Unity Walk with the Lumad, “A proud moment for UP”
The University of the Philippines’ main campus in Diliman, Quezon City held a unity walk with the Lumad of Manilakbayan 2015 led by its students, faculty and staff last Wednesday, October 28. As the Lumad marched from their campsite along Ylanan Avenue hundreds of students welcomed them in front of the Palma Hall steps with raised fists as a symbol of solidarity. Both groups marched around the university’s famed academic oval before going back to Palma Hall for a concluding program. UP students then offered songs and speeches supporting the Lumad’s call for the immediate stop to the killings, militarization of their communities and plunder of their ancestral lands. Reacting to the scene, a UP alumnus said he is “witnessing another proud UP moment.” #

The Unity Walk as it rounds the bend in front of the College of Economics where participants chanted “Winnie, labas diyan!” They were calling out Prof. Solita Monsod who repeatedly defended the Armed Forces of the Philippines over accusations it masterminded the killings of Lumad.

As hundreds of thousands of UP student activists have done in decades, the Lumad sit in front of Palma Hall for a protest action.

At dusk, candles were lit in remembrance of the Lumad martyrs who died in defense of their ancestral land and their peoples’ rights.
(Photos and text by Raymund B. Villanueva)