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Written by: Psalm Hidalgo, Beatrix Consul, and Isabela Crisostomo
Illustrated by: Almira Ramos
Layout by: Kassandra Gan
Photos from: Google Images
n the mountain high of the Sierra Madre, where the lush landscape cradles ancient stories and resilience, live the Dumagat-Remontado people. Urbanization and colonization drove these indigenous communities, who once thrived along the coastal shores of the Aurora and Quezon provinces, into the mountains. “Ngunit nang dumating itong dayuhan, sila ang nagsira ng kalikasan, [at] kami ay pinaaalis sa lupang tinubuan,” they would say. True to the lyrics of the song they shared, “Pilipinong Ligaw,” they were once “taga-dagat,” a logical origin of the term “Dumagat,” which means “living near the sea,” but they were forced to leave their lands and go up to the mountains.
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Stop Kaliwa Dam: The Drowning of Indigenous Communities and Filipino Culture
he fight to protect the Sierra Madre is more than just a struggle for land—it is about identity, heritage, and survival. As the Dumagat-Remontado people stand resilient against the construction of the Kaliwa Dam, they remind us of the irreplaceable value of our natural resources and the communities that sustain them. Whether through conscious water use, signing petitions, or supporting initiatives, we honor their cause. Let us continue to amplify their voice and reject projects that endanger both nature and indigenous lives.
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s the Dumagat people adapt to their mountain homes, they face many challenges, threatening their way of life. Urbanization has not only displaced them from their ancestral lands but has also led to the degradation of the natural resources they depend on. Now, an even greater
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threat looms on the horizon—a 63-meter-high dam project that could further disrupt their fragile ecosystem and displace their community once more.
he Kaliwa Dam Project, a project that is said to be a “viable solution” to the rampant water shortages in Metro Manila, entails the destruction of the sacred mountain range that acts as a home, a school, and a church to the Dumagat-Remontado people. This means the forced evacuation of these ethnic groups from their ancestral domain, the flooding and degradation of the Sierra Madre as a habitat for over 126 species, and the looming debt of Filipinos to China, whose terms to loan the development of this dam are oppressive and borderline tyrannical. Furthermore, as the project fails to secure the Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) of these groups, it falls in direct violation of Republic Act No. 8371, or Batas IPRA (The Indigenous Peoples Rights Act of 1997), which originally sought to protect the livelihood and culture of our indigenous brothers and sisters.
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is the movement's tagline sparked by the affected ethnic group. In the past year, they have enacted peaceful protests to the Malacanang and talks in schools across Luzon for their voice to be heard. “Ang sasayangin na bawat patak ng tubig ay mula sa Sierra Madre,” says Ma. Clara Dulla, the leader of the women’s movement of the Dumagat-Remontado people, highlighting the significance of their stance against the construction of the dam.
"Ayaw Namin Lumubog. Stop Kaliwa Dam. Save Sierra Madre"
e can all contribute to the fight for the Sierra Madre by using water responsibly. Every drop saved lessens the water demand, which fuels projects like the Kaliwa Dam, threatening both the environment and the lives of indigenous communities. Through supporting the Stop Kaliwa Dam initiative on
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Facebook, we raise awareness and gather solidarity. As SHSians, there are many ways we can help: signing the petition, joining Piso Para sa Sierra Madre, which funds school-to-school campaigns by covering transportation and food costs, or purchasing merchandise to contribute to the cause. These actions continuously aid the Dumagat-Remontado people in their peaceful protests and outreach efforts, striving to protect their ancestral lands and preserve their heritage for future generations.
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