Lumad, which means “born of the earth,” is the collective term for the indigenous people living in the mountainous regions of Mindanao, Philippines. The Lumad are the original settlers of these lands passed down by their tribal ancestors meant for the next generations. Serving as guardians of nature, the Lumad people believe that land is the core of their identity: it is the foundation of their cultural practices, religious beliefs, and economic activities.

Their lands, rich in natural resources, attracted capitalist ventures and prompted large-scale land exploitation. The Lumad communities are pushed out of their lands, leaving their communities displaced and forced to survive in temporary shelters following unexpected circumstances. This poses a threat to their culture and identity as their rhythms and habits are formed with the influence of the natural world they live in. In defense of what is rightfully theirs, they journey to Metro Manila, where the country’s political power is centered, to inhabit a place unfamiliar to them as a form of protest and resistance.

These natural and formed indigenous spaces inform us how the Lumad thrive in contrasting environments, how they occupy foreign spaces being removed from their original place, and how their migration from the mountains to the city affect their culture and identity.

The images from this personal work are taken from my Lumad documentary archives from 2016 - 2019.

I have intentionally chosen the photos to be presented side-by-side as a diptych to contrast the juxtaposition of the Lumad’s cultural rhythyms being in their natural environment at the mountains of Mindanao, as opposed to being in displacement in the city of Metro Manila.