UP students, faculty, and staff led by UP Diliman Chancellor Michael Tan, the University Student Council, the Student Regent, and the alliance of indigenous communities and Moro people SANDUGO, expressed outrage tonight at the AS steps (“Arts and Sciences steps) over the violent attack of protesting lumads and students in front of the US Embassy — where a police van repeatedly rammed into unarmed protesters, running over sprawled bodies.
(photo by Manila Today, shot today; four videos below posted by various international news organizations on this morning’s violent attack, all used here non-commercially for academic purposes)
Warning: Graphic content: Police van running over sprawled bodies of protesters
Last night’s dazzling convergence on University Avenue:
About 3,000 members of indigenous peoples and national minorities from Cagayan Valley, Cordillera, Abra, and Nueva Vizcaya clad in colorful weaves, led by Datu Humurito Guhaynon were warmly received by host UP Diliman led by Chancellor Michael Tan on University Avenue last night. Chancellor Michael Tan’s welcome remarks, excerpts: “Ito ang national university at karapat-dapat lamang na maparito ang mga pambansang minorya [This is the national university and it is only befitting that the national minorities walk on University Avenue (translation with apologies)]… Mahalaga ang inyong pagbisita pagkat parte ito ng edukasyon ng iskolar ng bayan. (Your sojourn here is important because it forms part of the education of the scholars of the people (translation with apologies)] … Hindi tayo maghihintay ng pagbabago, tayo ang pagbabago. (Crowd breaks into applause) (We will not just wait for change to happen — we arethat change.(translation with apologies)] … I-abante natin ang panawagan. Maging titser kayo sa ating mga estudyante at kawani. (Applause).(Let us carry forward the urgent task — let us be teachers of the students and the community. (translation with apologies).
The groups exchanged torches to signify the warm welcome extended by UP Diliman to the indigenous peoples and national minorities.
Datu Humurito Guhaynon expressed thanks and solidarity with his response: “Hanggang sa susunod na panahon, kami ay patuloy na magpapasalamat sa pagtanggap n’yo sa amin. (For generations more to come , our hearts will always be truly gladdened with your welcome (translation with apologies)].
(both photos by the Philippine Collegian, used here non-commercially for academic purposes.)
About 3,500 members of indigenous communities in Mindanao travelling on foot and by sea will arrive in Manila today and march to Mendiola then to UP Diliman, in what is dubbed as Manilakbayan 2.
The Manilakbayan 2 will pitch tent on campus Oct. 12-30 and will be hosted by UP Diliman, led by Chancellor Mike Tan.
The October Manilakbayan is fighting for the indigenous people’s right to self-determination, and protesting the continuing militarization of ancestral lands.
They demand justice for the murder of anti-mining leader and Compostela Farmers Association Sec-Gen Jimmy Saypan, who was shot last Oct. 10 allegedly by members of the 66th Infantry Battallion, and succumbed to injuries yesterday.
The group is calling for the “resistance to Oplan Bayanihan and the plunder of ancestral domains”.
(all images from the twitter account of the Philippine Collegian, used here non-commercially for academic purposes)
Chancellor Michael Tan’s welcome remarks, excerpts: “Ito ang national university at karapat-dapat lamang na maparito ang mga pambansang minorya [This is the national university and it is only befitting that the national minorities walk on University Avenue (translation with apologies)]… Mahalaga ang inyong pagbisita pagkat parte ito ng edukasyon ng iskolar ng bayan. (Your sojourn here is important because it forms part of the education of the scholars of the people (translation with apologies)] … Hindi tayo maghihintay ng pagbabago, tayo ang pagbabago. (Crowd breaks into applause) (We will not just wait for change to happen — we are that change.(translation with apologies)] … I-abante natin ang panawagan. Maging titser kayo sa ating mga estudyante at kawani. (Applause). 
(Let us carry forward the urgent task — let us be teachers of the students and the community. (translation with apologies). 
