A Hero’s Monument For Ama Daniel Ngayaan
As part of the commemoration of the 36th Cordillera Day celebration this coming April 23-24, Cordillera indigenous peoples would like to put up a monument in honor of Ama Daniel Ngayaan’s heroism; a monument fitting for a hero to honor him and to remind us of his bravery, thoughts and deeds as a progressive tribal leader during the struggle against the Chico Dams project since the 1970’s until he was killed by the government-backed Cordillera Peoples Liberation Army (CPLA) in 1987.
The monument will be put up in his native land in Tanglag, Lubuagan town, Kalinga province. We are asking for your support for this historical moment to happen.
Who is Ama Daniel Ngayaan?
Ama Daniel Ngayaan, a tribal elder and leader, was born in 1922 in Sitio Liglig of Barangay Tanglag, Lubuagan, Kalinga in the Philippines.
In 1974, Ngayaan was one of the elders who stood up and actively participated and led the opposition against the World Bank-funded Chico River Dams project during the Marcos dictatorship. As a peace pact holder, he greatly contributed in uniting the elders of his community in Tanglag.
Through his participation in bodong (traditional peace pact) conferences in Buscalan, Tanglag, and as far as Metro Manila, community opposition against the Chico Dams project was strengthened and consolidated. These conferences resulted in the forging of a pagta (agreement thru bodong) expressing opposition to the Chico River Dams project.
His leadership figured as well in spontaneous actions against the dam such as the dismantling of the National Power Corporation camp in Mosimos, Tomiangan.
Because of the growing opposition to the project, the government sent the Presidential Assistant on National Minorities (PANAMIN) to the province to convince the residents to allow the project to push through. Thousands of mass leaders and members of the opposition were illegally detained during the Martial Law. Ama Daniel Ngayaan together with 150 mass leaders opposing the dam project were arrested in 1976 and charged of hampering a government project. They were released the following year with the help of different groups from the church, t he Free Legal Assistance (FLAG) and Amnesty International.
His arrest and detention did not in any way hamper his det ermination to oppose the dam construction and to lead the people's fight against the project. He continued to figure in the struggle against the dam. As a peace pact holder, he was among those who actively participated in the formation of the Kalinga Bontoc Peace Pact Holders Association (KBPPHA) in 1982, where he became an officer.
In 1983, the growing and widening Cordillera people's movement gave rise to the birth of the Cordillera Bodong Association, which he later chaired. During the second congress of the Cordillera Peoples Alliance, Ama Daniel was elected vice chairperson. In October 5, 1987, Ama Daniel was homeward bound to Tanglag after the CPA Regional Council Meeting when he was abducted by elements of the CPLA in Cagaluan gate. As of today, even his remains have not been found and justice for his abduction is still elusive.
Thank you for your support and contribution!
