.png)
Boniknik, The Seed That Blossomed
- NTFP-EP Philippines
- Apr 16
- 11 min read
Updated: Apr 18
An Indigenous Youth Leader’s Journey from Cultural Preservation to Advocacy through UGNAYIN PH and Community
From the forested mountain ranges of Sierra Madre, where the trees breathe stories of generations past, a young Dumagat-Remontado woman has grown into a leader rooted in land, culture, and community.
Kristel Quierrez, also known by friends, family, and colleagues as ‘Boniknik’, stands as a leader for her people and for the growing movement of indigenous youth finding their voices. She was raised in a community where land, culture, and identity are inseparable. Growing up, she already had a deep knowing that "where the forest stands, so do the Dumagats."
“Para sa akin, ang ibig sabihin ng pagiging katutubo ay nakaugnay ang iyong sarili sa iyong komunidad, at ikaw ay may sariling pagkakakilanlan. May ni-rerepresenta kang komunidad, at ako partikular bilang isang Dumagat-Remontado, alam ko yung paniniwala ko na ang mga katutubo at gubat ay magkaugnay.
Ang aking paniniwala ay si Makidepet ay nasa lahat ng bagay, kaya lahat ng bagay ay sagrado.”
“For me, being indigenous means being connected to your community, and having your own identity. You represent a community, and I, as a Dumagat-Remontado, believe that indigenous peoples and the forest are interconnected. I believe that Makidepet is in everything, and therefore, everything is sacred,” Boniknik shares.
Planting the Seed
Boniknik’s journey started strong, already rooted in her culture as an Agta.* Guided by her elders, the seed of consciousness that everything is interconnected, and that Makidepet (God) is in everything, had already been planted. The 23-year-old learned early on that true leadership lies in serving her community and that her life is deeply connected with the forest.
As Boniknik learned the ways of the world, that seed has since taken root, and her identity transformed from a student and keeper of her culture’s memories to active advocate. Her love for ancestral lands matured into a fierce defense of them, especially as threats to both culture and territory in Sierra Madre became more visible.
Growing up in Quezon Province by the forests, the sacredness of nature is not merely a concept but a lived truth. This worldview fuels her advocacy and deep commitment to protecting the environment and the cultural heritage of her people.
“Una kong pinag-aralang paaralan ay ito din yung isinusulong ng mga adbokasiya, kung papaano mo paglilingkuran ang iyong mga komunidad dahil hindi natin maikakaila sa realidad na napakaraming isyu ang kinakaharap ng mga katutubong komunidad ngayon. Ang paaralang ito ay sentrong paaralan ng mga Agta, at simula pa pagkabata ko, simula ng ako’y mag-aral ay iyon na yung itinatanim sa aming mga kaisipan bilang mga kabataang katutubo, at hanggang sa tumanda ako, hanggang sa kasalukuyan, iyon at iyon pa rin ang aking dinadala hanggang sa kasalukuyan.
Pag ikaw ay mula sa isang katutubong komunidad, magkakaroon ka ng malay na nandiyan na ang iyong pinaglalaban.”
“The first school I attended was already promoting these advocacies—how you serve your community—because we cannot deny the reality that indigenous communities today face many issues. This school was the central school for the Agta, and from my childhood, from the time I began studying, this was already being instilled in us as indigenous youth. And as I grew up, even until now, I still carry that with me. When you grow up in an indigenous community, you are already aware of what you're fighting for,” she says.
The Sierra Madre Mountain Range is the longest in the Philippines and home to over 50% of the country’s remaining forest cover. It supports high levels of biodiversity and is home to many indigenous groups, including the Dumagat-Remontado. Despite its ecological importance, it continues to face threats from mining, logging, and large-scale infrastructure projects, including the controversial Kaliwa Dam, which poses risks of displacement to indigenous communities and irreversible damage to the forest ecosystem.1
*Agta is from the native language of the Dumagat-Remontado indigenous community, meaning tao or person. While the identity ‘Dumagats or Dumagat-Remontado’ is more commonly known by cityfolk, Boniknik self-identifies as an Agta.
Tending to the Soil
2024 had been momentous for the young leader. The Global Landscapes Forum (GLF) awarded Boniknik as one of its changemakers driving restoration in its 2025 Restoration Awards, amplifying her role as a young indigenous woman in environmental governance. This recognition set an example for her peers that their voices and traditional knowledge are valuable in shaping sustainable environmental solutions. That same year, she graduated from college with a degree in education and successfully passed the licensure examination for teachers. Meanwhile, she was also recognized by a major digital news outlet and a popular magazine this year, further solidifying the importance of the role of the youth in social movements.
The young environmentalist is currently the Vice Chairperson of the Ugnayin National Indigenous Youth Network Philippines (UGNAYIN PH) and a core member of Katutubong Kabataan na Umuugat sa Kabundukan sa Sierra Madre (UGBON), a grassroots indigenous youth organization based in General Nakar, Quezon.
Despite her accomplishments and global recognition, Boniknik first distinguished herself as a deep listener, attentive to her elders, her community, and nature. Their wisdom cultivated the soil in which the youth would gather strength, thrive, and blossom.
“Kung nanggaling ka sa isang katutubong komunidad, natural na sa iyo simula pa pagkabata na mahalin ang kalikasan, ang iyong lupaing ninuno, ang iyong pagkatao, kaya naman ang mga nakaimpluwensiya sa aking adbokasiya ay ang aking komunidad din – sa gabay ng mga matatandang lider, kung paano nila hinubog ang aking kaisipan upang bumalik, patuloy na mag lingkod sa aking komunidad at kung papaano umusbong sa daloy nito ang mga adbokasiya ko ngayon, lalong higit sa mga karapatan ng mga katutubo, at sa aming lupaing ninuno, lalong higit sa kalikasan.”
“If you come from an indigenous community, it is natural from childhood to love nature, your ancestral land, your identity,” she says. “That's why those who have influenced my advocacy are also my community—guided by the elders, who shaped my way of thinking to return and continue serving my people. That’s how my advocacy blossomed—particularly in the defense of indigenous rights, our ancestral lands, and especially nature,” she said.
The restoration steward grew up understanding the challenges faced by indigenous communities, including land dispossession, environmental degradation, and cultural erosion. One major threat is the Kaliwa Dam Project, which might displace Boniknik’s Dumagat-Remontado community. Despite opposition from local and indigenous groups, the project has continued to progress with limited consultation.2 Even as a child, she witnessed how traditional knowledge and community values are often overlooked and excluded from broader conversations about development and governance.
Yet within those challenges, the roots of strength and wisdom grew. One of those roots was in the form of UGNAYIN PH. It was through the youth network that her advocacy moved from preservation to purposeful action. It became the space where her cultural consciousness was matched with tools for organizing, speaking out, and mobilizing other youth.
UGNAYIN PH: Growing Collective Roots
Founded on 2022, UGNAYIN PH is a network of indigenous youth organizations from Sierra Madre, Palawan, Visayas, and Mindanao landscapes, formed to champion the indigenous youth advocacy at multiple levels. It currently supports a total of nine (9) indigenous youth groups representing 421 individuals/youths and eight (8) Indigenous Cultural Communities (ICCs).
Boniknik was part of its early formation, a time when online gatherings would create a special bond for the youth juggling the challenges brought by the pandemic, their indigenous territories, and simply being a young person of the times. She journeyed with her fellow youth, participating in camps, trainings, and organizing work. From 2014-2024, as it was growing and slowly being formed, the network has collaborated and partnered with different groups and organizations, co-organized and co-facilitated 28 activities and events, including six (6) youth camps, numerous strategic meetings, a couple of trainings.
”Hindi ito agad nabuo eh, ang Ugnayin. Dumaan siya sa proseso, dahil katulad ng pagiging lider, hindi ka magiging lider agad kung wala kang karanasan sa pamumuno. Hinubog nila ako, hinulma, sa tagal ng panahon, sa ilang taon na nabuo na ang Ugnayin, napakalaki talaga yung ambag nito sa akin, kung ano ako ngayon.”
“Ugnayin didn’t form overnight. It went through a process, just like leadership. You don’t become a leader without going through the doubts, the growth, and the learning. They molded me over time. In the years since Ugnayin was formed, it has contributed greatly to who I am today.”
In UGNAYIN PH, she didn’t just find solidarity—she found her voice, and the courage to use it. What started as a desire to protect culture evolved into organizing discussions, mobilizing youth for environmental campaigns, and defending ancestral lands. The network provided a platform for its members to co-create the UGNAYAN Show in 2021. An online magazine show live-streamed every few months, it provides a platform where the youth can bring their community’s struggles to a broader audience. Boniknik had become a regular co-host of the show.
“Sila yung humubog sa akin papaano magsalita sa unahan, at doon ko natutunan kung papaano ko gamitin ang boses ko, lalo na at kung ikaw ay isang lider, kailangan mo talaga gaimtin ang iyong boses. Nakita ko ito kung gaano nila kamahal ang kanilang mga lupaing ninuno at kung papaano sila handang ipaglaban ito.”
“I learned how to use my voice. Especially if you are a leader, you really need to use your voice,” she recalls. “I witnessed how deeply they loved their ancestral lands and how willing they were to defend them.”
With seeds of wisdom from her elders and community, roots from UGNAYIN PH and UGBON, and with support from an active collaboration with NTFP-EP Philippines and the Green Livelihoods Alliance – Forests for A Just Future, Boniknik’s environment became the fertile ground for her leadership to blossom and grow her roots with fellow indigenous youth.
Defending the Sacred, Passing on the Torch
One of the most urgent issues Boniknik and her peers are fighting is the gradual erosion of indigenous culture among the youth. According to the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), there are over 14 million indigenous peoples in the Philippines, yet many still lack access to basic services and face marginalization. Among the youth, cultural disconnection, language loss, and exclusion from decision-making remain persistent challenges.3 Boniknik says that many of their youth can no longer speak their native language or practice ancestral traditions.
“Hindi na din maikakaila na halos kalahati sa aming lupaing ninuno, na porsyento ng mga katutubong kabataan ay hindi na marunong magsalita ng aming salita, at kaakibat din doon, yung hindi lang sa salita, sa mga tradisyon at sa iba pa, sa ibang kultura na ginagawa ng aming mga ninuno ay halos hindi na alam.”
“Many of our young people can no longer speak our language,” she laments. “They don’t know the traditional practices of our ancestors, because these things are no longer passed down. The changes in our environment and society have made it harder for parents to pass on our ways.”
For Boniknik, this is not just a cultural loss—it is a threat to identity. This highlights how the youth’s efforts are part of a larger struggle for recognition and participation. Now, through her voice, she advocates for revitalizing language, strengthening cultural education, and making sure the stories and sacred traditions of their people are preserved for future generations, all with the youth participating.
"Mahalin ang kalikasan, igalang ang paniniwalang katutubo, at lalong higit ay ang partisipasyon ng katutubong kabataan. Crucial yung kanilang partisipasyon sa lahat ng ito, sapagkat kung hindi sila sumama ngayon, sino ang magiging kasama ng mga kasalukuyang lider pagdating ng panahon?”
“Love nature, respect indigenous beliefs, and above all is the participation of indigenous youth. Their participation is crucial because if they don’t join us now, who will stand beside the current leaders in the future?”
Hand in hand with cultural preservation is environmental protection. For Boniknik, these two are inseparable. Her advocacy is fueled by the belief that indigenous peoples are the stewards of the land, not because of policy, but because of centuries of lived connection. These traditional systems, she argues, must be valued alongside scientific approaches.
“Ang aming mga tradisyunal na paniniwala, na pamamaraan ay epektibo pagdating sa pangangalaga ng kalikasan, kaya dapat ito ay kilalanin din pagdating sa mga stratehiya na pinapatupad ng gobyerno.”
“Our traditional practices and methods are effective in protecting the environment, and they should also be recognized when it comes to government strategies and policies.”
Another Strong Branch: Indigenous Women Leading the Way
Boniknik also draws strength from her identity as an indigenous woman and from elder women role models. In the Dumagat-Remontado community, she observes that women more often take bold, visible roles in leadership.
”Sa Dumagat na community, mas matapang ang babae. Iyon yung isa sa pinagmamalaki ko sa aking pinagmulang hanay ng katutubong komunidad. Mas malakas ang partisipasyon ng kababaihan kaysa sa kalalakihan. Iyon ang sa aking personal na obserbasyon, at dahil na rin sa mga naunang umusbong pa na mga lider. Kung ano ako ngayon bilang lider ay dahil na rin inspirado ako sa mga nauna pang mga lider kababaihan sa aming komunidad.”
“In the Dumagat community, women are braver,” she laughs. “That’s something I take pride in about my community. I’ve observed that women are more assertive and involved than the men. I think that’s because of the early women leaders who emerged, and they inspired who I am today as a leader.”
She honors the women leaders who came before her—those who paved the way for her voice to be heard—and hopes to do the same for others.
Blossoming A Dream for the Future
Boniknik’s story is one of courage, growth, and transformation. She acknowledges that, like many young leaders, she initially doubted herself. However, over time she realized that her voice held power because she spoke for other people. There was also a time when she had to navigate the unfamiliar, sometimes, spaces within and outside her community, where indigenous youth are often overlooked or misunderstood.
“Doon umusbong na isulong ang partisipasyon ng katutubong kabataan, sapagkat sa kasalukyan iyon yung isa sa mga angkop na solusyon ay nagmumula din sa kabataan. Sa kasalukuyan ay may tiwala na ang mga matatanda. Mas malakas na ngayon yung katapangan, na kung hindi ko ito sasabihin ngayon, hindi nila maiintindihan yung aking sitwasyon. Mangangapa ka rin sa una, pero sa pagdaan ng panahon, magtiwala ka sa proseso na kaya mo rin silang harapin.”
“That’s where we started pushing for youth involvement, because in the present time, many suitable solutions also come from the youth. Now the elders have learned to trust us,” she expressed gleefully. Now I have more courage—because if I don’t speak now, they won’t understand my situation. You’ll feel lost at first, but over time, trust the process that you can also face them.”
Boniknik dreams of a future where indigenous youth aren’t just participants but recognized leaders, decision-makers, storytellers, and guardians of their people’s future in their communities. But more than that, her dream is that of indigenous youth gaining recognition not just because of their struggles, but also by their healthy and thriving young lives.
“Sa aking pangarap sa mga susunod pang mga henerasyon, hindi na lang kami narito dahil sa mga issue, kundi narito kami para ibahagi ang mga tagumpay na pinagdaanan simula pa sa aming mga ninuno. At nariyan ang mga katutubong kabataan para magbahagi ng isang payapa, malusog, at magandang komunidad.”
“In my dream, in the coming generations, we are not just here because of the issues, but because we are here to share the victories since the time of our ancestors. Indigenous youth will be here to share about a peaceful, healthy, and thriving community.
For now, she continues to do the work—planting seeds, nurturing connections, growing leaders.
Her message to fellow indigenous youth is simple but powerful: Natural ang pagiisip na hindi nila kayang makibahagi. Sa bandang huli makikita mo rin yung tiwala sa sarili, sapagkat ikaw mismo bilang kabataang katutubo ay natural sa iyo na may dinadala kang komunidad, at doon mismo dadaloy ang iyong paglahok. Magtiwala ka sa iyong sarili at doon na magsisimula ang lahat.
“It’s natural to feel unsure,” she advises other indigenous youth unsure where to begin. Eventually, you will find self-trust because you, as an indigenous youth, naturally carry your community within you. And from that, your involvement will flow. Trust yourself—that’s where everything begins.”
From a tiny seed maturing to a fully blossomed tree, Boniknik’s journey is a living testament to what happens when indigenous youth are trusted, nurtured, and rooted in their identity. In a time of uncertainty and a rapidly changing climate, her story serves as a reminder that the answers we seek are often already within our indigenous peoples and their ancestral lands—waiting to be remembered, spoken aloud, and shared.
References:
1 Haribon Foundation Reports on Sierra Madre
DENR Reports on Sierra Madre
Comments