A Voice for Indigenous Rights: Sa Pusod ng Bukidnon

The Amada & Vicente Ravanera Foundation is committed to supporting social justice initiatives that empower marginalized communities and protect the rights of indigenous peoples. This commitment is deeply rooted in our mission to create conditions conducive to a simple yet joyful and flourishing life for everyone—especially those whose voices have been silenced and whose ancestral lands have been threatened.

We are honored to share a powerful musical expression of this struggle: "Sa Pusod ng Bukidnon" (In the Heart of Bukidnon), performed by Datu Makabugwas, Chairman of Lumad Cooperative. This song gives voice to the ongoing challenges faced by indigenous communities in Bukidnon and across Mindanao, where ancestral domains have been transformed into plantations and mining operations, often without proper consultation or consent from the communities who have called these lands home for generations.

The song speaks to themes that resonate deeply with AVRF's work: the fight for land rights, the protection of indigenous culture, the struggle against displacement, and the call for justice. Through our initiatives, such as our support for the Manobo-Pulangiyon tribe, we have witnessed firsthand the devastating impact of land dispossession on indigenous communities—families living in extreme poverty, children facing malnutrition, and communities struggling to maintain their cultural identity while fighting for their ancestral rights.

"Sa Pusod ng Bukidnon" is more than a song; it is a call to action, a reminder that land and life are sacred and cannot be treated as commodities. It echoes the urgent need for policies that respect indigenous rights, ensure proper consultation, and protect ancestral domains from exploitation. As the song powerfully states: "Ang lupa ay buhay, di kalakal o laruan" (Land is life, not goods to trade or pawn).

AVRF stands in solidarity with indigenous communities in their fight for justice, dignity, and the right to flourish on their ancestral lands. We believe that true social justice requires listening to and amplifying the voices of those who have been marginalized, and this song serves as an important reminder of the ongoing struggle for indigenous rights in the Philippines.

The Song

Performed by: Datu Makabugwas, Chairman of Lumad Cooperative

Lyrics

Tagalog (Original)

Verse 1:

Sa pusod ng Bukidnon May sugat sa lupa Katutubo'y pinalayas Walang hustisya

Walang pahintulot Walang kunsultasyon Batas ginawang sandata Ng iilan sa nayon

Pre-Chorus:

Kanino ba ang lupa Kanino ba ang ginto Sa bayan ba babalik O sa dayuhan lang ba ito

Chorus:

Ibalik, ibalik ang lupa sa mamamayan Itigil na, itigil ang dahas ng kasakiman Ang lupa ay buhay, di kalakal o laruan Ipaglaban, ipaglaban Hanggang sa huling laban

Verse 2:

Plantasyon at mina Sa dayuhan nakalaan Militar ang bantay Takot ang dala sa bayan

Ginugutom, tinatakot Kultura'y winawasak Laban ng katutubo Laban nating lahat

Pre-Chorus:

Mas mabuting mamatay Lumalaban sa agos Kaysa mamatay sa gutom Dangal ay matatapos

Walang bala ang tatalo Sa bayang nagkakaisa Walang pwersa ang lalampas Sa tinig ng masa

Chorus:

Ibalik, ibalik ang lupa sa mga mamamayan Itigil na, itigil ang dahas ng kasakiman Ang lupa ay buhay Di kalakal o laruan Ipaglaban, ipaglaban Hanggang sa huling laban

Bridge / Ending:

Mabuhay ang katutubo Mabuhay ang sambayanang totoo

Mabuhay, mabuhay, mabuhay Ang malayang Pilipino (2x)

English Version

Verse 1:

In the heart of Bukidnon There is wound in the land The natives are uprooted Driven from their own fields

No justice ever granted No consent, no consultation The law becomes a weapon Of the few in the nation

Pre-Chorus:

To whom does this land belong? To whom does the gold belong? Shall it return to the people Or just remain with the powerful few?

Chorus:

Return back, return the people’s rightful land End it now, end the violence born of greed’s command For land is life Never goods to trade or pawn Fight for it Fight for it Until the final battle’s won

Verse 2:

Plantations and the mines Are reserved for foreign hands The military guards them Spreading fear across the land

They starve us, they scare us They tear culture apart The fight of the Indigenous Is the fight of every heart

Pre-Chorus:

Better to die resisting Pushing back against the tide Than die in hunger’s silence With our dignity denied

No bullets can ever conquer A nation standing strong No force can ever silence A united people’s song

Chorus:

Bridge / Ending:

Long live the Indigenous! Long live this nation strong!

Long live, long live, long live The free Filipino people! (2x)