A daughter of a half Obo Manobo, Ivy Rose Paz of Makilala learned about MAFI’s scholarship program after she finished her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Southern Mindanao, and brief stint in the call center industry. MAFI supported her all throughout her law school by subsidizing her tuition fee, board and lodging, and book allowance.
While on scholarship, she discovered more about her tribe, thus furthering her interest in her ancestry. In law school, she thoroughly examined ancestral domain issues, Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act of 1997, and civil laws concerning Lumads.
Attaining her dream has brought her back to her Manobo roots, acquainting herself with her tribe’s traditions and rituals. “MAFI has improved my self-awareness and made me value my indigenous roots, enabling me to experience, appreciate, and treasure our rich culture and traditions,” she conveyed.
Ivy now works as the provincial legal officer of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples in North Cotabato where she gets to practice her profession as a lawyer in protecting the rights of Lumads in the province.
“I consider it my moral obligation to pay back by helping Lumads to deal with their legal concerns. Recently, I took part in the process and assisted in the preparation of paperwork to realize the Memorandum of Agreement between the Manobo-Apao Descendants of Ancestral Domain in Mt. Apo and the Energy Development Corporation so that the local tribe will get a royalty from the geothermal plants’ operation at Barangay Ilomavis,” she explained.
Ivy hopes that MAFI will revive its scholarship program for poor and deserving students who will study law so that it will have more lawyer scholars who can help protect indigenous peoples’ rights in the future.
The rootedness of MAFI’s scholars in their indigenous culture and traditions should be enhanced,” she emphasized, adding that hopefully, MAFI can strengthen its linkages and help its scholars to be employed in development-oriented organizations and companies with programs serving poor and marginalized communities.
Atty. Ivyrose B. Paz
Scholar 2010-2014
