𝐖𝐞
𝐩𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐮𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐁𝐚𝐞 𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐛𝐞𝐭 (𝐌𝐚𝐠𝐝𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐚)
𝐒𝐮𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐥𝐢, 𝐀𝐫𝐚𝐤𝐚𝐧
by:
Kidapawan of the Past: Moppiyon Kahi Diid Patoy
She was the daughter of the spirit medium Datu Tunggay Suhat, and niece of the legendary Datu Duyan Suhat, who gained the distinction of 'paramount datu' in the years after the Second World War due to his far-reaching influence. Bae Magda grew up under the mentorship of both her father and her uncle.
In 1979, her husband Rodolfo Alcabo was shot dead by unknown men, in the wake of increasing hostilities between the NPA and the military in the Arakan area.
The widowed Bae Magda ran and won as Baranggay Captain of Kulaman Valley in 1980, continuing her husband's work of upholding the interest of the locals amidst the military conflict.
She had been an influential voice in indigenous peoples rights since.
She was a leading figure in the revival of indigenous political structures to empower IP communities to assert their rights and interests within local and national governments.
She was a luminary in the fight for the human rights of IPs, personally mediating between parties in cases when elements of the NPA or the AFP violate the human rights of IPs.
And she was a leading figure in facilitating harmony and a sense of community across the Tri-peoples, having been Convenor of the IP-Moro Kinship Council. As Chair of the Mindanao Peoples Caucus she was present at the signing of the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro in 2018.
Bae Magda was also an important custodian of the indigenous knowledge of at least three tribes, heir to a vast body of customary law, healing, spiritual, and creative traditions, as well as living witness to large portions of tribal history.
Her demise at 63 is an incalculable loss for the Greater Kidapawan Area, and a loss to all of humanity .
posted on February 20, 2023
Comments
Post a Comment