A Tribe Lies Bleeding
By Conrado de Quiros
Misyon has for a long time taken a stand for tribal people throughout the world. Now here’s something close to home to shock us ...
Ikit Landahay is a 10-year-old boy from the Umayammon-Manobo, a ‘lumad’ or tribe living in the fringes of Agusan del Sur and Davao del Norte. He has this story to tell:
When he was only one year old, his father was shot to death by armed men believes to be working for the logging company, Sta. Ines Milale Corporation (Simcor). His father was Datu Tuting Landahay, and he had earned the ire of the company by protesting its logging operations. Ikit’s mother deeply mourned her husband’s death, and finding no solace in life, hanged herself. Ikit and his four brothers and sisters fell under the care of their uncle.