Outstanding stories on indigenous peoples recognized ILO pays tribute to indigenous peoples, journalists

Indigenous peoples took the center stage as eleven stories about them were recognized in a thematic year-end reception organized by the International Labour Organization (ILO) Country Office for the Philippines on 12 December 2011 in Makati City.

Among the eleven stories recognized as outstanding, were five articles from two broadsheets and two community newspapers namely, BusinessWorld’s Discontent in a Mining Wilderness by Romer Sarmiento, Sun.Star Davao’s As Precious as Life Itself by Stella Estremera, Philippine Daily Inquirer’s Mt. Pinukis an Arena of Debate on Mining by Ryan Rosauro and Cordillera Organic Rice Finds a Strong Market at Home by Edgardo Espiritu, and Northern Dispatch’s Anti Dam Activist Gets Laureate Award by Arthur Allad-iw.

All five stories won in the online, print and photo essay categories. The winners received trophies.

The outstanding stories in all of the five categories were revealed in the ILO thematic year-end reception that underscored the indigenous peoples as “partners in development”, and the journalists who presented them in unique storytelling that provided insightful glimpses of their culture, aspirations and indispensable efforts towards making a difference in their communities and showing the society their critical importance in nation-building.

The short list of outstanding stories from print, radio, television, online and photo essay was a result of a rigorous evaluation of more than 80 entries from August 2009 to August 2011 by a pool of experts on indigenous peoples issues and from the media that comprised the screening committee and the judging panel.

The first ever “Pagkilala sa mga Natatanging Kuwentong Katutubo” which served as the highlight of the reception that gave importance to members of indigenous peoples communities in the Philippines, also showcased ethnic or indigenous dance, music, products and snapshots of the colorful life of the indigenous peoples in the country.

“It was a good mix of stories that show the other side of our indigenous peoples brothers and sisters,” Joseph Alwyn Alburo, vice-chairman of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) and member of the judging panel, said.

Both the screeners and the judges lauded the efforts of the writers who took time and effort to share to the public that indigenous peoples are “indeed partners in development” and that “more stories can be written about them in the future”.

“The stories are not about the journalists who produced them. They are about the indigenous peoples who are out there struggling to be part of a bigger community,” Ramon Tuazon, president of the Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication (AIJC) and a member of the board of judges, said.

Secretary of Labor and Employment Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz, who read the message of President Benigno S. Aquino III during the opening program, also lauded the efforts of ILO and the journalists “for hailing the part that indigenous peoples play in development”. She said that there are now indigenous peoples desks in 16 regions of the country.

"Through your inspiring stories, we all will be made more aware not only of the valuable contributions of our indigenous peoples to our rich cultural heritage, but more importantly for the socio-economic implications of firmly instituting interests of indigenous peoples in the mainstream of policy-making,” the message of the President reads.

Stella Estremera, editor-in-chief of Sun.Star Davao, in her acceptance speech on behalf of the awardees, said that interacting with the indigenous peoples to listen to their stories and relaying these with their purest intentions at its most unadulterated narrative, is a journey into ones soul.

"It is a rediscovery of our identity as Filipinos. Like any other journalist, I started looking and writing about them with pity in my eyes. That was until I listened to their stories and beliefs and saw in them the true resilience of the Filipino spirit, and a deeply ingrained dignity that has withstood the endless years of marginalization. Along with that came the realization that the pity is on us for sweeping these away to the margins and denying our children these stories. To ILO, thank you for this recognition, but the greater gratitude is for the indigenous peoples for waiting so long for their stories to be told," Estremera said.

In the end, she urged fellow journalists not to make them (indigenous peoples) wait much longer.

Probe Media Foundation assisted ILO in the implementation of the project.

Complete List of 11 Outstanding Stories:

Radio and Television Category

• “Tribal School of Ilocos Sur” Michael Escobar, NBN Ilocos
• “Lapis” by Reyan Arinto, DYVL AM Aksyon Radyo, Tacloban

Online Category

• “Lost Voices: Subanen Asserts Right for Representation in Governance” by Antonio Manaytay, sunstar.com.ph/zamboanga
• “Anti Dam Activist Gets Laureate Award” by Arthur Allad-iw, nordis.net
• “Mt. Pinukis: An Arena of Debate on Mining” by Ryan D. Rosauro, inquirer.net

Photo essay Category

• “Cordillera Organic Rice Finds a Strong Market at Home” by Edgardo V. Espiritu, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Northern Luzon
• “First Aeta Forest Food Festival” by Kara Patria M. Santos, Travel Up
• “Unreachable Dream” by Vincent Go, Vera Files

Print Category

• “Discontent in a Mining Wilderness” by Romer S. Sarmiento, Businessworld
• “Enchanting Adventure in Agusan Marsh” by Jefry M. Tupas, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Davao
• “As Precious as Life Itself” by Stella A. Estremera, Sun.Star Davao

For further information please contact:

Mr Domingo Nayahangan
Project Manager, Indigenous Peoples Development Programme
Tel: +63 85 342 5939
Email

Ms Minette Rimando
ILO Country Office for the Philippines
Tel: +632 580 9905 / 580 9900
Email