BONTOC, Mountain Province – The provincial government has conducted the celebration of the 5th Indigenous Peoples’day at the MP Provincial Jail on October 2, 2026, Friday, which was declared by the Malacañang a holiday only in the province.
Presidential Proclamation 1463 declared Friday, October 2, 2026, as a Special Non-Working Day in Mountain Province. A holiday, the people are given the opportunity for commemorate and celebrate the occasion.
With the theme; “Empowering the Indigenous Peoples: Strengthening Rights, Culture, and Ancestral Domains”, reminds the people that empowerment begins with recognizing the identity and rights of every person.
But why hold it in the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology facility in the province? Jail Inspector John Melecio, Acting Warden, said, in his welcome message, that the choice of the venue as the jail provides the rehabilitation and development of the Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) as they remain members of the community who positively contribute to participate ang promote our culture, unity and respect.
This gathering strengthens and deepens the understanding to appreciate our indigenous cultural heritage. “It also inspires us to become active in preserving our cultural heritage”, he quipped.
Rep. Maximo Dalog Jr was more emphatic. “Our culture does not stop at the gates of a correctional facility . . . our strength has always been defined by cultural values of inayan and og-ogfo. Further, he commended the Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representatives (IPMRs) “for spearheading the occasion to give opportunities for our brothers and sisters in rehabilitation not as outcasts, but as active participants in the preservation of our cultural fabric”.
The Guest of Honor and Speaker, Retired General and Caluttit IPMR Hon. William Aspilan enumerated the rights of every individual under the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA): rights to Ancestral Domain Ownership; rights to Self-governance; rights to social justice and human rights; and rights to cultural integrity.
He dwelt on the right to social justice wherein he talked about settling cases and problems in communities the indigenous ways.
“We recognize the settlement of disputes by way of our cultural customs and traditions, by the involvement of the elders”, he said.
Governor Bonifacio Lacwasan, Jr., in his message read by EA George Lumiwes, focused on why the venue is the jail facility as he addressed the PDLs. “Being here does not mean you lost your identity. You remain part of your family. You remain part of your communities. . . Your culture remains part of who you are who respect others.
“As you return to you families and communities, I hope you will be better persons with stronger sense of responsibilities and deeper appreciation of your culture and your roots.”, he said.
Vice Governor Jet Dominguez expressed oneness and solidarity with the inmates and the those present as the celebration went on. “Let us continue with our cultural values intact and see hope for a better future ahead of us!”, he said.
Present were the barangay IPMRs of Bontoc and municipal IPMRs of the province, the staff and personnel of NCIP, the BJMP of the province, and all the 81 PDLs.**Roger Sacyaten
