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[thecajuniverse]

Exploring Indochina: How to Travel on a Budget

Want to travel to multiple countries but short on time and money? Here’s how I did it! 6 days, 4 cities, 3 countries, ONE EPIC ADVENTURE.

Okay. I know I’ve only been posting photos about my trip and writing cheesy captions to go with it, but here it is: the complete braindump on everything I did in Indochina aka my feelings.

I guess it’d be hard to understand how this trip came to be without me explaining how the idea was planted in Dani and Chelle’s heads but it’s pretty simple. One summer day, I was watching I Fine, Thank You, Love you  for the nth time in 2018, when a great NEED to go to Bangkok right at the moment hit me like a freight train. Within minutes, I chatted our groupchat and exclaimed about said need and by pure psychic connection, Chelle felt the same way and before we knew it, we were looking up flights on Cebu Pacific’s website. However, roundtrip tickets to BKK were quite expensive so, we kinda abandoned the idea for a while.

See, when you’re looking up flights, you can play around with the destination and the city you’ll be coming from and all that, to find the best prices. My nerd ass knew that Vietnam was around the same area so I tried to search if there was a way to get to Vietnam from Thailand. Lo and behold, Cambodia was between them and it was completely possible to travel in between these countries. Bonus! It’s a famous route among backpackers. Armed with good faith and a seemingly bright idea, I told them that maybe we could try MNL-BKK then SGN-MNL route.

Cebu Pacific must have been stalking me (or the prices were that cheap, I’m just being weird) and we found out tickets for those routes combined were so much cheaper than a round trip to BKK. 3 countries for less than the price of one? Sounds like a plan! And a plan it really was.

It took us months to plan the whole trip, from accommodation to bus transfers to plane tickets to itinerary to budgeting and more  Our trip was perfectly scheduled right after the end of our semesters and just in time for the holidays. 

December 19, D-Day. Our first stop was Bangkok. When we stepped off the plane, it didn’t feel that real yet but once the Thai announcements came in, that’s when it really sunk: I’M IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY WITHOUT MY PARENTS OR FAMILY FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE.

A lot of people say that Thailand feels a lot like the Philippines and they’re not wrong but first of all, they drive on the left side so everything felt weird (you wouldn’t feel like that at first but later on your brain will sense as if something’s wrong); second, it’s so much cleaner (we stayed near Khaosan road, and it was crowded but the sidewalks were relatively clean); and third, the people are less friendly but still nice nonetheless.

We stayed in a millennial-y hostel and had the dorm all by ourselves, at first. We had a lot of itinerary planned so we set out for lunch and the temples early. My nerd ass looked up the nearest pier so we could ride the Chao Praya river boat to the Grand Palace and let me tell you, NEVER TRUST THE ESTIMATED TIME OF ARRIVAL ON GOOGLE MAPS. I thought it was near but it turned out to be QUITE a walk to the port but it was cool the boat was a little expensive but it was cool. And we still had to walk to the Grand Palace from the port so that was, um, exciting. Thought I would survive the rest of the day with no sleep but I DID NOT (Tip: always get a full 8 hours of sleep before you travel, you will cry at 11am).

The Grand Palace, with its walls so high and land so big you think you’d get a nice stroll; WRONG. The place is literally buzzing with tourists and it will give you a headache. To be fair, even if the place was teeming with people, it still wasn’t that full so, imagine how big it had to be. Taking pictures was the hardest part because of course, everyone wants the best shot so we had to pick the most secluded parts just to get a decent picture.

And by 3pm, my feet were aching and we were all sweaty and red and basically, exhausted so, we abandoned the rest of the itinerary and instead, got ourselves a cup of ice cold Thai milktea. Verdict: CRAZY GOOD. After that, we got take out Pad Thai from the streets for dinner and of course, it’s nothing like the ones in Manila.

The second day, we booked a tour through Klook to the infamous Floating market. It’s a few hours away from Bangkok so if you’re planning to go, first of all, don’t, because it’s not worth it; second, if you really wanna go, book through Klook to avoid the following: scams, expensive prices, activities you’re unwilling to pay for but are still magically billed to you. The only good thing that came from the trip was the van that we rode on the way to the market because it’s the one that hallyu stars use to travel around (and yes, I felt like one). The rest of the day we were at Khaosan, mingling, eating, spending money we didn’t have. Yada yada yada.

Next day was our transfer to Siem Reap and I just want to say that Giant Ibis is the best transport you can ever get in Indochina. Free meals, reclining seats, they got you. Passing through the Thai and Cambodian borders was really easy, just stick with your group. And before we know it, we were in the city I like to call frozen in time, Siem Reap.

My first impression of Siem Reap was, it looked a LOT like the remote provinces of the Philippines. Everything was covered in dust, lotsa old houses, and even the cars were of old models. The adjacent big hotel resort thing and the huge Sofitel plaza looked awfully misplaced in a city seemingly forgotten by time. If poverty was painted as a city, Siem Reap surely looked like it. It was natural to feel a little bit scared, but the people proved to be nice and helpful. Our tuktuk drivers to the Angkor Wat complex were relatively nice and took us to lotsa temples to the point that we voluntarily gave up because we were so exhausted.

The Angkor Wat tour deserves a paragraph for itself because like I said in my instagram captions, you have to see it before you die. The sunrise, however, was kinda underwhelming but (note: not trying to be an architectural expert) I appreciated why we had to be dragged at 4am to see the famous Cambodian sunrise. Never underestimate these temples because they are crazy big! The sheer largeness of the temples will strike you and the fact that there are DOZENS of them in the complex… Don’t even think about it; it’ll just give you a headache.

A sidenote: like I said, Siem Reap is basically the image of utmost rural-ness and normally, tuktuk drivers would try to entice you to go to some place else that isn’t included in your Temple Run map requiring you to shell out some extra cash, but don’t fret because they’re nice people (a little persistent, perhaps?) and if you politely say no, they’ll back out.

Pub Street is a gastronomic adventure and is by far, the cheapest market I’ve ever been to. If you want to buy your pasalubongs, this is the place; not the airport (I made that mistake in Vietnam).

We literally spent a day and a half in Cambodia and by 11pm we were on our way to their capital city, Phnomn Penh (was only there for 3 hours but guessing from the tuktuk ride from the bus station to Café Amazon, aka the best SEA café ever, and back, the city is BOMB), to transfer and eventually go to our last stop: HO CHI MINH CITY.

Vietnam. Yes. Sometimes I like to call it, a french BGC. Other days, I call it budget Korea (Dude, K-pop is everywhere and every other K-pop dance cover I see on Youtube is set in Saigon). But I have to say, it’s been my favorite city out of the 4 we explored. Sure, my legs almost gave out when we were trying to look for famed Pho place in the city, but the beef broth was worth it and so was the vietnamese coffee we had right after. Walking in a foreign country late at night should have been scary but it wasn’t. It was exhausting, yes, but it gave you plenty of time to stop and appreciate the place you’re in. It got pretty existential, to say the least. I was grateful.

The trip to Mekong Delta the next day was pretty meh to say the least but we were in a large tour group and we met another Filipina traveler (who we immediately became super acquainted with because DUH, nothing like seeing a kababayan in a foreign country), which made it pretty fun.

But it was Christmas Eve then and when we got back to the hostel, all I wanted was to go home. And by December 25, 5:30 am, my feet were once again back in Manila’s arms.

Okay, I promise this is the last paragraph… ish? All in all, I had loads and loads of fun. The idea stemmed from a very very stupid reason, in my opinion, but resulted to a trip I will never forget. Shoutout again to my friends, Chelle and Dani, for being onboard on such a crazy and half-baked idea. Here’s to more adventures!

On backpacking: DO IT. Backpacking isn’t exactly mountain trekking and all that crap. It’s mostly about hopping from place to place and seeing as much as you can, in such a small timeframe. Skip the fancy boutique hotels and opt for the more practical hostels, where you’ll meet half naked Europeans walking around in their dorms which is pretty creepy lots of people, from different backgrounds, with different stories. That alone is reason enough to go backpacking and I really think everyone should try it at least once in their lives.

And if you’re looking for a sign on whether you should go on that trip or not, local or international, this is it. My motto in life now is (which will subsequently leave me broke): just book it!

[thecajuniverse]

Raising Awareness: Lumads of Mindanao

In the Philippines, there are about 14-17 million Indigenous Peoples (IPs) and account for 18% of the total population of the country, according to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The Lumads are considered the largest ethnic group in our country. However, the past few years have been tough on our fellow Filipinos as they are being continuously displaced from their ancestral lands due to several circumstances such as large-scale mining, rebel attacks, and military occupation.

United Nations State of the World’s Indigenous Peoples said that the Philippines have allowed destructive mining and projects by foreign corporations happen in the Lumads’ ancestral lands which have caused them to flee their very own properties.

Recently, both the New People’s Army (NPA) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) have disturbed the Lumads’ homes.

The NPA was discovered to be posing as soldiers and have been asking for revolutionary tax from the IPs. According to one of the evacuees, people from age 15 and above are being taxed 5 pesos every month. The group also sent threatening texts to the Lumads who do not support their cause. Because of the communist groups’ threatening presence in the community, over 20 Lumad families have left their homes, the peaceful community of Sitio Lagangan, Brgy. Caras-an, Tago, Surigao del Sur.

On the other hand, the AFP is accused of murdering 8 ‘lumads’ on December 3 in Sultan Kudarat. The military, however, denied the accusations and claimed that the slain are part of a militia.

Our brothers and sisters deserve more than this. TIPH wants all of you to know what is really happening to our countrymen from Mindanao. The Initiative PH would like to raise awareness and encourage everyone, especially our fellow youth to take part in protecting the culture and the lives of not just the Lumads but also the entire Indigenous Peoples community.

TIPH highly encourages people to read up on current news events regarding the Lumads in Mindanao. The organization also wants everyone to take part in causes that support in protecting and rebuilding the lives of these people. The point is to never let these issues be forgotten and to raise awareness in order to attract more help and support.

Join us in supporting the Lumads’ fight against exploitive movements.

Take the Initiative today!

[thecajuniverse]

Update: Donate now for Urduja and Vinta victims

After leaving the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Christmas Eve, typhoon Vinta left thousands displaced from their homes, casualties, landslides, and severe floods.

About 200 were reported killed while 176 were reported missing, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC). More than 50,000 families were affected by said typhoon, according to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). More than 16,000 families are evacuated from their homes in Davao Oriental.

Thousands more are displaced in the provinces of Zamboanga and Lanao Del Sure. Villagers spent Christmas in evacuation centers. Intense rainfall in the mountains most likely caused landslides that blocked rainwater, which subsequently ruined naturally formed dams due to pressure which caused the water to pummel to the villages below.

A total of 6405 passengers were also stranded at ports as typhoon Vinta ravaged Southern Philippines, according to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG). Several flights going to and from the areas affected by the typhoon were also cancelled.

The senate, particularly Senator Binay, called for a review of disaster and risk management protocols in light of the rising death toll due to typhoon Vinta. According to an interview she gave for Inquirer, it was done to prevent disasters and casualties from happening again in the future. The review is also meant to discover the loopholes in the current system and resolve them.

Samar and Leyte are still reeling in from Urduja, which came before Vinta. In Samar alone, over 30,000 families were affected by Urduja. More than 13,000 families were evacuated to safety. Urduja left more than people 50 people dead, 31 missing, and approximately P1 billion in agricultural damage.

Relief efforts continue to go on for the victims of Urduja and Vinta. DSWD thinks the voluteers who came to help pick relief goods that were going to be sent to Mindanao. The department continues to call for volunteers to help them. Interested parties may refer to this link: https://www.rappler.com/bulletin-board/192038-dswd-pick-relief-philippines-volunteer-vinta

Let us continue helping our brothers and sisters overcome the ordeals brought upon by Urduja and Vinta.

We are currently collecting donations for the victims of the two devastating typhoons. You can reach us through our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/theinitiativeph/ or email us at theinitiativeph@gmail.com for inquiries.

Take Initiative Today!

SOURCES:

HTTP://NEWSINFO.INQUIRER.NET/955053/EVACUATION-CENTER-SHELTER-VINTA-SHELTER-CHRISTMAS-FLOODING-TEMBIN

HTTP://NEWSINFO.INQUIRER.NET/955331/NANCY-BINAY-VINTA-DEATH-TOLL-DISASTER-PROTOCOL-RISK-REDUCTION-MANAGEMENT

HTTPS://WWW.RAPPLER.COM/MOVE-PH/ISSUES/DISASTERS/191985-STRANDED-PASSENGERS-PORTS-VINTA

[thecajuniverse]

Lend a hand: ‘Urduja’ and ‘Vinta’ victims

A week before Christmas, Bagyong Urduja ravaged Eastern Visayas, especially Samar and Leyte. These were also the places that were ruined by Super typhoon Yolanda a few years back.

In Samar alone, over 30,000 families were affected by Urduja. More than 13,000 families were evacuated to safety. Tanauan, Barugo, San Miguel, and Palo, Leyte are declared under state of calamity due to heavy floods.

Yolanda survivors were deeply terrified as Urduja reminded them of Yolanda, which took and ruined a lot of cities in the same area.

3 people died in separate incidents, even before Urduja was set to landfall in Eastern Samar. One is a fisherman who died from an unspecified incident, another died from a landslide, and the last one was a child who was found dead after a flashflood.

Urduja left more than 50 people dead, 31 missing, and around P1 billion in agricultural damage.

A few days ago, Vinta stormed parts of Mindanao and Palawan. The typhoon landed twice on December 22 in Davao, and the next day in Palawan.

It has left destruction in its wake, killing 200 and affecting thousands. It has reached typhoon level as it moves away from the country today at dawn.

According to DSWD, more than 50,000 people are affected by the typhoon. In Davao Oriental alone, there are over 16,000 evacuees. In Palawan, several passengers are stranded, as the typhoon brought on heavy rains and intense winds.

The Government has provided over P41 million in assistance to affected families and individuals. However, the government calls for more donations from the public.

Interested parties may forward their donations in cash or in kind through DSWD. The department is also looking for volunteers to help repack relief goods at the National Resource Operations Center in Chapel Road, Pasay. For further details, please check out this link: DSWD Volunteers

Caritas Philippines have also deployed 1,000 relief good for those affected by Typhoon Vinta. The organization welcomes donations through their Alay Kapwa account. Donors may refer to the information below for their account details.

CBCP CARITAS FILIPINAS FOUNDATION INC. BPI account number: 4951-0071-08 BPI

Should more available outlets arise, please feel free to message The Initiative PH through our social media accounts to help raise awareness to those who want to lend a hand.

Let’s remember the true spirit of Christmas by helping our brothers and sisters get through the ordeal they are facing today.

Happy Holidays and take Initiative today!

[thecajuniverse]

Discover: Bagobo, Banwaon, B’laan

The Lumads are considered as the largest indigenous group in our country. In this 6-part series by The Initiative PH, we unearth the history of these beautiful people and discover the truths long forgotten by the common folk.

In this article, we learn about the Bagobo, Banawon, and B’laan ethnic groups. These are sub-group of Lumads. They mostly live in the southern part of Mindanao. Their cultures are rich with epics, colorful woven materials, and intricate ornaments. Although their traditions are considered obscure, its value cannot be weighed. They have made our country’s history rich and vibrant.

BAGOBO

The word Bagobo is derived from two words— “bago” meaning new or recent and “obo/obbo/uvu/ meaning growth or “to grow”. They are situated along the coastline of Davao Gulf where they have been for the past centuries.

The Bagobo tribe was formed when practitioners of the Hindu brought upon their culture, mixed with Sri Vijayan and Majapahit cultures penetrated Mindanao. These people mingled with the natives and led to becoming one of the most celebrated tribes in Mindanao.

The Bagobos are also divided into several ethnicities such as the Tagabawa, Attao, or Tagacaolo. However, early ethnographers and Spanish missionaries identified them as one group due to the similarities in their culture, especially their ornaments and tools.

When the Spanish first encountered the Bagobos in the 19th century, the tribe has already developed a brisk trade system in which they trade rice for lowland and upland goods such as salt, fish, clay pots, beeswax, resin, and more. During the American occupation, their region witnesses radical changes in their political and economic structures. Soon, the lands became factories, plantation, wharves, and houses. The Japanese occupation turned these lands into experimental stations. During the Martial Law era, the Bagobo tribes were incorporated into Barangays.

Modernization also brought upon changes into the tribe. The boosted economy through modernization caused labor exploitation. Neighboring ethnic groups also influenced how the tribe works today. In recent years, Military occupation caused some more adjustments in the tribe.

The Bagobo culture is a very dynamic one. They are polytheistic in nature. They have multiple gods who reside in nine heavens, to which they offer songs to. Myths and epics are also usually based on these gods. Their everyday life is marked by rituals which includes offerings in exchange for protection against buso or malignant spirits.

Perhaps the most distinctive of their religious practices is paghuaga or human sacrifice. This is done for the gods, Mandarangan and Tolus. Mandarangan is considered the “god of war” and Tolus is referred to as the “one who knows everything.” The ceremony is called gin-em/ginum. This involves a slave slained by a lance thrust and the participants hack off the corpse and each one takes a piece home. It is believed that those who participate are given courage by Mandarangan. However, the rituals involve animal sacrifice instead, nowadays.

Their religious ceremonies and rituals are heavily linked to their literature, art, and fashion. They wear intricately woven garments and ornaments made especially for special ceremonies. Their colors are made out of abaca fiber dyed maroon, red, and black. They incorporate geometric designs in their garments, depicting nature and humans. Music is also an essential part of their daily lives. The Bagobos like to sing a variety of songs such as lullabies, children’s songs, and gindaya, which is a hymn of praise sung in gin-em rituals.

BANWAON

The Banwaon tribe can be found in Agusan Del Sur. It is also the second largest group in the area. Their name literally means mountain people and they subsequently inhabit the forests of Agusan Del Sur. They are traditionally nomadic but they were forced to settle because of the onslaught of civilization.

The Banwaon are considered a sub-group of Manobo. They usually live in kins. Sometimes, their houses contain extended families. They are described as a close-knit group; incredibly valuing their sense of community.

Their tribes also exhibit a strong oral tradition. The Banwaons have stories depicting war and heroes passed on orally. This includes tud-om, which is a series of sacred verses which can be done to ask for blessings, peace, and institution of new chieftain, thanksgiving, and a prayer for the departed.

B’LAAN

The B’laan or Bilaan tribe is an ethnic group located in southern Mindanao,. Their name came from “bla” and “an” which means opponent people. They are renowned hunters and food gatherers, ranging from wild animals to root crops.

Like the Bagobos, the B’laans are known for their colorful heritage, which is manifested in their ornaments and clothes. Women’s clothes are often decorated with heavy brass belts, beads, and belts. Sequin-like shells called takmin are often used to give color. A heavily ornamented comb called swat san salah is a staple among women as well.

The B’laans are also known for their intricate system of weaving using abaca fiber. Rituals are usually done before the designing takes place. The way ceremonies are done are only known by the weavers. They believe that these designs are imparted to them through fairies.

The tribe also has a handwoven mat spread on the floor to mark a sacred space. Anyone who sits on this space must always tell the truth. These mats are also used by the datus to mediate conflicts. They also believe that good spirits come when the community is together but this will only work if they keep their faith up.

The Bagobos, Banwaons, and B’laans share the same problems. These are communities are continually displaced due to military occupation, mining, commercialization, and neglect.

These tribes are constantly evacuated from their homes due to disputes between the military and the NPA. Sometimes, they are also caught up between the military and terrorists. The tribes are forced to live under unfavorable conditions, which causes disease outbreaks and more often than usual, death. After these conflicts, the tribes do not even have a home to come back to.

Mining corporations are also exploiting the rich natural resources of the mountains where these people live. They are forced to leave their homes and are sometimes used for labor. The lands are also transformed into plantations and factories for other companies.

The even bigger problem is that most Filipinos have forgotten their existence. Most of us who live in the city do not know that there are actually people who live in the mountains. We do not know about their culture, their way of life, and their traditions and beliefs, which is why these things are gradually fading over time. Their culture are not even taught in schools.

Although the tribes’ dynamic traditions strive to this day, the need for it to be cultivated further remains. These tribes should be considered as our country’s national treasures. We need to preserve their culture to avoid extinction and exploitation. Most importantly, they need their voices to be heard. As citizens of our country, they have the right to proper education and favorable living conditions; basic necessities that are often unavailable to them.

Join TIPH in giving the Bagobos, Banwaons, and B’laans a voice.

Take Initiative Today!

SOURCES:

HTTP://WWW.ETHNICGROUPSPHILIPPINES.COM/PEOPLE/ETHNIC-GROUPS-IN-THE-PHILIPPINES/BLAAN-SARANGANI/

NLPDL.NLP.GOV.PH:81/CC01/NLP00VM052MCD/V1/V5.PDF

HTTP://WWW.IJERN.COM/JOURNAL/DECEMBER-2013/44.PDF

[thecajuniverse]

Project Taft on Its 5th Run

Project Taft has been one of The Initiative PH’s (TIPH) most successful projects over the past months. The goal has always been to provide the best care that we could give to our less fortunate brothers and sisters around Taft Avenue, Manila. Recently, the group has included its fifth run of #ProjectTaft.

O’mae Tenefrancia, Audrey Garin, Sabrina Carlos, and Tria Lucas each respectively lead a team that went to the target areas of Buendia-Libertad, Vito Cruz, and Quirino-Pedro Gil.

Project Taft took a month to prepare its fift run. They were able to gather 60 bags. The bags contained clothes, biscuits, ready-to-eat meals, water, some fruits, and basic toiletries. The group was also able to gather some beddings for the beneficiaries.

Audrey Garin, Project Taft head, related the struggles that they had during the preparation. “It was really hard to get volunteers for #ProjectTaft5 since it is summer and most probably, people will be busy for any family events and other things related; or they are lazy to go to Taft knowing we are in vacation mode.”

To Sabrina Carlos, Project Taft has been an, “eye-opening experience.”  “Talking to those people, I had the chance to hear for myself what they’re going through. Seeing how smiles appear on their faces after giving them the food packs and talking with them, makes me want to help them more because they deserve better,” she shared.

One of the struggles that the team heads pointed out is when people fight over the food packs. “The hard thing about doing this is people tend to fight over the food packs or there are people who ask us for them. It’s hard to turn them away, since we want to help them as well,” Carlos says. Another struggle pointed by the team heads is the alarming amount of volunteers that backed out on the day of distribution itself.

With #ProjectTaft becoming more and more successful in every run, The Initiative PH hopes that even more and more volunteers come and share the vision of helping people in need in the best way we can.

Take Initiative Today!

[thecajuniverse]

A Walk Through TIPH’s Milestones

Since its establishment on May 2017, The Initiative PH (TIPH) has racked up numerous achievements through its passion and dedication to helping Filipinos in need. What started out as a handful of students from De La Salle University quickly grew to a community, partnering with multiple schools to achieve the organization’s goals. Today, we look back and ahead The Initiative’s projects, celebrating its members’ incredible perseverance in lending a helping hand.

Project Marawi became the catalyst to the formation of TIPH. Its founders quickly heeded the call of the Maranaos for help. Although hampered by limited resources, TIPH was eventually born. Since then, the organization has supervised 5 batches of #ProjectMarawi and with its 6th well on the way. #ProjectMarawi Batch 6 is a donation drive for the Marawi Library and a fundraiser for family packs.

TIPH also setup #ProjectVinta and #ProjectUrduja, which are both donation drives, for the victims of the said typhoons in Visayas and Mindanao when the typhoons ravaged the said areas in late December. Both typhoons left thousands of Filipinos displaced from their homes and billions worth of infrastructural and agricultural damage.

The group has done numerous fundraising activities to support their projects. To shoulder operational expenses, the group has done a sticker fundraiser, which includes original art from different people. They have also partnered up with Alphathread to come up with stylish t-shirts. To support batch 6 of #ProjectMarawi, TIPH launched a button pin fundraiser which includes quirky designs and original art.

Recently, over 3000 people were left homeless due to the fire that took place in Galicia Street, Sampaloc, Manila. Some members of TIPH were able to visit the area ruined by the fire. In response, the team has launched #ProjectGalicia, urging everyone to donate food, pillows, and other necessities. The project started last Thursday and will continue until January 31.

Among the projects that the group has done, TIPH takes pride in #ProjectTaft: a mobile feeding program which targets the homeless and street people along DLSU’s immediate area. The project has since expanded to Quirino and Buendia avenues. The project that started with 4 members has now expanded which in turn allowed TIPH to achieve more and help more.

The Lumads, the largest indigenous group in the Philippines, has been part of TIPH’s many advocacies. The organization has recently launched a 6-part series in their website dedicated to unearth the history of the Lumads and their subgroups. TIPH is also supporting the Lumads’ call for equal human rights and is subsequently, one of the goals of their 6-part anthology.

TIPH has recently partnered up with GenWe for GenWe: Ultimatum, a human rights awareness concert which will be happening in University of the Philippines-Diliman on January 26. It is also an online advocacy for the victims of extrajudicial killings in the country.

The group has also been invited to a number of forums including the Global Citizenship Forum, which was held at UP Diliman. The organization was also invited by Tahilan for UNIV, which is an international research congress and will take place in Bacolod, Philippines and Rome, Italy.

For future projects, TIPH is looking forward to its partnership with Bridge Club Philippines, an alumni organization for past Philippine APCC participants. Details of the upcoming will be posted on TIPH’s social media sites and official website.

In a span of 7 months, TIPH has been successful in their endeavors. The organization is quickly shaping up to become a more than capable group of people dedicated to lending a helping hand, primarily to their fellow Filipinos but also to other people around the world, soon. Despite its many achievements in the last 7 months, TIPH and its members remain grounded; never forgetting the group’s true mission. TIPH continues to encourage everyone to be a helping hand and to take initiative today.

[thecajuniverse]

Discover: Tasaday, T’boli, Tiruray

The Lumads are considered as the largest indigenous group in our country. In this 6-part series by The Initiative PH, we unearth the history of these beautiful people and discover the truths long forgotten by the common folk.

In this last installment of the 6-part anthology regarding the Lumads, we learn about the Tasaday, T’boli, and Tiruray tribes. To recall, they are comprised of multiple ethnolinguistic groups and live in Mindanao. The term, “lumad” is a Bisayan word meaning “native.” For several years, the Lumads have been fighting for their ancestral lands which were taken from them due to several circumstances such as the establishment of mining companies in their area, military occupation, and other forms of harassment and deceit.

TASADAY

The Tasadays, an ethnolinguistic group of the Lumads, are a small group of people, about two dozen, who live within the cavernous and lush rain forests of Mindanao. They are believed to be descendants of the T’boli and Manobo. They were originally identified as “Linat Batang.” In 1971, they attracted attention from the media after being “discovered” by western scientists. It was reported then that the Tasadays were living at a “stone age” level of technology and complete isolation from the rest of the Philippine society. However, in 1980, it was reported that their discovery was a hoax, and people turned doubtful of their isolation and their existence as a separate ethnic group. The question of whether the studies published in the seventies about the Tasadays are accurate remains until today.

T’BOLI

The T’boli can be found in South Central Mindanao. They are concentrated on the provinces of Davao, Bukidnon, and Cotabato. As settlers from the different parts of the Philippines arrived, the T’boli retreated to the mountain slopes and lived in scattered villages. Their cultural heartland lies in the highland lake complex that consists of the Sebu, Selutan, and Lahit lakes. The T’boli, B’laan, and Tiruray belong to a single language group. They are distinct from other language groups in Mindanao. They employ a slash-and-burn method in farming. They plant corn, upland rice, vegetables, and root crops. Most of their crops are for household consumption, but some of it is used for bartering for other household necessities. They are also known for their dynamic baskets, trinkets, bracelets, and brass earrings.

TIRURAY

Tiruray came from the combination of the words “Tiru” meaning “place of origin, birth, or residence” and ray from “daya,” meaning “upper part of a stream or river.” Their distinct language is similarly structured to those of the Malayo-Polynesian family but is unintelligible even to their immediate neighbors. The majority of Tiruray live in Upi, South Upo, Dinaig, and Ampatuan in Maguindanao. Some are scattered in the SOCCSKSARGEN region, particularly in Sultan Kudarat and North Cotabato. The primary livelihoods for coastal Tirurays are farming, hunting, fishing, and basket weaving. Those who live in the mountains engage in dry field agriculture, along with hunting and gathering forest products. Tirurays are famous for their craftsmanship in weaving baskets with two-toned geometric designs. Many Tirurays are Muslims and Christians, majority of their population still believe and practice indigenous customs and rituals.

As we end the special spotlight for the Lumads, we hope that the we were able to bring to light the history and culture of the various ethnolinguistic groups of the Lumads, as well as their issues that we need to attend to. Even after this series ends, The Initiative PH hopes that the message was clear enough to inspire people to get up and help these beautiful people, the Lumads.

Together, let’s take Initiative Today!

SOURCES:

HTTP://WWW.PHILSTAR.COM/SUPREME/2016/02/27/1557062/MY-FAVORITE-MARCOS-LIE-TASADAY

HTTP://HOAXES.ORG/ARCHIVE/PERMALINK/THE_STONE-AGE_TASADAY

HTTP://THINGSASIAN.COM/STORY/TBOLI-TRIBE-SOUTH-COTABATO

HTTP://NLPDL.NLP.GOV.PH:81/CC01/NLP00VM052MCD/V1/V49.PDF

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#NOtriAsia

For the past week, news of NutriAsia workers on strike have been going around the internet and news outlets. In addition, abuse and harassment by the police force and security personnel of NutriAsia were also reported.

For years, these workers have been receiving only P380 a day, despite working long hours under substandard working environments. Aside from this, most of the workers are not regularized.

200 people, consisting of workers and supporters, created a picket line across the factory in Marilao on June 4, 2018. These people were met by violence and different forms of abuse from the police and security hired by the corporation. People had to play dead in order not to be apprehended by the police. 17 people, including a minor, were detained after the violent dispersal of NutriAsia workers.

Despite everything, NutriAsia denies any illegal labor practices.

The Initiative PH condemns NutriAsia and its injustices done to its workforce. With project #NOtriAsia, we open a donation drive where we accept food, water, toiletries, used tarpaulins, medical supplies, and any form of financial aid. You may contact us through our email, theinitiativeph@gmail.com or our Facebook page.

Join and support the workers by boycotting NutriAsia products and donating what you can.

Take Initiative Today!

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#ProjectLupangRamos

For decades, members of Katipunan ng mga Lehitimong Magsasaka at Mamamayan ng Lupaing Ramos have cultivated the land “owned” by Emerito Ramos. Out of the 372 hectares, 104 were cultivated by said farmers.

However, these farmers were threatened and intimated by men who were claiming to be the rightful owners of the land. Rudy Herrera, a land agent and Nestor Pangilinan, Langkaan Uno barangay councilor, along with 40 men armed with bolos and batons harassed the farmers of Lupang Ramos. These men even challenged the farmers to gun duels.

On June 5, these goons hired by Herrera and Pangilinan fired at the farmers around 10 pm. Around fifteen gunshots were fired. The protesters, which included the farmers and some students immediately took cover upon hearing the gun shots. Luckily, no one got hurt. The Dasmariñas City police were able to recover three empty shells of 9mm and one empty shell of m16 rifle.

Lupang Ramos was included in the list of haciendas and farmlands to be given freely, according to the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program or CARP. Unfortunately, a Supreme Court decision in 2011 prevented Lupang Ramos from being distributed.

The shooting incident is still under investigation.

The farmers still need help and support, which includes: food, medicine, toiletries, and other necessities. We will be accepting donations until July 16, 2018, Monday.

If you have inquiries, you may contact us through theinitiativeph@gmail.com or through our Facebook page.

Take Initiative Today!

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#ProjectHK

In the past week, monsoon rains enhanced by Tropical Storm Karding ravaged Metro Manila and most of mainland Luzon. Karding has since moved to China and is said to be no longer affecting the southwest monsoon or Habagat. However, the continued rains brought yet again irreversible damages to families, especially in flood-stricken areas.

The rainfall and flooding caused by the Habagat-Karding combination were comparable to Typhoon Ondoy back in 2009. 12,647 families or nearly 55,000 in 110 evacuation centers around the the country, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC). In addition, nearly 5,000 people are also being given assistance outside of evacuation centers.

In response to this, The Initiative PH (TIPH) has decided to open #Project Habagat-Karding or #ProjectHK. The project will be a donation drive dedicated to the victims of Habagat-Karding. TIPH will accept donations from August 15 (Wednesday) to 29 (Wednesday), 2018

Ateneo DReaM Team and TIPH will be partnering up for in-cash donations. For in-kind donations, TIPH is partnering up with Caritas Manila. Turnover will be done on August 31, 2018, Friday. These goods will be distributed to affected families in Marikina and Quezon City.

For more information, please visit our social media accounts. You may also contact us through theinitiativeph@gmail.com.

Take Initiative Today!

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ALCADEV Celebrates 14th Founding Anniversary

The Initiative PH has always been vocal about its support of our Indigenous groups, most especially the Lumad. In light of this, TIPH has launched #ProjectLumad, a series of articles which consists of open letters from the public in hopes of raising awareness and initiating change. Other article anthologies include: the Discover: Lumad Timeline series which features the history of the different Lumad tribes and the Lumad Entrepreneurship series which features different business enterprises that are supporting the Lumad.

On July 19, Lumad evacuees celebrated ALCADEV’s 14th founding anniversary. Alternative Learning Center for Agricultural and Livelihood Development, Inc. (ALCADEV) was established in 2004 as an alternative learning system made to provide secondary education to indigent indigenous youth of the Lumad; specifically the tribes of Manobo, Higaonon, Banwaon, Talaandig, and Mamanwa.

The evacuees from the 15 different Lumad communities performed traditional songs and dances during the celebration. The communities also gave solidarity messages.

The Initiative PH and ALCADEV will continue to achieve the same goal for our brothers and sisters: provide the right to education and support them in their fight for their ancestral lands.

For more information about the Lumad, visit TIPH’s Discover series and #ProjectLumad articles.

Take Initiative today!

(Photo credits: Save Our Schools-Caraga Facebook Page)

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#ProjectOmpong

Bagyong Ompong (International name: Mangkhut) came and ravaged Northern Luzon over the weekend.

With its strong winds, it has affected over 500,000 individuals, as of September 17. 147,540 families from Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, CALABARZON, Central Luzon, and Metro Manila, experienced strong winds and heavy rains starting Friday night.

50,686 families or 192,842 people remained 1,899 evacuation centers all over the island, while 6,510 families or 26,666 persons remained outside evacuation centers.

229 areas all over Luzon experienced flooding, of which 35 areas have had water subside. More than 400 homes were either totally or partially wrecked in Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, and CAR.

Over 28.9 million pesos worth of aid and relief have been given to affected families all over the severely affected areas. Assistance came from several Departments, including the Department of Health and Department of Social Welfare and Development. Local government units and Non-governmental organizations have also extended help to the victims of Ompong.

In light of this, The Initiative PH is opening #ProjectOmpong: a donation drive meant for the people who were terribly affected by the typhoon. TIPH will accept in-kind donations which include food, medicine, blankets, and clothes. Monetary donations will be accepted as well. Contact numbers for in-kind and monetary donations are included in the infographic. Visit our social media accounts for more details.

Take Initiative today!

[thecajuniverse]

Ompong Rehabilitation Guide

Following typhoon Ompong’s landfall in Luzon last weekend, what exactly do we do afterwards?

The Initiative PH presents a typhoon rehabilitation guide for affected parties of the said typhoon. These are important steps to follow to ensure safety.

Victims whose homes are partially or totally destroyed by typhoon Ompong may also seek help from the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), the leading government unit for Ompong rehabilitation. Contact details can be located on the bottom left corner of our infographic.

TIPH’s #ProjectOmpong is also ongoing! #ProjectOmpong is a donation drove dedicated for the victims of said typhoon. Both in-kind and monetary donations are accepted. More details can be seen here. Visit our social media accounts for updates.

Take Initiative today!

[thecajuniverse]

#ProjectPacificPlaza

Despite claims of progressiveness, the labor sector of the country remains to be of poor quality in 2018. Reports of a hunger strike conducted by the Pacific Plaza Condominium in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig have surfaced but media coverage has been little to none.

The problem began last July 6, 2018, when 17 employees of the said condominium’s contractor Polystar General Services were told that they were to be terminated on the same day.

A month after this incident, in-house regular employees of Pacific Plaza held a strike across the condominium, along with the terminated outsourced employees. These Polystar contractual workers said they get direct orders from Pacific Plaza if a pipe or an electrical circuit needs fixing. The equipment they use came from the same condominium as well, with only the most basic tools given for work. It also did not matter if you were an in-house or outsourced employee. In addition, some of the agency workers with Polystar have worked in Pacific Plaza for three to five years, but without a signed contract. Employees have also complained about the management’s unreasonable enforcement of rules. According to them, a tiny mistake would automatically warrant a memorandum. This is in direct violation of employees’ right to tenure, as well as their rights and benefits, provisioned by the Labor Code of the Philippines.

Furthermore, three years ago, Pacific Plaza employees had a union but this was discontinued after the management promised to give them raise. However, this never materialized.

The management of Pacific Plaza condominium refuses to take in the agency workers of Polystar General, despite clear violations of the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) provisions. These violations were committed by Polystar General as well. These include: non-remittance of SSS, PAG-IBIG and PHILHEALTH, despite being deducted from their semi-monthly pay; employees of Polystar are being managed and monitored by managerial employees of Pacific Plaza; some employees have not been issued their Service Incentive Leave by Polystar; and most importantly, the tasks done by employees of Polystar are jobs that are for and should be rendered by Pacific Plaza employees. DOLE, on the other hand, has started looking for resolutions that will satisfy both parties.

People, including students, have joined the workers in their strike. The workers have been on a strike for over 2 months. Their union have also exhausted all legal options available to speed up resolutions. In addition, their strike has been processed and endorsed by DOLE.

In response to their strike, Pacific Plaza’s management harassed and commenced daily attacks on the workers across the condominium. Moreover, the management has also accused the workers of sabotaging their internal water systems with no evidence presented, even until now.

The Initiative is opening #ProjectPacificPlaza, in support of the workers of Pacific Plaza Condominium. TIPH is accepting sponsorships and monetary donations.  Interested parties may contact Jannah Chua at (0995) 724 7204 or visit our social media accounts for more details.

Take Initiative today!

Posted on TIPH Website, Oct. 2018

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The Workers’ Fight Continues: #ProjectPP Infograph

On Thursday, October 25, The Initiative PH launched #ProjectPP: a donation drive for the bereaved workers of Pacific Plaza Condominium. These workers, deprived of their basic rights, went on a hunger strike to protest both Pacific Plaza Management and their contractor, Polystar General.

In light of this, TIPH presents this #ProjectPP infograph to help recount the events that led to the strike initiated by Pacific Plaza Condominium’s employees.

As mentioned in the previous article, the problem started on July 6, 2018, when 17 employees of the said condominium’s contractor Polystar General Services were told that they were to be terminated on the same day. On top of this, the condominium’s management violated several provisions of the Labor Code of the Philippines, including the non-remittance of the employees’ SSS, PAG-IBIG, and PhilHealth contributions. These are continuously deducted from their salaries but the employees do not reap the benefits. In addition, the employees are not given proper equipment for their jobs. Only the basic tools are given by the management.

The workers also raised this concern to DOLE and in response, a representative was sent to the condominium for inspection. However, the said representative was blocked by Pacific Plaza from inspecting the workplace. Furthermore, DOLE has been seeking a resolution that will satisfy both parties but there is still no progress.

To add to the inhumane treatment of the workers, Gemma Gemayel, president of the board has said, “Hayaan mo silang magutom,” (Let the workers starve) when asked to comment about their strike.

Since its beginning on October 5, regular in-house employees of Pacific Plaza are being terminated for joining the strike. The strike formally ended on October 20 but the workers’ fight continues.

TIPH is encouraging everyone to join the employees of Pacific Plaza’s fight for their rights as laborers. #ProjectPP is still ongoing and TIPH accepts both in-kind and monetary donations. Visit our social media accounts for more details.

Together, let us end the injustice against the workforce of the country.

Take Initiative today!

Posted on theinitiativephblog.wordpress.com on October 31, 2018