Tribal woman leader urges youth: Become activists

By Gina Dizon

BONTOC, Mountain Province -- Woman leader and social activist Petra Macliing urged the youth here to be social activists.

During the general assembly of the Cordillera Peoples Alliance in this capital town early this month, Mother Petra Macli-ing told youth participants to stand up for collective rights amidst any harassment of being branded as “communists.”

The octogenarian woman leader from Bontoc said there is reason to be steadfast for people’s rights for the good of the community.

The militant leader added the regional autonomy waged by CPA leaders in the late 80s has proven right what CPA has been doing and which government eventually followed thereto.

CPA’s quest for Cordillera autonomy has reached a stage where the third attempt for autonomy - House Bill 5595 was signed by Cordillera congressmen and eventually set for a plebiscite.

Earlier, the Third Autonomy Act Drafting Committee chaired by Baguio Mayor Mauricio Domogan drafted the organic act for the region’s third attempt to have the Cordillera be in a state of regional autonomy.

The previous two government-led attempts failed in the plebiscites in 1991 and 2000.

And so with other ideals furthering indigenous cultural practises that CPA has been advocating for years before these were enacted into laws and espoused now by government including education, agriculture and environmental departments.

Mother Petra as she is fondly called is an epitome of courage where she serves as a member of the Advisory Council of CPA.

CPA members said women leaders like Mother Petra was one among 200 men and women who drove away Benguet Mining Corporation prospectors who went to Mainit in the ‘70s by baring their breasts in protest actions.

A founding member of the Kalinga-Bontoc Peace Pact Holders Association, she also helped organize women in Kalinga against the Chico Dam in the 70’s.

During the CPA’s assembly, issues discussed included large scale mining companies having occupied 66% of Cordillera land alongside militarization. It was also cited that military elements have been using public building including schools as their quarters in the past year in some areas in the Mountain Province and currently now in Sadanga.

In the same occasion, elder and Movement for the Advancement of Inter Tribal Unity and Development (MAITUD) leader Jaime ‘Tigan-o’ Dugao said that aforementioned issues have consistently confronted the Cordillera requiring leaders and communities to continuously assert their rights as indigenous peoples.