More than a hundred participants joined a solidarity bike ride and run on Sunday, April 12.

The activity dubbed Pedal for Rivers Year 5 (PEDAL 5) was led by TAKDER, or the Cordillera Youth Movement for Democracy and Prosperity, a mass organization of Kaigorotan and its advocates based in the National Capital Region. It aimed to highlight calls for an end to destructive mining and large dam developments within Indigenous peoples’ (IP) ancestral lands, especially in the Cordillera Administrative Region. It is part of a series of activities commemorating the 42nd Cordillera Day on April 24.

Participated in by 150 cyclists, runners, mobility advocates, environmental defenders, and IP rights advocates, the ride and run commenced at the University Avenue Checkpoint (Emilio Jacinto Street) in the University of the Philippines Diliman and ended at Macli-ing Dulag’s mural on Maharlika Street, Quezon City, where a short program was conducted.

They made a brief stop at Bantayog ng mga Bayani to offer flowers in honor of Macli-ing Dulag and other Cordillera defenders who were persecuted and killed during the Marcos dictatorship for defending their people and ancestral lands.

They also held a collective handprint stamping activity on a symbolic art installation to highlight their calls.

“This was more than a bike ride and run. This was a collective assertion that our rivers, lands, and communities are not for plunder,” said TAKDER Coordinator Chuwaley Capuyan. “As long as destructive mining and large dams continue to threaten Indigenous peoples’ lands, the call to resist will only grow stronger.”

Co-organizers of the activity included Binnadang Amianan, CYCAD – Cycling Advocates, Cycle Savers, KALIKASAN – Peoples’ Network for the Environment, Panatang Luntian, 350 Pilipinas, Bike Squad, and Sheen Estevez Running Club. (RVO)

Photos by Lito Ocampo/TAKDER

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