Era España (2010, Philippines)

2010 iLEAP International Faculty
Tuddok to Linubbaran ni Ayon Umpan-Enangcob (Pillar of the Decendants of Ayon Umpan-Enangcob)

era@iLEAP.org
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Organization

Established in 1996, Tuddok to Linubbaran ni Ayon Umpan-Enangcob Inc. is an organization with a goal to empower indigenous communities, particularly the Ubo Monuvu tribe, located in the Province of Cotabato, Philippines. Tuddok addresses a wide range of issues, including advocacy and education of rights, technology advancement, cultural education and regeneration, environmental protection and preservation. Tuddok operates as a clan-based organization, an approach that they introduced in the hopes that it would aid them in their work with clan-based indigenous communities.

Era's Work

Era trained at the Asian Rural Institute (ARI) in organic and sustainable farming, a subject that relates back to her youth as a farmer's daughter with a faith deeply entwined in nature. Her focus has been on the social movements of indigenous peoples; one of Era's most significant experiences was working on the environmental protection of the indigenous communities in Mt. Apo against the implementation of a geothermal project. In this effort she successfully suspended geothermal operations and mediated conflicts among the indigenous people.

Through her work on the Peace Governance Management project at Tuddok she facilitates projects and develops the capability of the working members, as well as conducting training and developing strategic planning. In addition to this, she has also published a book on Monuvu Customary Laws. She finds that in her work many of her challenges lay in how to address social problems and injustices.

"I have strong hopes that will be able to develop my skills in social innovation in order to benefit my work on policy reform and community engagement through conflict transformation and resolution. "