“Ang ilog ay buhay" – Rivers are life.

“Ang ilog ay buhay" – Rivers are life. This echoed in the Dumagat community of Tanay, Rizal, as we came together to celebrate the International Day of Action for Rivers and Against Dams, joined by Katribu Kalipunan ng Katutubong Mamamayan sa Pilipinas on March 14, 2025. 

We, together with other organizations, joined hands with the Dumagat community to honor the rivers that sustain their way of life and culture. They shared the impact of Kaliwa-Kanan-Laiban Dam, a threat that looms over their livelihood, ancestral land, and culture. They also reflected the Dumagat’s history of united resistance against the destructive dams. 

The solidarity night, where Dumagat women sang their traditional songs in Dinumagat, resulted in meaningful conversations about not only their multiple burdens but also their strength as Dumagat women.

We stand in solidarity that the rivers in the ancestral land of the Dumagat and all Indigenous peoples must be safeguarded. Honoring the significance of rivers means taking action to defend them from harmful dams that benefit the wealthy while violating the rights of marginalized Indigenous communities.