MANILA, Philippines-In celebration of Indigenous Peoples Month this October, Sen. Loren Legarda paid tribute to the invaluable contributions of Indigenous Peoples (IPs) to the country’s cultural heritage, national identity and sustainable development.
‘The Philippines is home to scores of ethnolinguistic groups, many of which have maintained their unique pre-colonial cultures and practices. This is not a mere point of pride, but it represents a wealth of knowledge we can depend on for the future,’ Legarda said.
‘We have long regarded IPs as the bedrock of our nation, for it was them who laid the foundation of many of our traditions and practices that we Filipinos have embraced throughout the centuries.’
Legarda, principal author of the law declaring Aug. 9 as National Indigenous Peoples Day, underscored that despite decades of advocacy, many indigenous communities continue to face major challenges, including threats to their ancestral domains from various commercial entities, the worsening impacts of climate change and the erosion of traditions and values due to globalization.
‘True nation-building means celebrating and learning from the traditions of our Indigenous Peoples, and ensuring that their communities are safe, thriving and respected,’ Legarda said.
‘We must integrate indigenous knowledge systems into national strategies on climate change adaptation, food security and biodiversity conservation. These are time-tested systems that have long sustained our people and our environment.’
‘Celebrating and learning from the traditions of the IPs, recognizing their inherent rights and partnering with them is to build a prosperous future that is also culturally vibrant and environmentally sound,’ she added.
Article continues after this advertisement
‘Hindi sila ang may pangangailangan sa atin, dahil nagmumula sa kanila ang ating pagka-Pilipino, at natutuklasan natin ito sa araw-araw, salamat sa kanilang mga naiambag.’
Legarda has long championed legislation that uplifts and empowers indigenous communities. She authored key measures such as the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009 and its amendatory measure, the Cultural Mapping Law, which mandates every local government unit to document and safeguard its cultural wealth.
She has also supported the Schools of Living Traditions, which pass on traditional methods indigenous people have used in the manufacture of various products such as textiles.
As principal author and co-sponsor of the Philippine Tropical Fabrics Law, Legarda also advanced the use of local textiles for official uniforms in government service-helping preserve indigenous weaving traditions and promote local livelihoods.