The 3rd Consuelo J. Paz Lecture

Postscript to Wars of Extinction: Lumad Identity and Struggle

Speaker: Assoc. Prof. Arnold P. Alamon
17 March 2023 | 2:00 PM | Palma Hall 2nd Floor Lobby

 

ABSTRACT

Since the publication of the book, “Wars of Extinction: Discrimination and the Lumad Struggle in Mindanao,” various opposing discourses have spawned to contest the meaning of “Lumad.” Following the arguments of the book, there is the view that locates the Lumad in the evolution of the Philippine social movement. There is the perspective that insists on the purely cultural meaning of the term. There is also the state definition that seeks to erase its usage entirely, proposing that we refer to ethnolinguistic identities instead among others. What have these dynamics, tied to certain political events, teach us about the Lumad specifically and indigeneity in general? This paper will surface insights and explore some of the implications of these to indigenous studies.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Prof. Arnold Alamon teaches sociology at Mindanao State University—Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT).  He authored the books, “Wars of Extinction: Discrimination and the Lumad Struggle” (2017) and “Nation in Our Hearts: Essays on Mindanao” (2017) published by the University of the Philippines Press. He obtained his undergraduate and master’s degrees at the University of the Philippines Diliman. When he was teaching at UP Diliman, he became a member of the Programa sa Pag-aaral ng mga Etnolinggwistikong Grupo (PPEG) which was founded by Dean Consuelo J. Paz of the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy. At present, he serves as Peace Research Coordinator of the Institute for Peace and Development in Mindanao ng MSU-IIT. Prof. Alamon specializes in indigenous studies, particularly the Lumad, peace and conflict studies, and Mindanao political economy.

ABOUT THE CONSUELO J. PAZ LECTURES

To honor Dr. Paz’s unparalleled contributions to Philippine linguistics and culture studies, the UP Department of Linguistics launched the Consuelo J. Paz Lecture in 2019, as a biennial lecture to be given by a distinguished scholar, whose body of work in the field of historical linguistics, sociolinguistics, ethnolinguistics, and cultural studies enriches our knowledge of languages & cultures in the Philippines. This year’s Paz Lecture will commemorate the 90th birthday of Dean Paz and celebrate the centennial anniversary of the Department. The lecture is also part of the celebration of the UP Diliman Arts and Culture Festival 2023.