Ang Ating Lahi at Lupa/Ang Yuta ug ang Atong Katawhan
Teaching module 3 comprises two case studies, one tells the story Dumaloy ang Ilog Chico, the other, looks at mining violence in Cebu. It is designed for students 13 and older and could be modified for us in the high school classroom or at the university level. Each case study provides information and resources, a motivating and processing activity, and an enrichment activity.
Case Study 1: Dumaloy ang Ilog Chico: The Struggle to Defend Indigenous Peoples’ Land
Case study 1 of this teaching module focuses on the story Dumaloy ang Ilog Chico. We use folklore as a springboard to discuss indigenous culture and relate it to other cultures, and to promote critical thinking about indigenous people’s rights and current events across the globe.
written by Jayde Hunter Abdon and Pia Arboleda
Background
This story takes place in the Cordillera region of the Philippines. The surroundings of the Chico River is home to hundreds of indigenous Filipinos. The Chico River is the biggest resource for those who live around the river; the water from the river is used for animals and people to drink, for irrigating the rice terraces, and for other daily needs. They care for the Chico River because their ancestors used this river as well. Dams were proposed to be built over the Chico River for it to produce energy for the cities around it. To protect the land, the people of the Cordillera fought to prevent the dam from being built, and the struggle continues to this day.
Motivating Activity
Do you have a favorite spot, for example a beach hiking trail, park? What things did you do in there?
Do you have some photos to share?
What will you do if your favorite nature spot is threatened?
Do you know where Chico River is?
Have you ever heard of a hero named Macli-ing Dulag?
Show a Photo of the Chico River Dam and Macli-ing Dulag. Explain Briefly general information about the cordillera and its peoples
Processing Activity
Illustrated by Bernie Solina
Narrated by Dr. Pia Arboleda
Animated by Darren Santos
Subtitles synchronized by Rovie Jay Dacumos
Ask the following guide Questions:
What else can people do if they are confronted with issues like these?
What is the situation in the story?
Who holds power in the story? Who are the disempowered?
How is this power maintained? Or, in what way did the people assert their power?
How did the villagers resist the actions of those who tried to oppress them? Describe the actions of the men and women in the story? What do you think of these actions?
Do you think the indigenous people did the right thing?
If this were happening to the nature spot you just described earlier, what would you do? Would you do what these elders did?
Discuss articles on the Chico River Dam and explain the effects of these actions on the project. Relate it to current events.
Ask students to think about the current real life issues that are similar to what happened in the story. Some examples are:
- Hawaii
- Overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom
- TMT (ten-meter telescope) on Hawaiian Island
- Philippines
- Mining in Mindanao
- America
- Native Americas removed from their land
- Removal Act of 1829
- Dakota Pipeline
- Native Americas removed from their land