LAGAWE, IFUGAO – – Throw away your anxiety for a while because good leaders at indigenous peoples (IP) are around.
Two events and three individuals help to understand the story so that it can be received clearly by anyone who comes from the IP community.
First, Emerlinda Baguilat took her oath of office recently as the indigenous people’s mandatory representative (IPMR) of Barangay Poblacion North in Lagawe. Punong Barangay Emerson Inhumang described Baguilat as a “hardworking community leader.”
For his part, former provincial agriculturist Domingo Mariano commended the Poblacion North Barangay Council for “not shrinking from its responsibility to promote the IP cause in the local governance level.” Domingo is well acknowledged for his advocacy to improve living conditions of IPs.
Lamut town in Ifugao also took time to recognize the pivotal role of IPs during a just concluded program where IP organizations members were in attendance in significant numbers.
Kagawad Luzviminda Nayao continues to be a gift for the IP community of this farming town. She is always mindful of the needs and concerns of folks’ marginalized IP communities.
Building a strong rapport with the barangay government and having broad and dynamic partnerships with well-meaning grassroots leaders like Nayao are critical. In other words, making an honest-to-goodness effort to really help the IPs, matters in the long run.
When it comes to educating the young in impoverished communities, one can be certain that the child’s overall well-being is aptly attended at these challenging times. For the community’s children are bearing the most brunt. There is a need to respond to the needs of out-of-school youth for improved knowledge, values and life skills. It is on this basis to further better prepare them for work that leaders of the private sector are needed in gatherings as this one. To share their insights on contemporary issues and concerns, such as high cost of living that shape the context of the economy.
For one, agriculture had a measly growth in recent years. A sharp dip in performance is truly hurting in Ifugao. Interest to engage in farming among the young is waning. Support system for IP youth’s non-formal education system therefore is so important.
Importantly, attention should be given to ensure the success of poverty reduction in IP communities. Ifugao is one of the poorest provinces in the country. And it is not all surprising to hear Mariano, a long-standing IP advocate, declare: “Assistance to IP communities is highly-valued each second of the day.”
Heritage serves as a holder of collective memories as a people and a reminder of their shared expressions of resilience. What ends up in the banter between the “lip service” of “Honorables” on “their love for rich cultural heritage” and failure to improve the delivery of basic services to IP communities, is one for the books.
An IPO Day, in the not-so-distant time should serve as a day for pondering how leaders in the private and public sector can genuinely help IPOs in great ways, every single day. Meantime, Domingo Mariano, Emerlinda Baguilat and Luzviminda Nayao continue to deserve commendation as daily IP heroes.
So, the Lamut IPOs have only a few hours to prove its case. Collectively for holding IP cause to a high standard add them to this list. **By Anthony A. Araos)
