DevelopmentCommunication ProfessorBelenDayauoy''

MariaFatimaA. Villena July18,2000 /

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A CASE ANALOGY:PEDAGOGYOF THE OPPRESSEil.V
By PauloFreire

Oppressionhas beena threateningphenomenonin mostcountriesworldwide,

dominantin ThirdWorld societies.Pedagogyof the Oppressedby PauloFreiregivesa
profoundanalogyof how said phenomenonbecameuprootedand ingrainedin the very
foundationof the core valuesof the oppressedin variousenvironment-setting. The best
way to an in-depthevaluationof this publishedwork is to applyits presentedprinciples
and philosophyin a casethat constitutesan environment of oppressionwhichdepicts
clearlythe dehumanizing roleof the oppressedand the dominationof the oppressors.

CASE BACKGROUND

Modernization and economicgrowthrnayhave improvedthe livesof many

Filipinosand have boomindustriesin variousareasbut a clearmanifestation of its
threatsto indigenouspeopleshave beencontinuously plaguingand infestingharmto
tribesconcerned.
The indigenouspeopleshave beena preserverof cultureand traditionas thelr
forefathershave passedon to them the legacyof their race. These peoplerejected
colonization and retreatedto the uplandspreservingmostof theirculture. Mostof them
residein remotevillagesmakingit hardfor basicsocialserviceslikehealthand nutrition
reachthemfor maximumutilization.
Throughthe years, indigenouspeopleshave livedwith theirown religion,
politicaland socialstructures,traditionsand agricultural and naturalresource
management practices. However, these are greatlyterrorizedby lowlanderswho have
stakedtheirclaimson the landthatthe indigenouspeopleconsidermostsacred.
For them, the land is their life. They turn to theirlandfor sustenance,cultural
and historicpreservation,promotingtheir legacyas partof a tribalcommunity.This is
where their ancestorsare buriedand futuregenerationsare nurtured. But increasing
threatshaveendangeredtheirexistencesuch as loggingcompanies,miningfirms,
plantations,ranchesand developmentprojects(dams, geothermalplants). Even
challengingtheirholdand controlover theirlandand naturalresources.
The futureof theseindigenouspeopleshave no cleardirectionat all since
modernization has been progressing fast unexpectedly invadingtheironce safe and
peacefullivingin what they consideras theirancestraldomain.
It may seemto be dim but indigenous peopleshavebeengainingserious
recognition,the richnessof theircultureand theirstrengthand resilienceas distinct
peoples.

D I L E M M AO F T H E I N D I G E N O U S
(Excerptfrom the WoundedEarthpublishedin the book entitledSavingthe Earthby the
PCIJ-Article by: SheilaS. Coronel)
 Ansa CattleRanchwas once the landof the T'bolis, an indigenoustribein South
Cotabato.They callthe land, Lakag, and claimit as theirown sincetheirforefathers
have livedand died there. They have huntedand tilledand madethe treesbearfruit.
The ownerof the ranchis Chinesebusrnessman AntonioNocum. He initially
investedin gasolinestationsand hotels. About30 yearsago, he set up a cattleranch
in the very landwherethe T'bolisbuilttheirhuts and continuedtheirlegacy.
The battleof Lakagstartedthe very day Nocumsnatchedthe land from the
T'boliswithoutproperacknowledgement of the tribes'authority.lt has ragedin the
courtsand backwoodsof SouthCotabato,whereover the years, the T'bolishavetried
to returnto the land.
Tuan Simfal,a T'bolielder, remembershow armedmen burntT'bolihutsand
bulldozedcommunalfarms. Eachtirnethis incidentoccurred,they wouldrebuilttheir
hutsand sowedtheirfieldsbut soldiersagainwouldrousethemfrom restlesssleep,
dousetheirhomeswith gasolineand evenbid themat gunpoint.
In January1992, 326 T'bolifamiliestrekkedbackto Lakagto renewtheirclaim
on the land sincethe governmenthas been seriouslyconsidering theirplightas
indigenous people. With confidence,they againbuilthousesfrom bambooand cogon
and plantedvegetablesin t'niba(swiddenplots). Justthe plantswere beginningto
sprout, soldierswho had set up a detachmenton the ranchfired mortarson the T'boli
camp. Afterthat terrifyingincident,T'boliswere so afraidthat once againtheyfled
Lakag. They settledat the sidewalkof the provincialcapitoland Koronadal.Therethey
remain untilthey are assuredof theirsafetyin Lakag, they wouldn'treturn. To earn a
living, they hiredthemselvesout as farm laborersto Visayansettlersand even as
cowboysin the ranchthat was once theirhome.
SouthCotabatohas been increasinggreatlyin profitthroughthe emergenceof
new profitablecropssuch as pineappleand asparagusovertraditionalcropslike rice
and corn. The improvementof the city is evidentthroughshoppingmallsand
restaurantsbuiltin the capital, Koronadal.GovernorlsmaelSuenois assuredthatthe
samesuccessformulawouldalso applyto the T'bolis. He wouldwant themto be
contract-growers for Dole Philippines
and it wouldearnthem higherincomethan usual.
The company,but then, backedoff as the landdisputeheatedup.
However,T'bolisnevergraspthe importancethat the lowlandersgiveto money.
As Alex Cuyanexpressedthat moneywill be spentbut the landwill neverbe when they
are old and our grandchildren bornechildren,the landwouldstillremain.
It all happenedwhen threeof the T'bolielderswere broughtto Manilato meet
businessmanNocum. They were givenfood and plentyof alcoholto drink. One of the
membersgot drunkand they were madeto put theirthumbmarkson a pieceof paper
that, theywere told, wheretitlesto the land. lt is a storyof deceitand fraud. T'bolis,
at first, did not considerlegalassistance.Becauseof illiteracyand lackof school
training,T'boliswere unawareof the lowlander'slaw and did not graspthe valueof
havinglegaldocumentssuch as landtitles. Accordingto T'bolileaderAlex Cuyan, they
do not havetitlesneitherdid theirancestors.Sincethey do not know how to read, land
titlesdoes not have any meaningto them. Meanwhrle,Nocumdefendedhis claimthat
he has legaldocumentsto provehis acquisitionof the landand it was duly approvedby
variousgovernmentagencies.However,governmentdocumentspertainingto the land
revealedthat Nocum disregardgovernmentlaws in acquiringhis vast holdings.
 Questionable documentshave ansefrom the acquisitionof the land. Nearlya
thirdof this area is coveredby a pastureleaseagreementand the rematningtwo-thirds
is titledto variousmembersof the Nocumfamily. But the DENRhas foundout that the
land coveredby the leasewas part of a watershedforest reservationand it shouldnot
be given out to privatelandownersas the law stated. The leasewas then cancelled.
One portionof the hotlycontestedland is the PLS-555(1,200hectares)wherethe
Ansa administrative compoundis locatedand it is alsothe mostsacredpart of the land
for the T'bolis. Accordingto the lawyersof the tribe, the documentsshouldbe
consideredas null and void sinceit is fraudulently acquiredand they even gavetitlesto
members of the Nocum familyeven if therewere T'boliclaimants.
Severalaffidavitswere presentedby Nocumthat statedthe T'boliclaimants
transferredtheirownershipof the landto the Nocumfamilyfor heftyamounts.
Although,severalof theseaffidavitswere unsigned,Nocum was stillgiventitlesto the
land. Otherquestionable papersinvolvedthe 1,200hectaresPSU. Also, Nocum
childrenhave been issuedfree patentsto severalparcelsof land even if patentsare
only givento thosewho themselvesor whoseancestorshave continuously occupiedor
cultivatedan area since 1926.
Soon, Ansa Cattleand Crop Farmfiled a case of forcibleentryagainst174
T'bolisbut the tribespeoplerefusedto leave. Someof themwere arrestedfor
squatting,prompting300 otherT'bolisto marchto the municipalhallin Surallah,
demandingthatthey, too, be jailed.
The courtruledthat T'boliswere illegalentrantsto the landand issueda
demolitionorderbut the governmentofficialsand churchbeganto intervene.Nocum
agreedto settleby offeringthe PSU portionof the cattleranchto the governement's
land reformagendaprogram.
Althoughhe had agreedto settle, T'bolihousesagainwere razedby fire when
they returnedin 1990and blamedby Nocumand said they themselvesset the frrebut
the NGOsfoundout that 271T'bolihomeswere burntby "menin fatigueuniforms."
Afterreturningagainin early 1992, the militarybombedtheircamp but Nocum
disclaimsany knowledgeof the attack.
The Comprehensive AgrarranReformLaw (CARL)seemsto be the only hopefor
the T'boliswhich is an optionbasedon what they have resistedall theseyears: the
recognitionof Nocum'slegalownershipof the land. Nocumrnsistedon sellingthe land
for P 26,000per hectarewhilethe Departmentof AgrarianReformhas valuedthe land
at only aboutP 6,000 per hectare. Nocum, of course,did not acceptthe priceand
refuseto negotiateunlesshe gets his price. WhileT'bolifamilieshavebeen resrdingat
the provincialcapitolin Koronadalfor the lasttwo monthsand refusingto leaveuntil
Nocumand the militaryallowthem back, safely, to the land

IN.DEPTHANALYSIS

Indigenouspeoplehave beenthe subjectof oppressionsincetime immemorial.

They have beenthe victimsof people'sgreedand hungerfor moneyand progressthat
aimsto be beneficialfor only a few of the majority.Businessmentargetunexplored
resourcesfor acclaiminginnovativeideasthatwouldbe an edgefor theirbusinesses
over their other competitorsin the market. They race towardsexcellencefor vast
productdemandsand continuedtheir effortsof makingit to the top of the corporations
dominating the economicarenaherein the Philippines.lt wouldbe a goodthinkingfor
raisingour economicgrowthand it would be a betterchannelfor motivatingthe increase
of qualitylivingamongFilipinoshad it beentargetedfor both urbanand ruralareas.
But, as I said, it aimsto provideonlyfor a few, commonly,the elites.
Their orientationof the environmentis boundedby limitations of theirculture. lt
is not deniedto themtheir rightto preservewhateverlegacypassedon to them by their
ancestors/forefathers. But, humanrelationsboundby kinshipand sharingconfines
themfrom what realitymay inflictin them. They are not fullyawareof the harmthat
may reachtheirdomain. T'bolisas the oppressedhas been leftwith few choicesthat
suppressthemof the rightto unveilthe worldof oppression,thus, they cannotcommit
themselvesto transformationand have no idea of how to preservetheir much-valued
culturewhile adoptingto much-neededchanges.They are restrainedfrom belongingto
the processof permanentliberation.They were not ableto pursuein-depthactionto
fullyconfrontthe cultureof domination.Thus, the T'bolican easilybe a victimof
oppression.They are so caughtup with their fear of freedomand constraintby the
naiveteof theiractions.They do not perceiverealityand believesonly in what the
dogmaof theirculturehas to say. This kind of environment was used by the oppressor
and has takenadvantageover the situation.The problem is that the oppressedT'boli
cannotdeal with their consciousnessof the scenariothey are in and gives leewayto the
consciousness of the oppressorto be cultivated.One seriouswork whichcan be done
here is for the NGOsto studythe historicalbackgroundand the vast cultural
development of the T'bolitribeto fully understandtheirbehavior,view of the worldand
ethicsand take into accounttheirachievements to be ableto comprehendthe tribes
distinctionover otherindigenousgroupsand makeuse of theserevealedpointsto
emphasizetheirstrengthsand weaknessesas a group. Fromthere, NGOsmay
cultivateon ideasthat would be appropriateand effectivefor the tribesmost hold
values. Therefore,it wouldavoidinvadingor imposingnew valuesthatwould
complicatethe situationas a resultof disrespecting theirculturalheritage.
In the case of the T'boliand AntonioNocum, it clearlydepictsthe exploitation of
the T'bolitribeas done by Nocumsincehe hindersthe pursuitof the tribefor self-
affirmationas he inflictsviolencetp tl',retribe by burningdown their huts leavingthem
with nothingand no choicebut tq flef awayfrom what used to be their ancestral
domain. As PauloFreirestressef "violenceis initiatedby thosewho oppress,who
exploit, who fail to recognizeothersas persons-not by thosewho are oppressed,
exploitedand unrecognized."This is to emphasizethat Nocumviolatedthe rightsof the
indigenouspeoplefor peacefullivingand life.
Sweetenedby false charity,the PhilippineAid Programin coordination with the
governorof SouthCotabato,GovernorlsmaelSueno, wouldwant the T'bolitribeto
becomecontractgrowersof Dole Philippines.They are beingofferedan irresistible
compensation packagethat they thinkwould pleasethe tribe. As GovernorSuenosaid,
he is sure that the sameformulaof successhe had used in the city of Koronadalcan be
appliedto the tribe, an ignorantanalysisof the situation.lt makestribefeel the weight
of theirplight, instillingin the core of theirbeingthat they are to be blameof their
conditionbecausethey are incompetent,lazy and worst of all ingratitudetowardsthe
"generousgestures"of the dominantclass. They are regardedas threatstowardsthe
dominantclass. As Alex Cuyanagainsaid, all will be spentbut the landwill remain.
Beinga contract-grower for Dolewouldnot answerthe needsand aspirationsof the
indigenouscommunityso one cannotimposea formulaeven if it gainedsuccessin
otheraspects.A formulashouldbe attunedto the needsof the groupand this can be
madepossibleby havingcommunion withthem.
The bestway to resolvethis conflictis for the NGOsto put up a criticaland
liberatingdialogue.Firstand foremost,the contentshouldbe basedin accordancewith
historicalconditionsand the levelat whichthe oppressedperceivereality.The firststep
is to have a backgroundresearchof the T'bolitribe. When and how they startedto
exist? What culturalbeliefsthey holdmostsacred, theiraspirationsand view in life?
Remember,attemptingto liberatethemwithouttheirreflectiveparticipation woutdmean
to treatthem as objectsand as masseswhichcan be manipulated.
Successwould be beyondreach if they have come to a convictionof the
oppressed(T'boli)that they mustfightfor their liberationas a resultof theirown
conscientizacao. The T'bolitribehas finallyconsideredthe assistanceof a legal
counsel,one indicationof theirunveilingof consciousness to theirplightand to do
somethingaboutit.
Their plightas a tribehas beenabusedby NocumsinceT'bolisare illiterateand
unschooled.They were used and becamethe laughingstockof the situation,unaware
of the evil plansof the oppressors.lt is a storyof deceitand fraud. Sincethey were
illiterate,they are not fullyawarethat they have placedtheirthumbmarkson the land
titlesto affirmNocum'sacquisitionof the landthatwas once theirdomain. This
instanceemphasizeson the importanceof educationto becomeknowledgeable about
the lowlanderslawswhich mighthave helpedthem savewhat was left of them.
Culturalinvasion,a theoryof antidialogical action, is the ultimateviolationof
AntonioNocum. The invaderpenetratesthe culturalcontextof the T'bolitribeas a sign
of disrespectover latter'spotentialities.He forciblyimposedhis own view of the world
stressingon the inferiorities of the tribeand inhibittheircreativityby curbingtheir
expression.This was done violentlysincebombattackswere experiencedin the T'bolis
place. This invasionis the instrumentof dominationand on the otherthe resultof it.
This is one way of preservingoppression.This maybecounteractby culturalsynthesis,
identifyingpeopleand leadersand togethercreateguidelinesof theiraction. Leaders
and peopleare somehowrebornin new knowledgeand new action. lt is only in this
situationwhere contradictionbetweenthe world view of the leadersand that of the
peoplecan be resolved.