BONTOC, Mountain Province (PIA) — The Mountain Province State University (MPSU) continues to celebrate indigenous cultural heritage and encourages the students to preserve and make it more vibrant for the younger generations.
The MPSU through its School of Teacher Education recently hosted the Indigenous Peoples Student Summit 2024 with the theme “Mga Katutubo at Katutubong Dunong: Pahalagahan, Pangalagaan, at Parangalan” (Indigenous People and Indigenous Knowledge: Value, Protect, and Honor).
MPSU President Dr. Edgar G. Cue, in his message read by Vice President for Administration and Finance Mr. Reynaldo P. Gayo, Jr., emphasized the importance of preserving indigenous knowledge and practices, challenging the students to explore modern technology in preserving cultural heritage for future generations.
“Let us use this as a platform to raise our indigenous voices, celebrate our rich cultural heritage, and forge a path towards a future that respects tradition and values customs and traditions that our ancestors passed down to us” Cue said.
“I pass the challenge to you, make use of this opportunity to make our rich culture and practice louder, and more vibrant that will radiate through the younger and incoming generations,” he added.
The summit also featured discussions on interplay of customary practices and laws by Atty. Brian Donggayao, Legal Officer of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples Mountain Province office, and Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Practices by Rocky Ngalob from the NCIP regional office.
The Philippine Indigenous Culture classes presented cultural performances including the reenactment of the “Sipat” peace accord, the Sogaypan folklore, and traditional courtship dance.
Another highlight was a research presentation titled “The Tayan of Upland Bontoc” by Elizabeth P. Lacaben. The tayan is an indigenous concept of communal land management in Bontoc.
Students, university personnel and community leaders participated in this event celebrating their rich indigenous culture and identity. This was also part of the celebration of National Indigenous Peoples Month. (JDP/VBT-PIA CAR, Mountain Province)
