It is known to many Davaoenos that every Christmas Season, our lumad brothers and sisters from the mountains of Paquibato and Marilog flock the busy streets of Davao to ask for alms and Christmas gifts. But to them, their short visit here is more than just asking for alms -- it is an opportunity to wander around the city, enjoy the colorful Christmas lights that illuminate the metropolis, and experience the things they don't have in the uplands. Every year, they do this even if they have to struggle with other lumad families in gymnasiums where they are housed temporarily.
With the help of the City Govermnment and well-wishers, they are given free transportation, temporary shelter, 24-hour security, 2 trucks of water supply a day, and food ration every other day.
While they enjoy these perks, it is apparent that their condition in the shelter areas is difficult and inhumane. They have to eat and sleep with other thousands of lumads even if the surroundings are dirty. There are no enough rest rooms which would cause sanitary and health problems. In Buhangin Gym alone, data shows that there are more than 2,000 lumads of 600 families staying there this yuletide season.
Apart from their temporary living conditions, another difficulty they have to endure is discrimination. Even if we don’t admit it, we, the luckier ones, have looked them down once or twice, or even more. It may be a form of ignoring or teasing them, and some may even have done cruelty or have thrown demeaning words to drive them away.
I chanced to interview one lumad named Maricel. According to her, they are humans too. They also get hurt every time people shoo them away.
For Davao City councilor Berino Mambo-o and other IP leaders, it is better for the IPS to stay in their homes and just wait for the Christmas gifts. But most IPs prefer to go down since it has been the city’s tradition and it gives them joy that cannot be found yet in the highlands.
While it is true that it is more ideal for our IP brothers and sisters to stay in the highlands and just wait for the Christmas presents from the government and well-wishers, it is obvious that the city lights and all that we have here are the things they keep on coming back for. It gives them hope to dream big and have a better life.
Yet with the difficulties and discrimination they face every time they go here, would it be best if the government would increase their efforts in providing them good quality and free education? With that, our IP brothers and sisters will be more able, responsible, and knowledgeable.
If they become more knowledgeable, discrimination will eventually stop. If they become more responsible and able, they have more chances to have decent work, earn bigger income, and have bigger chances to turn their dreams to reality. And all these are only attainable through education.
