“DIGNITY, FREEDOM AND JUSTICE FOR ALL”Panaw sa Kalinaw uban sa Kinaiyahan
Dec. 10, 2022. The Diocese of Pagadian in partnership with the Interfaith Forum for Solidarity and Peace (IFSP) celebrated the 74th Human Rights Day and Rights of Creation at the San Miguel Arkangel Parish in Mahayag where 342 parishioners from Salug Valley: Josefina, Mahayag, Molave, Tambulig, Dumingag-Valencia participated. Present also were delegates coming from Tukuran, Labangan, Tigbao, CFC-Ozamiz, NGOs, DOPIM, DXKP, SOCCOMM and the Social Action Committee with Beth Monteza spearheading this important gathering. The Walk for Peace (Lakaw sa Kalinaw) was the first order of the day with the Sacred Heart HS Drum Corps leading the long line of peace advocates who were holding placards with slogans on the care and protection of creation as they walked around the town and into the marketplace and back to the parish church.
Fr. Rey Mutia, SAC Director presented the rationale of the event and pointed out that development must take into account the people’s welfare and the care and protection of the environment. A series of talks followed his welcome message with Most Rev. Ronald Lunas, DD STL expounding on Faith and Care for the Earth, Synodality with Creation. He reminds us to listen to the wisdom of creation where it exists not for itself but to give life and nourishment to humanity. Human beings on the contrary have forgotten this vital principle and needs to be reminded to give and to respect creation by nurturing and caring for it so it will continue to sustain life as we know it here on earth.
Timuay Joe Macareal spoke about Quarrying and Human Rights. He laments the fact that the IPs are the first victims of this kind of aggressive development by concessionaires since many of the quarry sites are found in the Ancestral domains that do not follow the agreed process involving the NCIP and the tribal leaders’ consultation and consensus. Datu Amal Montaner likewise affirmed that the rich have exploited our natural resources at the expense of the poor and our inaction is detrimental to further devastation if we do not come together as one to respond to our ecological crisis.
John Din spoke on the Rights of Nature as the need to recognize that we are all interconnected and we are called on to listen to the voice of the indigenous peoples who consider creation as their ancestors that must be given its due respect and honor by caring for it in the best way possible.
There was an Open Forum immediately after lunch where important questions were raised and it was agreed that a statement be drafted by the body as an expression of our common stand regarding the issue of quarrying in Malubo. Fr, Butch Echavez, parish priest of Molave stated that the end is just the beginning. And so as the whole day event came to a close, it was just the beginning of the call to work more closely as one in solidarity with the victims of exploitation, the poor and our Mother Nature. The group proceeded to Malubo for the actual site visit where the quarry is located.
Gratitude to all those who actively participated in this event especially to the Working Committees who made this 74th celebration of the HRD a very significant and purposeful one!
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