BAGUIO CITY — The National Commission on Indigenous Peoples – Cordillera Regional Office (NCIP-CAR) and its partner agencies and other stakeholders launched three coffee table books and opened a photo exhibit under Project “Epanaw” or “Journey” at the SM City Baguio on Sunday (March 21).
The regional launching ceremony was held simultaneously with the national launching by the NCIP Central Office led by NCIP Chairman Allen Capuyan, in partnership with the Tourism Promotions Board of the Department of Tourism.
The books Pagkilala (Recognition), Paggalang (Respect), and Pagtaguyod (Promote) aim to present a true and accurate picture of indigenous peoples (IPs), giving readers a better understanding of “our fellow countrymen and women revealing who they are.”
The first coffee table book, Pagkilala, showcases the profiles of each indigenous cultural communities (ICC)/IP. It contains information about their history, location, and overview of their social and daily lives.
The second coffee table book, Paggalang, features festivals and rituals that the ICCs/IPs practice in relation to important events such as birth and death, agricultural cycle, and the sacred and profane.
The third coffee table book, Pagtaguyod, contains travel destinations in ancestral domains for tourism. The promotion of these sites will not only generate livelihood but also highlights the significance of protecting and asserting the rights of indigenous groups to their ancestral domain.
NCIP Commissioner for Cordillera and Region 1 Gaspar Cayat said that the three books will help educate the Filipinos, foreigners and tourists of the country’s cultural diversity, cultural norms and traditions of IPs and ICCs in order to correct historical injustices and wrong depiction of these people who are also human beings needing respect and co-equal treatment with the rest of humanity.
In his keynote message, House of Representatives Committee Chair on Indigenous Cultural Communities and Indigenous Peoples and Kalinga Cong. Allen Jesse Mangaoang said that the series of coffee table books are another milestones achieved by the NCIP who never wavered and continuously rallied its strength to staunchly advocate for the rights and welfare of IPs.
“The books speak of our pride as indigenous peoples, our rich cultures, our deep connections to our lands and traditions and our struggles to protect and preserve them. It is a reflection of the history, sacrifices, contributions, and strength of the indigenous peoples,” Mangaoang said.
Aside from showcasing the culture, tradition and ancestral domains of the indigenous communities in the country, the Congressman said the books also remind and educate especially the non-IPs, of the cultural diversity of IPs in the Philippines.
For her part, DOT-CAR OIC Jovita Ganongan congratulated and thanked the NCIP for coming up with the coffee table books that promote ecotourism and cultural tourism which she said will go hand in hand and it is something that makes as Cordillerans more proud as IPs.
“I like to congratulate the NCIP for coming up with the coffee table book that showcases the indigenous cultural communities and indigenous peoples of the country. We the people of the Cordilleras are very proud to be part of this great project as it illuminates a greater aspect of our indigenous culture that is sometimes misunderstood and misinterpreted,” she said.
Regional Development Council – Committee on Indigenous Peoples Concerns of the Cordillera Co-chair and Igorot Global Organization Vice President Ryan Dale Mangusan said, “This project is timely in the midst of the erroneous entries about indigenous peoples specially the Igorots in learning materials, the use of indigenous peoples terminologies to promote brands or products such as sandals, and the counterfeiting of our intricately woven fabrics. Let us please be one in vigilance against these forms of discrimination.”
The book launching and ribbon cutting ceremony was also graced by NCIP-CAR Regional Director Marlon Bosantog, DOST-CAR Regional Director Nancy Bantog, SM Baguio Assistant Mall Manager John Paul Arnaiz, and representatives of the different government line agencies and private sectors in the region.
The photo exhibit will run until April 4, 2021, at the SM City Baguio Sky Terrace Roof Garden while the books will be sold to the public through the NCIP regional office. They could be reached for more details via on line though the NCIP-CAR facebook page. **JDP/ RMC- PIA-CAR
