Indigenous Peoples Month 2016: All You Need To Know About Baguio Events

October is Indigenous Peoples Month in the Philippines which is an opportune time to recognize the contributions of the many indigenous peoples groups to the country’s culture and development. In the Cordillera Administrative Region, it also the time to showcase indigenous cultural practices as well as gather together and discuss the challenges that IPs in the region are facing. Baguio is hosting various activities celebrating IP Month 2016, and Pilipinas Popcorn has all you need to know about the lineup of events in store for visitors.

According to the Regional Development Council of NEDA for the region, this year’s events is being coordinated by the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples – Cordillera Administrative.

Recognizing Local Art and Filmmaking

For almost one month, local artists will be exhibiting their artworks during the Pamana Art Exhibit at the famous Victor Oteyza Community Art Space, located at the fifth floor of La Azotea. Opening on October 8, it features more than 50 local artists and their works. The exhibit will be running until November 4.

Cordilleran filmmakers and their films will likewise be in the limelight, courtesy of the Film Development Council of the Philippines and Cinematheque Baguio. From October 17 to 19 and October 24 to 29, Cinematheque located at Casa Vallejo, Upper Session Road, will conduct free screenings of films by local filmmakers, namely Kidlat Tahimik (Balikbayan No. 1), Art Tibaldo (Cordillera Ethnography), Jocelyn Kapuno (Kanana-Kanu), Ferdie Balanag (Walking the Waking Journey), Martin Masadao (Anak ti Pating) and Dave Montes (66th Infantry). For more details, check out Cinematheque Baguio’s Facebook page. According to the Baguio Gong Festival Facebook page, there will also be screenings at Ili-likha on Assumption Road on October 22 to 23.

Fora and Discussions on Issues and Challenges

The RDC website also cited that discussions and public fora on different issues relating to indigenous peoples have been lined up for the month. A Regional IP Youth Assembly is slated on October 14 to 15 at the Supreme Hotel, while a forum on the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act, Regional Autonomy for senior citizens is scheduled on October 29. A similar forum for IP students will also be conducted for the whole month of October in the University of Baguio, University of the Cordilleras and Saint Louis University.

On October 28 and 29, another forum on the Cordillera Perspective on the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women or CEDAW. Each province in the region will also hold tree-planting activities throughout the month.

Baguio Gong Festival

This year’s Gong Festival will be the fourth one, since the festival started during IP Month in 2012. Like the previous years’ celebrations, different cultural groups representing the various indigenous peoples groups in the region will be performing their indigenous dances while playing gongs. The gong or “gangsa” is considered a symbol of unity in the region.

The Gong Festival will start with a parade October 30 at 7:30 a.m., converging at Igorot Park, on Harrison Road, and ending at the Baguio Convention Center. The festival’s program will start at 9:00 a.m.