Omehen: The Garden As An Ongoing Chronicle and Unfinished Strategy of Resistance

(English below; cover image by Karl Castro)

Sa episode na ito, pinag-usapan namin ang ilang, ang sakahan, at ang hardin sa mga konteksto ng Ateneo campus, ng karanasan ng mga Lumad Bakwit Students, at naming dalawa bilang bahagi ng proyektong ito. Shout out sa Ateneo Wild! (instagram.com/@ateneowild) Para sa kargdagang impormasyon sa campus project namin, bisitahin ang https://arete.ateneo.edu/programs/progress/during-the-2019-20-residency-omehen (sa magkahalong English at Tagalog) (Alfred Marasigan)

In this episode, we discuss the wild, the farm, and the garden within the Ateneo campus, the Lumad Bakwit students' experience and our own. Shout out to Ateneo Wild! (instagram.com/@ateneowild) For more information on our campus project, visit https://arete.ateneo.edu/programs/progress/during-the-2019-20-residency-omehen (in mixed English and Tagalog) (Alfred Marasigan)

(English below; cover image by Pabs Odeste)

Sa episode na ito, pinagtuunan nina Karl at Alfred nang pansin ang marahas na pamamalakad ng estado - mula sa redtagging hanggang sa pagsugpo ng malayang pamamahayag - para lalong maging mahirap ang pag-organisa, pag-aaral, at patuloy na pamumuhay ng mga Pilipino. (Alfred Marasigan)

In this episode, Karl and Alfred talk more in-depth about systematic and violent measures taken by the state - from redtagging to silencing free speech - that police community behavior and knowledge exchanges in micro and macro scales. (Alfred Marasigan)

(English below; cover art by Lumad Bakwit School freshman college student Michael*)

🎨

Sa kabila ng mahinang cellular signal, napag-usapan namin ni Michael* ang kanyang ginawang painting mula sa isa sa mga remote art workshops ng Omehen. Ikinuwento niya ang matinding ugnayan ng mga Lumad communities sa kalikasan, lalung-lalo na ang Pantaron Mountain Range sa Mindanao, pati na ang mga kinakaharap nila at nitong balakad mula sa mga mandarambong ng lupa, mineral, at buhay. Bilang kabuhayan, tirahan, at pananagutan, ang Pantaron at ang kapalaran nito ay kasama rin ng nanganganib na Philippine eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi), pati na rin ng maraming Lumad na umaasa rito. (Alfred Marasigan)

🌱

Between bouts of bad cellular signal, Michael* and I talked about his painting inspired by one of the remote art workshops from Omehen. He details the Lumad communities' oneness with nature particularly the Pantaron Mountain Range in Mindanao and the threats they both face from landgrabbers, mining companies, and state-sponsored violence. As a source of food, a form of shelter, and a shared responsibility, Pantaron's fate also includes that of the similarly endangered Philippine eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi), among the many Lumad people who depend on it. (Alfred Marasigan)

*Names have been changed for privacy.

(English below; cover art by Lumad Bakwit School teacher, Sir Andro*)

Tuwang tuwa ako noong ipakita sa akin ni Sir Andro ang painting niya kasama si Borj, isa sa mga college student at artists sa Lumad Bakwit Schools. Mula sa isa sa mga remote art workshops ng Omehen sa pandemya, gumawa si Andro ng isang makahulugan at mahusay na painting tungkol sa balitang bobombahin ni Duterte ang mga lupa ng mga Lumad sa Mindanao, Philippines. 

Ang newspaper dance ay isang pangkaraniwang laro sa mga party at iba pang klase ng pagdiriwang. Pagtigil ng tugtugin, kailangang tumuntong ng mga kalahok sa mga piraso ng dyaryong nakalatag sa sahig. Matapos ang maraming round, mananalo ang tao o pares na kayang tumayo o umapak nang matagal sa pinakamaliit na piraso ng dyaryo. (Alfred Marasigan)

I was ecstatic when Sir Andro showed me his painting together with fellow artist and Lumad Bakwit School resident Borj. From one of Omehen's remote art workshops during the pandemic, Andro painted a layered, instinctive, and masterful work referencing the news about Duterte announcing the bombing of Lumad schools and lands in Mindanao, Philippines. 

A newspaper dance is also a common parlor game that entails multiple players to occupy broadsheets laid on the floor when an ongoing music stops. After every turn, the newspaper is folded until the space and papers become too small for everyone to step on. Ultimately, the person or pair who can balance all their weight on the smallest piece of folded paper wins. (Alfred Marasigan)

* Names have been changed for privacy.

(English below; cover image by Karl Castro)

Kaakibat ang iba't ibang wika sa mga classroom, ang paputol-putol na Internet namin, at pati na rin ang epikong Tudbulul, pinagusapan namin ni Karl ang mga proseso, usapin, balakid, at posibilidad ng pagtuturo mula sa Omehen. Anong pinagkaiba ng karunungan sa kasanayan? Paano magiging mas mapagpalaya ang pagtuturo ng sining? Saan ang lupa at tahanan ng kaalaman? (Alfred Marasigan)

Alongside multilingual classrooms, internet snags, and even the Tudbulul, Karl and I discuss intersectional pedagogy within Omehen. Are rehearsals inferior to actions? Can art education be decolonized? Can land and learning provide sanctuary? (Alfred Marasigan)

(English below; cover image by Pabs Odeste)

Kasama ang kaunting ubo, kaunting K-Pop, isang ritwal, at ilang musical instruments, una naming tinalakay ni Karl ang maraming pagkakakilanlang lumitaw sa Omehen — ang pagiging Pilipino, pagiging Tagalog, pagiging Lumad, pagiging indigenous, pagiging taga-lungsod, pagiging tao, pagiging mga kalahok sa proyekto, bansa, at sining — at ang maraming nagtatagisang konseptong umiinog sa mga paksang ito. Minumungkahi rin namin ang pakikinig sa Sanctuary Stories nila sa IG TV (@saveourschoolsnetwork) para sa mga bagong kuwento mula sa Lumad Bakwit students. (Alfred Marasigan)

With a little coughing, some K-Pop, a ritual, and a few musical instruments, Karl and I first discussed the myriad identities that came up in Omehen — being Filipino, being Tagalog, being Lumad, being indigenous, being urban dwellers, being humans, being free agents, citizens, and creators — and the many complex concepts that revolve around these topics. For more stories told by the Lumad Bakwit students beyond Omehen, you may enjoy their Sanctuary Stories on their IG TV (@saveourschoolsnetwork). (Alfred Marasigan)

(English below; cover image by Alfred Marasigan)

Para sa aming mga tagasubaybay, nilahad namin ni Karl Castro ang payak, maaksyon, at patlang-patlang na talambuhay ng Omehen project, mula sa Arete Sandbox Residency hanggang sa kasalukuyan. Nagpapasalamat kami sa Ateneo de Manila University maintenance, staff, at faculty, lalo na sa Department of Fine Arts; sa Lumad Bakwit Schools; sa AfA Masterclass Batch 1; at sa CCARPH. (Alfred Marasigan)

For our listeners, Karl Castro and I talked shortly about the simple, action-packed, and uneven story of the Omehen project, starting with the Arete Sandbox Residency up to the present. We thank the Ateneo de Manila University maintenance, staff, and faculty, especially the Department of Fine Arts; the Lumad Bakwit Schools; Afa Masterclass Batch 1; and CCARPH. (Alfred Marasigan)

(English below; cover art by Junior High Bakwit School student Irene*)

Note: the conversation was held away from the Lumad Bakwit School's garden but still within the University of the Philippines Campus. Security immediately became stricter compared to the earlier days of the project. In between parts of the recording, we are constantly distracted, curious, and wary by various entries within the premises. Fortunately, none of these were dangerous.

00:00

Omehen Team (Alfred): So for our listers, welcome to all! Maybe let's start with by introducing ourselves first to our listeners. I'll go first! I am Alfred Marasigan, and Omehen is a project that I started with Karl Castro and Guelan Luarca around late 2019, and today we continue with the evolving activities of the garden itself. Today we are with our collaborators, teachers, and students from the Lumad Bakwit Schools.

Teacher Andro*: So there, I am Andro, a volunteer teacher for the Bakwit School, an agriculture teacher, and I also teach math, and art also got included recently. I also stay here in the Bakwit School, with the kids.

Teacher Ping*: Hello I am Teacher Ping, also a volunteer teacher for the Lumad Bakwit School. I am teaching Grade 8, TLE (Technology and Livelihood Education) and Grade 9, P.E. and music. There, I am also an in-house teacher with the Bakwit School.

Michael*: I am Michael, I'm already in first year college, I'm also studying in the Bakwit Schools, I also know some art so that I can helpor contribute to the garden project.

Katkat*: Hi, good day! I am Katkat! A student from the Lumad Schools. Also studying, and trying to learn art...I'm also from the Bakwit Schools, yes.

02:14

OTA: Yay, so there! Ok, so now we've met our conversation participants, I think, before, before we talk about...anything, may I ask how you all are actually? At the time of recording, and also this week. Maybe some people know...but not everyone knows. What happened this week and how did it affect your classes?

TA: So there...uhm, besides the modules and yeah, while other students meet for our agriculture class, visiting from time to time, of course, there's fear in current events that just suddenly happen. It's frustrating...because we're...just trying to live peacefully, and on top of COVID, and then a new variant, there are already a lot of threats against the Lumad communities and schools that shouldn't be happening, and that no one deserves...

OTA: Yeah, it so many things keep happening alongside how you're already adjusting because it's not easy for you to be here (in Manila) and you used to have different ways of learning. Theres the pandemic, and there's...I think the UP DND Accord was terminated that I only read a bit on. Then, that's how I saw this week...last Monday I was actually just messaging Teacher Ping and then within the day, the news changed. Is it normal for you that your classes get derailed like this, especially this week?

TP: Uhm...so, there, we were more alert, and yes, there's fear. Uh, our classes were quite...we were hoping to keep our classes going, but because we lack gadgets and connections, and we weren't able to access much, to go out randomly, and now we aren't allowed to use other facilities. So it became a struggle for the students when this happened. And then we can't always go to our plot, so we postponed our agriculture classes for the security of the children and everyone in the Bakwit Schools. It's a big adjustment, but we always adjust anyway. We just keep going, really. We just keep going.

* Names have been changed for privacy.

(English below; cover art by Junior High Bakwit School student)

May mga narecord akong malalakas na huni malapit sa Omehen plot sa Ateneo campus habang umuulan sa kalagitnaan ng pandemya, mga Hulyo ng 2020. Maari ring nanggaling ito sa DEWATS (Decentralized Wastewater Treatment Systems) ng Ateneo. (Alfred Marasigan)

Edit: Pinuna ni Karl at ng Ateneo Wild na ang mga tunog pala ay gawa ng mga palaka (Kaloula pulchra)! 

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I heard unexplainable humming near the Omehen plot in Ateneo campus while raining in the middle of the pandemic, around July 2020. It might also have come from Ateneo's DEWATS (Decentralized Wastewater Treatment Systems) nearby. (Alfred Marasigan)

Edit: Karl and Ateneo Wild told me that the sounds were actually made by dozens of Philippine banded bullfrogs (Kaloula pulchra)! 

(English below; cover art by Bakwit School Student Liza*)

Kung ang ulan ay parang mga [gulay] / o, kay sarap ng ulan.

"Dahil sa kaligayahang dulot ng makita ang mga donasyong gulay, nag-alay ang mga batang lumad ng kanta, para sa mga gulay at sa lahat ng mga tumugon sa aming panawagan. Sa lahat ng tumugon sa aming panawagan, maraming maraming salamat po!" (Mula sa facebook page ng Lumad Bakwit Schools)

Binuo, sinulat, at kinanta ng mga Lumad Bakwit Schools students ang awiting Kung ang ulan ay parang mga gulay para ipahayag ang kanilang galak sa pagkakaroon ng sapat na mga gulay para sa buo nilang komunidad noong simula ng pandemya. Naintindihan ko ang kanta bilang pagtaliwas sa literal na kahulugan ng ulan. Dahil sa maraming bagyong sumasalanta sa Pilipinas taon-taon, pati ni rin sa ilang lindol at iba't ibang sakuna tulad ng pandemya, maaaring malalim ang pinanggagalingan ng kanta. Gayunpaman, mahalaga ang sapat na ulan para sa pagsasaka at pagtatanim lalo na para sa mga Lumad na lumikas mula sa kanilang mga lupa at tirahan sa mga timog na lalawigan ng bansa. Ang salitang "unos" sa Tagalog ay ginagamit rin upang ilarawan ang pagdurusa ng isa o ng nakararami.

🥕🌧️🥬

If the rain were like [vegetables] / oh how delicious it must be.

The Lumad Bakwit School and the Save Our Schools Network would like to send our heartfelt gratitude to people and groups who, amid the fear of #COVID19, are extending their resources and effort to help lumad children who are until now taking refuge at the University of the Philippines Diliman. (from the Lumad Bakwit Schools' facebook page)

Composed, written, and sung by the Lumad Bakwit Schools students, Kung ang ulan ay parang mga gulay is an expression of joy towards the bounty of vegetables they received for the beginning of the pandemic last year. I particularly interpreted the song as an optimistic take on weather so volatile in the Philippines (with strong monsoons usually from May to October and sporadic volcanic activity being situated in the Pacific Ring of Fire). Agriculturally, however, enough rain signifies good harvest, especially with food as a constant struggle for them as refugees from the southern parts of the archipelago. The Tagalog word "unos" which roughly translates to "storm" is also often used to describe psychosocial turmoil. (Alfred Marasigan)

* Names have been changed for privacy.