wish the narrative was more expansive, more personal, and had explored the context more, I was looking forward to learning things about Macliing and the Cordillera's fight for its land that I didn't know before, but I didn't, For such a short read, this book made my heart break a couple of times, I had to put down the book at some point, just to process everything I've read so far, The story of Apo Macliing Dulag is a tragic one, because it showed how greed under the guise of "development" can bring the worst in us,
But it is also, and most importantly, a story of love and bravery, His love for the land and its people have given himand othersthe courage to fight for their lives and their rights against the government who is supposed to protect them.
Unfortunately, this story is still all too familiar as "development projects" and business interests continue to put the lives of our different indigenous communities in danger to this very day.
Once in a while, you come across a book that is really worth every second of your time, No recommendations, no expectations. You just pick it, read and find it speaking to you,
Aprilis Cordillera's Day, Why In the very early morning of April,,Macliing Dulag was killed by government army inside his closed house, The whole tribe was still sleeping when a jeepney loaded by armed men knocked on the door of Macliing Dulag and when he saw that they were armed, he immediately closed the door again.
He was still right behind the sawali door when the armies fired their highpowered guns,
Macliing's crime He resisted the construction of Chico Dam in the Mountain Province, The price of petroleum skyrocketed during that time of Martial Law and Marcos had to look for other sources of power supply, Some bright boys suggested the construction of dams that would flood and submerge the tribe of Macliing under water, The tribe did not have government issued land titles, But the land had been theirs forefathers and all,
Reading the book brought back memories, Where was I on April,I just graduated from high school and maybe just a month before I went up to Baguio for my first college degree, That's why I heard about his name probably from a tabloid as it was Martial Law and press freedom was curtailed, The book mentioned about demonstrations in city downtown but I was too busy preparing for college or my mind was preoccupied with adjustments to college life, to city life,
Looking back, I think what I learned from this book is that government atrocities and social injustices will always be in our midst, Unlike before when I was too young to pay attention to what was happening around me, now that I am past midlife, it is easier to voice my opinions on matters that affect a group of people not only in our country but also overseas.
Internet makes it easier too, Let's voice our opinion because we will only influence other people if we speak or write what's on our mind, There are people on this earth who radiate power and honor by their very being, I felt that way about Macliing during the times that I met him before he was assassinated by soldiers too cowardly to allow him to live, He was a teacher. His words, his stance, his charisma and stubborn insistence on the sanctity of his peoples land taught me that there were places in the Philippines where money did not speak and where power resided in something other than armed strength.
I will never forget him,
Lin Neumann, American journalist, former human rights and church volunteer in the Philippines
In recognition of outstanding achievement in interpretative reporting that dramatized the implications of government action which impinged upon the culture and survival of an ethnic community, written with a depth of human understanding and passion for the truth.
Catholic Mass Media Award for Best Feature Article “Was Macliing Killed Because He Damned the Chico Dam” by Ma, Ceres P. Doyo, handed by Pope John Paul II on February,
During the martial law years, Ceres did not get around the taboos of censorship, She busted the taboos. It was suicide journalism Scrutinous research and backbreaking legwork woven smoothly into the loom of storytelling, Here is a mind at work and a heart, Leticia Jimenez Magsanoc, editor in chief, Philippine Daily Inquirer The first part of the book was practically a summary of the story of Macliing Dulags assassination which is better covered in other books.
The second half of the book written by a Sociologist provides a better entry point into understanding the roots of the people and the background of Macliing Dulags rebellion plus how things developed after his death.
An expanded section on the second part would befit this book and revive the memory of their kayaw struggle so it wouldnt be in vain, This book summarily explored Macliing Dulag's life and struggles against the Marcos dictatorship, and a subsequent peek into Cordilleran History, Culture, and Society where Macliing's physical and spiritual identities belong.
As the leader of the Kalinga chief, Macliing courageously fought against the construction of Chico River Dam that will displace a large number of indigenous people and may inflict damages to our environment.
Even though he was illiterate so the authorities used dirty tactics and bribes assuming that Macliing is unaware, Macliing explained well the issues behind the construction of Chico River Dam to Cordillera tribes, "he had a gift of tongues that everybody understoods" leading everyone to the fight against the threat to wipe out the ancient Kalinga way of life.
"Offers of money, positions, and pleasure of the flesh could not tempt Macliing to give up the fight, " Thus, to silence agitators, Macliing was killed swiftly and brutally by the Constabulary, The Marcos regime thought that killing Macliing will frighten the Cordillerans but Macliing's death only solidated their purpose of struggles, His death left a legacy of leadership and bravery that will forever be carved to the mountains of Cordillera,
I've rated it three because I felt that the book did not extensively covers Macliing's life as the Kalinga chief and defender of the Cordillera.
His life is inspiring and can spark nationalistic fervor and awareness on the continuous injustices perpetrated against indigenous people thus, I think he deserves a more thanpage narrative detailing his life and the Marcos' atrocities.
And maybe an extended contextualization of Cordillera after Macliing, This brief piece highlights a tribal leader's steadfastness and bravery equally as it does the journalist author's during the Martial law rule in the Philippines, Macliing defended his people's ancestral land from the State's demand to build Chico Dam that would benefit many but them,
Despite this transpiring in midto's, similar accounts of impingement by the State continue to happen, Only this month, news reports came out of Macliing's monument in Kalinga, signifying the resistance, being threatened yet again for demolition, sitelinksitelinksitelink
Many Filipinos have not heard of Macliing, But time and again are news of intrusion and exploitation of the Indigenous Peoples' IP lands, The consciousness must spread and remain, The IP's are not sacrificial lambs, They should not be treated as collaterals,
sitelinkDefendCordilleraPH
DefendTheLumads
DefendTheIPs
"Such arrogance to speak of owning the land when we instead are owned by it.One more aspect of the crimes of the Marcos years is presented in this overview of the government's seizure of land for dams in the Kalinga areas of the central Luzon highlands.
How can you own that which will outlive you Only the race owns the land because the race lives forever, "
Macliing Dulag
Macliing Dulag was one victim among many in the Marcos' plan for rapid modernization at the expense of the citizens, We think this book is worth checking out! Consider adding it to your toread pile, :
Check out more of our recs here:sitelink"Books to Buy from the Manila International Online Book Fair"
Please note: We don't use ratings but for this purpose, we tag books with three by default.
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We also accept review requests, sitelinkMore info here. This book covers two parts, The first is an article covering Macliing Dulag, giving a brief on his life and his role as Pangat chief, as well as his involvement in the protest against the Chico Dam, for which he was ultimately killed.
The second is a historical overview of the Cordillera region and its peoples,
This book tackles handles their topics skillfully, and it was far too short, One can easily finish this in a day if they had a couple of empty hours, That being said, what we do have is a poignant testament towards the oppression of indigenous Filipinos under the Marcos Martial Law regime, with a surprise cameo by the New People's Army, where they attempt to fight the oppression of others by imposing their own, and end up making things worse for all involved.
A careful memorial to one of the many tragedies within our history, BOOK REVIEW
"Macliing Dulag: Kalinga Chief: Defender of the Cordillera" by Ma, Ceres P. Doyo
"Macliing Dulag: Kalinga Chief: Defender of the Cordillera" or just simplified to as "Macliing Dulag" is a book of news articles, essays and other findings by journalist Ma.
Ceres P. Doyo. In this short book, Doyo expounds on the life, times and death of Macliing Dulag, a teacher, a government worker as well as being the main opposition leader to the construction of the Chico Dam in thes throughs.
Though Dulag lived a short life because of his sacrifice to help protect not only the indigenous peoples of whom he is affiliated with, he is the defender of the environment, his home, the Cordilleras.
MY THOUGHTS:
By far the last book I read in October, this is such a gem of a book! Apo Macliing gave his life to defend his people and the environment that could've been wrecked.
So much so, reading about the fact that the World Bank and International Commissions for Environmental and Human Rights were alarmed of what was going on in the Philippines in thes.
Dulag died a rather unjust death given that he was killed by the Military who should be protecting the people and country and not killing them! It isn't poetic justice to say that
the very men who killed Apo Macliing were killed by the New People's Army NPA because it too doesn't make a difference to massacre those who hurt you before.
I hope this book doesn't get banned or worse burned because it contains so much information on one of the most wellknown resistance movements of the Martial Law era and of a person wellknown whose identity is nearly obscure and nearforgotten.
Annotating this book is a must for me to remember important notes, The book was quite moving, I have never read anything like ita personalized history of an indigenous group in the Cordilleras, north of the Philippines, through the lens and life of a Kalinga chief, This is truly a necessary biography that had to be written, a step forward towards the goal of Philippine historyto be truly representative of its peoples, Maria Ceres P. Doyo is a Filipino journalist, author, human rights activist, and feminist best known as a columnist and staff writer for the Philippine Daily Inquirer, for her numerous books on Philippine journalism, and for the historical impact of her investigative reports during the martial law under Ferdinand Marcos.
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