Mindanao contingent arrives, signals start of Kampuhan 2016
By Faith Esther Brown
Scattered showers did not hinder hundreds of students, professors and advocates who gathered at the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman from welcoming around 2,000 delegates from Mindanao Thursday night for Kampuhan 2016.
Kampuhan sa Diliman is an integration activity where national minorities camp out within UP Diliman for two weeks as part of Lakbayan 2016, a protest caravan which aims to bring into light of the struggles minority groups face.
Students and advocates converged with this year’s protest caravan participants called Lakbayanis along the UP university avenue where the hosts lit the guests’ torches, symbolically conveying a warm welcome or pagsalubong.
This year’s Lakbayan is unprecedented as it gathers around 3,500 members of minority groups from all over the country, unlike the 2015 Manilakbayan where only an estimate of 700 people exclusively from Mindanao participated.
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The national minorities are composed of the Moros and indigenous peoples in the country who identify themselves according to the unique language and culture they have been accustomed with.
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The first batch of this year’s participants from Luzon and Visayas including the Aeta, Agta, Igorot, and Mangyan and other delegates arrived Wednesday night.
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Lakbayanis foward their calls against prevalent militarization, which include harassment and killings, and landgrabbing of their ancestral domain or “yutang kabilin”. They also call for peace and push for their right to self-determination.
“Isang malaki itong bagay na nabibigay sa amin mga pambansang minorya ang pakikibaka para sa pagtutol sa pambansang pang-aapi--ang pakikibaka para sa pagkamit ng tunay na kalayaan at pagkamit sa karapatan sa sariling pagpapasya,” Datu Humurito Guhaynon, one of the leaders from the Mindanao contingents, told the crowd during the welcoming night.
Through the Lakbayan, advocates and participants also show their support for the ongoing peace talks between the present administration and the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and National Democratic Front (NDF).
“Sinusuportahan po natin ang peace talks between the Duterte administration and the CPP and the NDF dahil ine-expect natin na through the peace process ay magkakaroon ng substantive socio-economic reforms.” Kampuhan sa Diliman Overall Head Ben Te told The Insight.
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This year’s Kampuhan will feature cultural immersions, educational workshops, and seminars to render the plight of the national minorities known to more students, and for them to ultimately effect change.
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Due to frequent rains for the past days, however, the supposed Kampuhan site beside the UP College of Fine Arts became
covered in mud. The Lakbayanis will temporarily stay in different colleges and courts within UP.
Tan admitted this year’s Kampuhan accommodation was “not the best” due to the unexpected weather condition but he promised next year would be better.
“Ang inaasahan ko sana, dahil sa exposure, dahil sa pagbisita ninyo, maraming matutunan ang mga estudyante namin na hindi makukuha sa classroom. At sana maging bahagi din sila sa pagbabago,” Tan told the Lakbayanis during the welcoming night.
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Lakbayanis from Luzon and Visayas will camp out within UP Diliman until Oct. 21 while those from Mindanao will stay until Oct. 28.
Photos by Mark Kevin Reginio
