back in my hood

i am filled with joy to be posted up and posting this from the bayan office here in general santos city, where i was born. it feels incredible to finally be able to understand the conditions of this region and integrate with the organizers and community here. tomorrow, we will be with the urban poor community, and the day after we will be hiking to Upper Suyan to learn more about the situation on indigenous people (IP) and the B’laan in particular. today, we learned about the work of Center for Lumad Advocacy and Services (CLANS), which is tremendous, as well as the challenges they faced with the heightened militarization in the area. their work in the Dlumay cluster was primarily starting a school for children, to address the 97% illiteracy rate in their community. i was heated to learn how the military disrupted this work, moved into the village and harassed the volunteer teachers. under imminent threat, the teachers and CLANS staff had to evacuate, leaving over 200 children and their education unfinished for the year. they are currently planning a solidarity mission to go back and teach, as well as conduct medical services and a fact finding mission around human rights violations in the area. i am so tempted to join them, but unfortunately, i don’t think i will be able to.

being here makes me feel whole in a way that i have not been in a long time. i don’t know what it is about this place— the mountains, the wind, the sea speaks to me and i feel like in a language that only my heart knows. the kasamas are wonderful, and i have enjoyed a night spent walking around town and talking about life and our work. they are so warm, despite the intense conditions and military repression that they face. it has only been several hours and i already feel like i don’t want to leave.

they asked me about the term queer, which they read in the statement of ILPS Commission 18 on LGBTQ rights. i am proud to have taken part in drafting that statement, and i will post that here too. ILPS was definitely an experience to remember, but my favorite part was getting to know other LGBTQ folks who have an anti-imperialist analysis, and are part of a larger struggle for national liberation and economic justice. i also really loved being able to kick in with the YS (youth and students) in our downtime, and of course, bonding with the HnD crew (seattle expo team). 

i miss Rhondalei and Sean so much already. experiencing collective life with them, however briefly, made me feel like a family (warm fuzzies). i am excited for Jenilee to get there already, and for our integration with the youth and students in Manila. peace to my kapatid, mike pestano, who is the reason we are in Krus Na Ligas, my favorite baranggay in the city. 

for my fams back home, know that i miss you. expo is hectic and internet time is very limited. but i look forward to sharing my adventures with you come september.

hanggang dito na lang muna.

in love and resistance,

katrina