Bukidnon’s Manobo, Talaandig ethnic groups celebrate IP month

QUEZON, Bukidnon — Manobo and Talaandig ethnic groups in Quezon, Bukidnon, commemorated the 29th National Indigenous Peoples Month on Tuesday.

The event was held in line with celebrations marking the anniversary of the landmark Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act (IPRA) of 1997.

The event highlighted how traditional knowledge, customary governance, and ecological stewardship continue to shape the cultural and economic identity of Quezon.

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For centuries, the indigenous communities of Quezon, predominantly belonging to the Manobo tribe, have lived in harmony with the land.

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Central to their enduring heritage are cultural practices that remain active today, including Inagung and Kaliga-on rituals of thanksgiving to Magbabaya (the Supreme Creator), Kastifun (consensus-building and dispute resolution led by Datus and Baes under customary law), and sustainable agroforestry practices that protect the Pulangi River watershed.

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Speaking at the assembly, Datu Elmer Lilawan, municipal Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative (IPMR), stressed that preserving tribal culture requires an active, daily commitment, especially amid rapid modern development.

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“Our culture and tradition are not mere relics of the past; they are the foundation of our identity as a people,” Lilawan said. “Preserving our ancestral knowledge and passing it on to the next generation ensures that our heritage remains alive.”

Jan Michael Binayao, National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) provincial community affairs officer, commended the local government for upholding the spirit of the IPRA Law, enacted on October 29, 1997.

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Municipal tribal chieftain Datu Bebot Mandanuay, along with barangay-level IPMRs from across the municipality, reiterated the tribal leadership’s resolve to protect their ancestral domain, or lupang pusaka.

Led by Mayor Pablo Lorenzo III, the Quezon local government unit reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding Indigenous rights and heritage, ensuring that progress in Bukidnon goes hand in hand with honoring the province’s cultural roots. /mcm