefit to everyone without sacrificing one another for the sake of others.
We Filipinos should work as one not for the sake of levelling our country’s rank in everything,
but for us to lead a harmonious life where we would help one another to push ourselves up.
Be an example to others that by living a life where we do not have to inconvenience others
for our needs and instead take the initiative to help ourselves first without putting others in
danger. Who else would help out Filipinos? Well, it should be us Filipinos as well.