Legarda – Indigenous Peoples serve as pillar of nation

In celebration of Indigenous Peoples Month this October, Senator 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 ethno-linguistic 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 to laid the foundation in many of our traditions and practices that we Filipinos have embraced throughout the centuries.”

Legarda, principal author of the law declaring August 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 domain 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 stressed.

“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.

“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 tthe National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009, and its amendatory act, 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 the traditional methods indigenous people have used in the manufacture of various things 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.

The senator continues to highlight the richness of indigenous knowledge through the long-running, multi-awarded documentary series Dayaw, which she conceptualized and hosts. (30)

Legarda – Indigenous Peoples, nagsisilbing haligi ng bansa

Sa selebrasyon ng Indigenous Peoples Month ngayong Oktubre, ipinagdiwang ni Senadora Loren Legarda ang malaking ambag ng Indigenous Peoples (IPs) sa kultura, pagkakakilanlan, at tradisyon ng bansa, pati na rin sa tuluy-tuloy na kaunlaran.

“Buhay na ang natatanging kultura at kaugalian bago pa man dumating ang mga mananakop. Hindi lamang ito karangalan, ito’y kayamanang sandigan ng bansa,” giit ni Legarda.

“Matagal na nating kinilala ang mga katutubo bilang pundasyon ng bansa. Sila ang naglatag ng maraming kaalaman at tradisyong tinatamasa natin hanggang ngayon,” dagdag pa niya.

Bilang pangunahing may-akda ng batas na nagtatag ng National Indigenous Peoples Day tuwing Agosto 9, sinabi ni Legarda na patuloy na hinaharap ng mga katutubo ang samu’t saring suliranin.

Kabilang dito ang mga isyu sa ancestral domain, matitinding bagyong dala ng climate change, at unti-unting pagkawala ng tradisyon dahil sa globalisasyon.

Giniit ng four-term senator na hindi ganap na mabubuo ang isang bansa kung hindi kikilalanin at pag-aaralan ang kanilang mga tradisyon, at kung hindi pangangalagaan ang kanilang kabuhayan at kalusugan.

“Maraming kaalaman ang hatid sa atin ng Indigenous Peoples laban sa climate change, sa food security, at sa pangangalaga ng kalikasan dahil matagal na nilang napatunayang mabisa ang mga tradisyong ito,” ani Legarda.

“Doon natin mabubuo ang isang maunlad na kinabukasang mayaman sa kultura at ligtas kapag ipinagdiriwang at pinapahalagahan natin ang kanilang mga karapatan,” dagdag pa ng senadora.

“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.”

Maraming batas at panukala ang naisulong ni Legarda upang pagbutihin pa ang lagay ng mga IP. Kabilang dito ang National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009 at ang Cultural Mapping Law na nag-aatas sa lahat ng LGU na tukuyin at itala ang kanilang yamang kultural.

Suportado rin niya ang Schools of Living Traditions, na nagtuturo ng tradisyonal na paggawa ng mga produktong gaya ng tela.

Si Legarda rin ang pangunahing may-akda ng Philippine Tropical Fabrics Law, na nagtataguyod ng paggamit ng lokal na tela sa uniporme ng mga opisyal at kawani ng gobyerno.

Bukod pa rito, itinampok din ang karunungan ng iba’t ibang IP sa documentary series na “Dayaw,” na ideya ni Legarda. Siya rin ang host ng naturang programa. (30)