Tunay na Alyansa ng Bayan Alay sa Katutubo (TABAK)

Our organization was born out of initiative of church and academic institutions, concerned individuals and indigenous peoples themselves…

It had been a grim situation for the indigenous peoples during the Marcos' Martial Law Years. In the Cordillera, the struggle of the ka-Igorotan against the Chico River Dam Project resulted to the killing of Kalinga tribal leader, Apo Macliing Dulag, in the early 1980s. In Mindanao, the influx of logging and plantation projects in Lumad lands compelled the indigenous peoples to defend their lands.

In 1983, the Coordinating Committee for Minority Concerns (CCMC) was formed to advocate the issues of the indigenous peoples in the National Capital Region. CCMC reached out and mobilized various organizations and individuals, which eventually established a system of generating resources from the urban center to the local IP organizations and communities. By 1985, its member organizations decided to transform the committee from a loose network into a more cohesive alliance. It was then that the Tunay na Alyansa ng Bayan Alay sa Katutubo (TABAK, or the Alliance of Advocates for Indigenous Peoples Rights) was born.

In the years that followed, TABAK transcended the basis of unity in advocacy work from simple "philanthropic" principles to the general framework of pursuing advocacy work to support the struggle of the indigenous peoples to ancestral lands and self-determination.

At present, TABAK is an organization composed of church and academic workers, business professionals, cultural artists, media people and other individuals based in Metro Manila. TABAK currently works with at least 15 indigenous peoples organizations at the local, regional and national levels.

What we do…

1. Research and Documentation
Conducting "social investigation studies"
Production of information-education materials for the members and networks (e.g. audio-visual aids, primers, leaflets, newsletters, etc.)
Organizing missions (e.g. fact finding, mercy, relief) to indigenous communities

2. Campaigns and Public Information
Media publicity
Symposium/Forum and Group Discussions
Cultural activities

3. ResourceMobilization
Facilitation and tapping of service pools, e.g. legal assistance; medical, health and nutrition services; literacy-numeracy services, etc.
Conducting skills and technical training for pool of volunteers
Technical support through assistance in scouting for project funding
Establishing linkages with other groups supporting the welfare of the indigenous peoples

4.Membership
Membership recruitment and development
Organization of indigenous peoples desks within and outside TABAK

Highlight Activities
Starting February 2003 - "ANG BABAE SA ATING PANAHON (DALAWANG DULA)", two 45-minute one-act plays. "Sanlibongan" and "Pagbati" depicts the plight of indigenous peoples and women in a rather tightly-formed feudal Philippine society. Co-sponsored by the Concerned Artists of the Philippines (CAP).

FORUM AND DISCUSSION GROUPS about the current situation of the indigenous peoples tackled point by point by indigenous leaders themselves and assisted by TABAK volunteers.

SUMMER EXPOSURE PROGRAMS - TABAK offers literacy-numeracy programs, medical-relief missions and cultural exposure to indigenous communities

Annual "PASKUHAN SA TRIBU NG MGA KATUTUBO" - Held every 3rd week of December, TABAK initiates medical and relief missions in the form of three-day exposure in indigenous communities

How we raise our funds
As a development organization, TABAK generate funding from grants or donations from foreign and local resources, and from the proceeds of finance-generating projects. Project proposals will be submitted for funding assistance to agencies here and abroad.

Advocating for the indigenous peoples' rights
to ancestral lands and self-determination