54 Papa and Ayta Mag-indi Community
(UP CSWCD) to both Barangay Camias (ancestral domain) and Barangay Planas
(Katutubo Village/the resettlement area). Throughout the response, there were reports
of discrimination against the IP communities. The Kapampangans alleged that the
virus actually came from the Ayta because they eat bats (paniki), hence they are
avoided when in the town proper/lowlands.
The declaration of community quarantine
Marivic Capuno, tribal chieftain of the Katutubo Village in Barangay Planas, shared
his family’s experience when the community quarantine was first declared:
May ilan sa amin na sa bundok inabot ng deklarasyon. Hindi namin
malaman ang gagawin. Kasama pa naming mag-asawa ‘yung
dalawang batang anak namin. Para lang makauwi, inilagay namin
sila sa sako, saka isinakay sa kulong-kulong. ‘Pag nasita kami sa
checkpoint, sasabihin na lang namin, baboy-ramo, hindi pwedeng
buksan ang sako dahil matapang at nangangagat. Isang oras din
kaming bumyahe nang may kaba na masita at may awa sa mga
anak namin.
Figure 1
Makeshift “checkpoint” signage at the boundary of Barangay Planas and Camias
Photo by Violeta Abuque
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