Petra Macliing


Petra Macliing is a Filipino anti-Chico dam activist, hailing from Bontoc, Mountain Province and best known as "Mother Petra". As a member of the Mainit tribe of Bontoc, she joined the indigenous peoples of Bontoc and Kalinga in the fight to protect their "ili" against a World Bank funded dam project in the Philippines. She is a founding member of Cordillera [People's Alliance] and leader of the Montañosa Women's Federation. She is also a member of the Kalinga-Bontoc Peace Pact Holders Association and the Cordillera Elders Alliance. She founded Mainit Ub-ubfo and the Maiinit Irrigators Association.

Personal life

Macliing was widowed at a young age, resulting in her having to raise eight children by herself. Macliing had seven daughters and one son, but her son died at a young age. To support her family, Macliing worked as a farmer and sold saris, managing to send all of her daughters to college. Her youngest daughter, lawyer Francesca Macliing-Claver, recounted that she was only 3 months old when her father died. "My mother was the only parent I have ever known", said Francesca.

Awards and recognitions