“Ang sabi ng iba, “hindi na kailangan ang IPS.” Mali sila! You are no longer helping the IP communities, because this will help in solving the IP disputes.” – Commissioner Basilio A. Wandag, NCIP Focal Commissioner for CAR and Region I “Those who have less in life should have more in law.” – Pres. Ramon Magsaysay “This is Mavulis island, we raised the Philippine flag here at exactly 12 noon when the sun (is) at its brightest. We assert our sovereignty on this northern frontier of our nation.” – Lt. Gen. Romeo T. Tanalgo, AFP Commander, NoLCom, April 30, 2016 “We opted to have the timeframe from the past so we can move forward.” – Atty. Jesus G. Torres, CHR Chief, ESCR Center “The Life of the law has not been logic. It has been experienced.” – Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., Massachusetts, US Supreme Court 1902-1932 “We know all the laws in black and white, but we need the reality. We want to know the gaps, the ideals as provided by the laws.” – Atty. Jesus G. Torres, CHR Chief, ESCR Center “We have different levels of actualizing things, inspite of intentions because of the policy limitations that the government agency can move to whatever the situation is.” – Mr. Belmer Yano, DepEd-IPEd “In moving forward of becoming rights-base, even though we have difficulties culturally, one strong recommendation is to strengthen our local base, our local governance, and our decision-making. The critical here is having the right documentation in doing the right thing.” – Mr. Belmer Yano, DepEd-IPEd “We know that there are problems in our judicial system, everyone is affected. However, during the past there are historical discrimination and injustices for the IPs; that is why they were given this kind of preferences.” – Mr. Roy J. Cabonegro, CHR “This is about IP empowerment and unemployment. It is not true that the IP always seek for the help of the government agencies. In Batanes, we have the TESDA giving skills and livelihood training. This means that if IP is not employed they will learn the livelihood project in order not to depend on others.” – Ms. Maria H. Nanud, IPMR Batanes 108