Fieldwork

Through official channels, I was permitted and welcomed to work with the community in Mariveles, Bataan Province. Aside from this, IRB approval has been obtained for the documentation project. Preliminary consultations and community visits were conducted to obtain Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) from the tribal chief, along with approval from the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP). These processes are mandated by the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act of 1997, governing all research engagements with Indigenous Cultural Communities in the Philippines.

Personally, I do not have any familial ties with the Ayta Magbukun communities. But, I have developed a relationship with the communities through the years due to pilot fieldwork and immersion. I have prior engagements with the community in Mariveles back in 2020 and have forged lasting relationships and friendships with community members. I lived amongst community members and experienced doing household chores and communal food sharing. As an academic and a Filipina linguist, I am aware of my privileged positionality. Hence, I feel a deep sense of responsibility to contribute to the maintenance of linguistic and cultural diversity in the region. 

Indigenous communities in the Philippines, like the Ayta Magbukun, have faced discrimination and marginalization, which has resulted in limited opportunities for political representation, economic advancement, and social inclusion. I believe that doing language work that is community-based and garners communal interest is a step towards a more equitable environment where cultures and linguistic heritage are valued, celebrated, and protected.