Isang pasasalamat at pagpupugay mula sa buong samahan ng Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center sa pamilya at buong samahan ng Timuay Justice and Governance (TJG) para sa buhay ni Titay Bleyen Santos Unsad.
Titay Santing was more than a leader; he was a steadfast advocate for justice in Mindanao, a voice for the marginalized, and a tireless fighter for the rights of his people. Amidst conflict, constant disappointments, and unrelenting challenges—persisting historical injustices of his people, he remained unwavering in his pursuit of peace, ensuring that the rights of non-Moro Indigenous Peoples (NMIP) are recognized and upheld. His leadership within Timuay Justice and Governance was instrumental in securing NMIPs inclusion in the Bangsamoro Organic Law—a testament to his lifelong dedication. He would continue to work on the non-Moro Indigenous Peoples Act, mustering strength despite his challenged health to ensure the inviolability of the rights of NMIPs.
Titay Santing helped shape Loyukan (meaning "kasama/ comrade" in Teduray), a united front of Indigenous Peoples’ organizations and advocates. Through this collective effort, and together with his fellow leaders, he advanced the struggle for NMIP rights within the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), leaving an indelible mark on the movement.
He reminded us constantly of indigenous values. The continuation and revival of the sulagad was particularly close to his heart. Farming, in their case agroecology, was more than what it was. For the Teduray and Lambangian peoples, the land is not merely soil to be tilled—it is a living, sacred source of life. Their traditional farming is not just a method, but a spiritual covenant, woven into the very fabric of their culture. Each seed planted is a prayer, each harvest a communion with the earth. In a time of ecological rupture, their practices offer more than an alternative—they offer a remembering. Titay Santing was a line to this time immemorial.
Titay Santing embodied the values of the Teduray and Lambangian peoples: resilience, justice, and a deep commitment to collectivity and collective well-being. His legacy lives on in the movements he strengthened, the leaders he inspired, and the communities he fought for.
To his family, friends, and comrades, we offer our deepest condolences. May his courage and unwavering principles guide a new generation in the ongoing struggle for a just, inclusive, and peaceful future.
Rest in power, Titay Santing. Your fight continues in all of us. Fiyo bagi.
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