Post by Keneco

🌍 Earth Month Series | Day 1 of 3 — Environmental Advocates Paralegal Training 🌿 April is Earth Month — a time when the world pauses to reflect on our relationship with the planet. But for 34 Indigenous community members in Brgy. Matiaoa, Mati City, Davao Oriental, this April wasn't just about reflection. It was about action. This April, SALIGAN (Sentro ng Alternatibong Lingap Panlegal) launched the Environmental Advocates Paralegal Training Series — and on Day 1, something powerful was already in motion. IP leaders, women, youth, community members, and forest guards gathered for the first of three days of legal empowerment. From the very first session, the energy in the room said everything. Day 1 was about laying the foundation: understanding environmental laws, governance, and rights-based approaches from the ground up. Participants dove into case analysis, learned how to document violations, and explored the intersection of environmental protection with gender and children's rights. But what stood out most wasn't the curriculum. It was the people. Edelito Jr. C. Ubod, IP Youth Leader and Youth Federated President of CADT Lupon, came with a clear sense of purpose: "I came here not just to represent, but to learn. As a frontliner, I carry the responsibility of bringing knowledge back to my community. We struggle to interpret the law — and what we can't understand, we can't apply on the ground. This training is my chance to change that. Whatever I learn here, I will use to educate and empower my people." Elmer Manaytay, Ancestral Domain Management Officer representing 7 barangays in Boston, arrived with an equally powerful conviction: "One of the biggest issues we face is discrimination against IPs. It discourages our people. But knowing our rights changes that. We no longer need to feel ashamed of who we are. This training gives us the tools to stand up, protect our culture, and preserve our CADT." This Earth Month, protecting the planet starts with protecting the people who know it best. #EarthMonth #EarthMonth2026 #EnvironmentalJustice #Paralegal #IndigenousRights #SALIGAN #Day1 #DavaoOriental #YouthLeadership