Seated at the outskirts of what’s dubbed as the “next megalopolis of the country” is a land of improvised shelters inhabited by the Magantsi and Magindi tribes of the Aeta indigenous people—Sitio Pasig, Manuali, Porac. 

Living atop quarried land with no shelter in sight, the IPs of Sitio Pasig have made their refuge from the salvaged pieces of their former settlements—surviving on a shoestring and living with the threats of natural calamities, carrying only the hope of going back to their old life.

Under the leadership of Community Chairman Joel Sibal, approximately 250 families are scattered across the barren lands. Separated from urban civilization by lengthy and bumpy roads that would require strong vehicles to safely and efficiently traverse, the residents are left to rely on the nearby brooks and rain for water, and their own crops planted amidst towering cliffs for sustenance.

Moreover, in an interview with The Angelite, Community Vice Chairman Donna Carlos mentioned that their current settlement made livelihood even more challenging for the IP’s, being in the rural backwater of Pampanga. These challenges were amplified by the depletion of resources, distance from the central districts, and environmental adversity of the location. 

With most of the families having to care for around 60 or so children, the adults awake before daybreak to tend to their root crops and banana hearts—the community’s main sources of collective livelihood. These would then be ferried by loading tricycles or “kolong kolong” to the public markets.

“Ang pamumuhay po dito [ay pagkakalap] ng puso [ng saging], nagdadahon yung iba para ibenta sa palengke, sa bayan, sa Pampang; tas yung iba nagkikipagtrabaho sa baba, construction,” Carlos stated.

“Pinagkakasya nalang [namin ang kita], importante dito yung bigas kahit wala ka nang ulam. Marami namang gulay gulay makukuha dito. Gano’n po ang ginagawa namin,” she added. 

As for the children’s education, the 30 elementary schoolers and 20 high schoolers—the majority of which attend Angeles City National High School—would usually be ferried by the community’s “kolong kolong”. Otherwise, they would traverse the roads by foot until they’d reach commutable roads.

Among the students of the Sitio, only one is a college student—a pursuant of a Bachelor of Science degree in Tourism.

Further elaborating upon the dire situation faced by his community, Chairman Joel Sibal, in an interview with The Angelite, emphasized Sitio Pasig’s four most pressing needs: food, school materials, and medication.

In regards to health, the community residents have listed fever, cough, cold, asthma, and diarrhea as among the common health afflictions. Similar to the daily kolong-kolong expeditions launched by livelihood seekers and students alike, those unfortunate enough to get sick would only have the kolong-kolong to rely on when it comes to transportation—making a trip to the doctor a hassle and a privilege, as it is with all their other basic needs.

Furthermore, Sibal disclosed that the tribe does not have any licensed medical practitioners; hence, when emergencies occur, they would end up relying on their prior knowledge about medicine if transportation by means of kolong kolong would not be prompt enough.

Moreover, he added that Sitio Pasig is quite distanced from any evacuation centers—most of which are located in the more urban areas of Porac. This presents another factor adding to the already-vulnerable state of the community, especially when considering their lack of proper refuge from heavy rains and winds alongside their proximity to landslide-prone hillsides and flood-prone valleys.

“Panganib ya pu kening kekami lalu na ing sakuna ning uran ampong bagyu. Makalunus la pu reng anak, lalu na mipapalaut la keng pamagaral, Lalo na’t tag-ulan, marami ang pangangamba namin. Baka ay lalakas ang ilog o kaya ay gugulong ang mga kabundukan,” he continued.

[We are in danger here because of the calamities brought by the rain and storms. It is heartbreaking to see the children, especially because their education is affected. Especially during the rainy season, we are filled with anxiety. The river might overflow, or the mountains might collapse,]” he continued.

“Hindi tulad sa baba po dahil meron po silang ginawang kapilya, kapag may sakuna, may matatakbuhan po kaming mga tao doon. Wala na pong simbahan dito, halimbawa yung mga bahay na maliliit po diyan, magkakaroon ng sakuna — Saan na po sila tatakbo? Wala na po, ” the chairman highlighted.

With their condition already in a pickle, the IP’s living situation is made worse by the constant threat of quarrying operations run by big corporations. These operations contaminate the river/stream serving as the main water source of the IPs. More so, it induces danger to the IPs while destructing the natural environment in Sitio Pasig. 

The ongoing hazards associated with quarrying also pose another threat for Sitio Pasig: further displacement for the IPs.

“Ang sabi nila gagawa daw po ng mga building… yun nga nakakapagtaka eh, yung mga galing pa sa ibang bansa sila pa yung may lupa. Tayong mga Pilipino yung wala, ” Sibal cries in the plight of their struggle with settlement. 

Vice Chairman Donna Carlos expressed that if the Sitio Pasig residents were to be displaced, they will be left with nowhere else to go

Today, the IPs actively search for assistance from different organizations and government sectors to address their circumstances. 

Sitio Pidpid – The First Settlement

The sad and sorry states of Sitio Pasig and its residents as they survive on the outskirts of Porac quarries as they surive on the outskirts of Porac quarries is not just a tale of the unheard voice of the IIP sectors amidst grave poverty; rather, this is a chronicle of forced displacement—a consistent narrative amongst our indigenous brethren.

For less than a year ago, Sitio Pasig of Barangay Manuali was still known as Sitio Pidpid of Barangay Sapang-uwak.

The settlement was described as a much preferable land of residence for the tribes of Magantsi and Magindi, on account that not only was their village closer to urban civilization, it was also their ancestral domain—housing over 100 families by December 2017.

Sitio Pidpid was also in close contact with Holy Angel University (HAU) and Kkottongae University (KU) throughout 2016 to 2018 due to a partnered community project with Korea International Corporation Agency (KOICA) that aimed to address water shortages through the installment of wells and health and hygiene facilities—as the river known as Sapang Uwak had been destroyed, bearing no signs of life anymore.

However, in the backdrop existed an ever-growing threat to the lives of Sitio Pidpid residents: displacement at the hands of private mining corporations. According to a narrative report provided by the Philippine Network of Food Security Programs Inc., the ancestral land of the Magantsi and Magindi tribes used to cover 18, 659.73 hectares—but by 2018, it had shrunk to only 500 hectares due to intense quarrying since 2010.

Throughout 2018, the tribes have conducted various protests against Clarete Vibro Sand Processing Company, T.A.G. Mineral Resources Incorporated, and Powerzun Quarrying and Trading Incorporated (now known as SANDGLO), blockading the roads to their settlements. The barricades were not only upon the firm assertion of their Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT), but on anger as the quarrying efforts had led to the destruction of Sapang Uwak and the contamination of nearby water springs—causing the settlement’s children to be afflicted with water-related sicknesses.

Sitio Pidpid’s fight for their land continued all the same despite quarrying operations and, for the most part, they were successful in protecting their villages from displacement. But by 2022, the tides turned against them as the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) declared Sitio Pidpid’s land as not part of any ancestral domain.

“Ang sitwasyon po natin, actually, doon sa Sitio Pidpid. Actually, yung Sitio na po na yun ay hindi po part ng ancestral domain po yun,” said NCIP Regional Director Atty. Roland Calde in an interview with CLTV36, citing that the land is contested by private individuals and corporations—particularly, one Ayson family.

Paramay Sibal, former chieftain of Sitio Pidpid and father of Sitio Pasig’s current chairman Joel Sibal, has contested this, stating that their ancestors have long since lived on Sitio Pidpid’s land.

“Mga ninuno namin, dito na sila pinanganak—lolo ng tatay ko, lola ng nanay ko, lahat sila dito,” protested the older Sibal, going forth to say that Ayson had no claim on their land.

Nonetheless, workers on construction vehicles and private security personnel alike started surrounding the nearby vicinities of Sitio Pidpid the following year, causing various hostile altercations with the residents.

By the start of December 2023, demolition and displacement operations commenced—successfully evicting Sitio Pidpid residents from Barangay Sapang Uwak.

The Future of Makeshift Settlements

More than half a year has passed since the demolition of Sitio Pidpid has passed, yet Joel Sibal still holds onto hope that they would one day be able to return to the land of their ancestors—especially given the dangers presented by the quarried lands of Sitio Pasig.
“Panalangin mi pin na sana, mibalik kami keng dati ming lugal (Sitio Pidpid). Keni kasi (Sitio Pasig) panganib ya pu kekami lalu na [keng] sakuna ning uran ‘pong bagyu. Makalunus la pu reng anak lalu na mipapalwut la keng pamagaral, ” Community Chairman Joel Sibal said. 

[“We pray we can still go back to our old place (Sitio Pidpid). Because here (Sitio Pasig), it’s full of danger, especially with the constant threat of rain, of typhoons. And it is also bad for the education of the children since the place is far from where they study.]”

“Di ka makatulog ng maayos kasi inaalala [mo kung] lalakas yung ilog o magigiba yung bundok,” he added. 

Despite the great possibility of having their children remember yet another forced displacement nightmare, Sibal and the leaders of Sitio Pasig have expressed their determination nonetheless in finding help among kind-hearted individuals inside and outside of governance.

”Ing planu mi pu kung atin pung makasaup pu kekatamu pung gubyernu na sana pu ibalik da kami ketang masaleseng pituknangan. Atsu naman pu keng batas dapat maayus ing pituknangan da reng katutubu,” he continued, adding that if anything else, he will continue to stand up for his community’s rights and be a voice for his fellow undermined IPs.