Cordi youth launch CHICO-Manila 06-03-26

	NORDIS WEEKLY March 26, 2006
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Cordi youth launch CHICO-Manila
QUEZON CITY (March 18) — “Repeal Mining Act of 1995! No to tribal war! GMA Resign!” These are just few of the calls aired at the ECP Mission Center in Quezon City when around 120 Cordillera youth from different schools and organizations in Metro Manila gathered on March 18 and launched the Children of the Cordillera-Metro Manila (Chico-MM) in celebration of the Cordillera Indigenous Youth Week (CIYW). This year’s CIYW celebration has for its theme, “Build a Stronger Unity of the Indigenous Youth In the Service of the Cordillera Peoples.” As a result, CHICO-Metro Manila, an alliance of Cordillera youth and student organizations in Metro Manila, was launched. It is initially composed of six different Cordillera youth and students organizations in Metro Manila such as TAKDER, UP Anido, KABSAT, SKEP–CSMSJ, FERC-Youth, and SATS-SBO. Other organizations were also invited to the alliance. The present Cordillera situation was discussed. There were workshops on issues like Indigenous People’s Rights Act (IPRA), culture, tribal war and bodong (peace pact) which informed participants on issues and evoked their opinions. Cultural presentations captured workshop outputs. The Chico-MM demanded the GMA regime and concerned parties to repeal of the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 (RA 7942); replace IPRA with a genuine law that truly serves the interests of the IPs; increase budget in basic social services especially on education, health and agriculture; stop agri-trade liberalization and eventual pull-out from the General Agreements on Tariffs and Trade and the World Trade Organization (GATT-WTO); and GMA’s resignation. Specifically the Cordillera youth in Metro-Manila also wanted to end a litany of issues in the Cordillera homeland, among them are: commercialization of Cordillera culture; integration program of Cordillera People’s Liberation Army (CPLA) into the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and recruitment of other paramilitaries among IPs; tribal wars; Lepanto Consolidated Mining Company’s expansion in Benguet and Mountain Province; political repression and military harassment of people’s leaders and organizations. The celebration continued with a solidarity night. While playing of the gongs dominated the evening, the participants also enjoyed displaying their different cultural dances, songs and games as the celebration lasted till dawn. # Charlie dela Cruz for NORDIS Post your comments, reactions to this article
Home \| Back to top	Previous \| Next

	NORDIS WEEKLY March 26, 2006
Home \| To bottom	Previous \| Next
Cordi youth launch CHICO-Manila
QUEZON CITY (March 18) — “Repeal Mining Act of 1995! No to tribal war! GMA Resign!” These are just few of the calls aired at the ECP Mission Center in Quezon City when around 120 Cordillera youth from different schools and organizations in Metro Manila gathered on March 18 and launched the Children of the Cordillera-Metro Manila (Chico-MM) in celebration of the Cordillera Indigenous Youth Week (CIYW). This year’s CIYW celebration has for its theme, “Build a Stronger Unity of the Indigenous Youth In the Service of the Cordillera Peoples.” As a result, CHICO-Metro Manila, an alliance of Cordillera youth and student organizations in Metro Manila, was launched. It is initially composed of six different Cordillera youth and students organizations in Metro Manila such as TAKDER, UP Anido, KABSAT, SKEP–CSMSJ, FERC-Youth, and SATS-SBO. Other organizations were also invited to the alliance. The present Cordillera situation was discussed. There were workshops on issues like Indigenous People’s Rights Act (IPRA), culture, tribal war and bodong (peace pact) which informed participants on issues and evoked their opinions. Cultural presentations captured workshop outputs. The Chico-MM demanded the GMA regime and concerned parties to repeal of the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 (RA 7942); replace IPRA with a genuine law that truly serves the interests of the IPs; increase budget in basic social services especially on education, health and agriculture; stop agri-trade liberalization and eventual pull-out from the General Agreements on Tariffs and Trade and the World Trade Organization (GATT-WTO); and GMA’s resignation. Specifically the Cordillera youth in Metro-Manila also wanted to end a litany of issues in the Cordillera homeland, among them are: commercialization of Cordillera culture; integration program of Cordillera People’s Liberation Army (CPLA) into the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and recruitment of other paramilitaries among IPs; tribal wars; Lepanto Consolidated Mining Company’s expansion in Benguet and Mountain Province; political repression and military harassment of people’s leaders and organizations. The celebration continued with a solidarity night. While playing of the gongs dominated the evening, the participants also enjoyed displaying their different cultural dances, songs and games as the celebration lasted till dawn. # Charlie dela Cruz for NORDIS Post your comments, reactions to this article
Home \| Back to top	Previous \| Next