Jennylyn Mercado has recently been articulating her thoughts about the closure of ABS-CBN, expressing disgust over the retrenchment of the network’s artists and workers, and voicing out her solidarity with them. Now, she is taking on a new and challenging cause – fighting for Lumads.

Her tweets today, July 20, centered on her growing concern for two missing Lumads whom she feels need help. Posting an online article about the issue, Mercado asked some pressing questions:

“Dalawang araw [nang] nawawala si Mongkel Tacalan at ang dalawa niyang anak. Kelan sila papakawalan? Kelan sila papauwin? We need to share their stories #StopLumadKillings.”

(For two days, Mongkel Tacalan and her two children have been missing. When will they be freed? When will they be allowed to go home?)

Stating her willingness to learn more about Lumads, she enjoined her Twitter followers to give her some materials which may help cultivate her knowledge about the indigenous group.

“Madami pa akong kailangan aralin at alamin sa mga nangyayari sa Lumad. Pero mula pa lang sa mga nabasa ko, iisa lang ang masasabi ko… Ang dami na nila na nawalan ng katarungan. Sobra na. #StopLumadKillings,” she said.

jennylyn ig bass — Jennylyn Mercado. Image: Instagram/@mercadojenny

(I still need to study a lot of things and be informed about what’s happening to the Lumad. But from what I have read so far, this I can say: a lot of them has been deprived of justice. Enough.)

One @maykamaykaba immediately replied and said, “Miss Jen, I can help you po to know more about our Lumad brothers and sisters.”

“Yes please. Ano pang mga pwede kong basahin saka ano pang pwede kong gawin?” Mercado replied. (What else can I read and what else can I do?) She was then led by the netizen to online resources which she can read for starters. Mercado thanked the netizen and pointed out that she has had some difficulty looking for materials because they appeared to be very few.

Mercado’s fans quickly commended her for her concern, outspokenness and eagerness to involve herself in issues that matter. JB

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