AROUND 300 members of Lumad (Indigenous people) communities in Northern Mindanao as well as Maranao evacuees from Marawi City are joining the nationwide people's caravan to press their rights for self determination, call for a just and lasting peace, and push for the lifting of martial law in Mindanao.
The delegates from the region gathered around at the Press Freedom Monument at the provincial capitol compound for the send-off program Tuesday afternoon, August 22.
Representatives of different tribal groups include the Higaonons, Banoa-on, Talaandig, Matigsalug, Manobos and Maranao evacuees gathered for an interfaith prayer and to offer a ritual for a safe month-long journey to the country’s capital.
Datu Jomorito Goaynon, chairperson of the Lumad organization Kalumbay in Northern Mindanao, said the group will board a ferry bound for Cebu where a protest rallies are set on August 24-25.
From Cebu, the group will travel to Masbate; Masbate to Sorsogon, Sorsogon to Naga City, and Naga City to Mendiola in Manila.
"Sa Naga City naa tay programa didto pagkahuman moadto sa ta UP Los Banos ug naa pud salubongan mahitabo sa Mangyan tribes then pa-Manila na dayon ta magsalubong sa Mendiola," Goaynon said.
The delegates from Visayas and Mindanao are expected to arrive in Manila on September 1.
Goaynon said the delegates from Mindanao is 1,500 but the total participants from different tribal groups all over the country may reach about 3,000 people.
The Lumad leader said they will set up camp inside the University of the Philippines compound in Diliman, Quezon City, from September 1 to 21.
“Tumong niining lakbayan sa pambansang minorya ang pagduso sa katungod sa kaugalingong paghukom ug malungtarong kalinaw kay nakita nato sa gobyernog Digong ang grabe nga kapasan sa katungod tungod sa martial law," Goaynon said.
The Northern Mindanao delegates will take the same route in their way back home on September 23.
