BAGUIO CITY (PIA) -- The National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) emphasized the importance of celebrating the Indigenous Peoples (IP) Month as it invites the public to participate in the activities.
 
Proclamation No. 1906 declared October as IP Month as  “the month of people’s participation in the celebration and preservation of Indigenous Cultural Communities as part of the Life of the Nation.”

Rocky Ngalob of NCIP-Benguet said that this celebration is of great importance in commemoration of the ratification of the Indigenous Peoples' Rights Act (IPRA) of 2017, a landmark legislation   that recognizes and promotes the rights of  indigenous cultural communities (ICCs) and  indigenous peoples(IPs)  in the country.

This year's celebration of the IP Month and the 26th IPRA commemoration is  anchored  on  the theme "Pagpapayaman ng Pamanang Kultural at Katutubong Yaman Tungo sa Mas Maliwanag na Kinabukasan para sa Bagong Pilipinas", which hopes that as we enrich our cultural heritage and ancestral resources, we will have a brighter future for the new Philippines.

Ngalob said the theme recognizes the rich culture and resources of our ancestral domains and lands.

Various activities are  lined up for the month-long celebration. Ngalob highlighted the conduct of the Dad-an Tako (Our Journey), a series of webinars/lectures spearheaded by the Cordillera Regional Development Council through the Committee on Indigenous Peoples' Concerns.

The first part is  on October 18 which will focus on Indigenous Language Conservation Skills Enhancement, and the second part  is set on October 25 titled “When Education Marginalizes Culture.”
 
"We encourage everyone to take advantage of this activity. Coordinate with NCIP-CAR if you want to register and have interaction thru zoom," Ngalob said.
 
An IP forum will also be conducted on October 25. The venue will be announced through the NCIP Cordillera facebook page.
 
Ngalob added that the annual IP Day celebration will be held on Oct. 26  with NCIP Chairperson Jennifer Pia Sibug-Las as the invited guest speaker.
 
The celebration aligns with the  Marcos Administration’s brand of governance and leadership, which calls for profound changes in every area of society and government, supported by unified institutions of society whose shared goal is to realize the aspirations of every Filipino. (JDP/DEG-PIA CAR)