It was a day filled with cultural dances, songs, games, stories and even traditional cuisine when the Schools Division Office (SDO) of Candon City held Indigenous Peoples Education (IPED) Congress at Bugnay Elementary School on November 25.

Aside from the elders’ conference, the highlights of the day-long congress include the members of the cultural communities’ performances of cultural dances and songs; demonstrations of skills such as “tapey” making, dalag cooking using bamboo, and tinungbo; and demonstrations and playing of traditional games such as sanggol, ginnuyudan as tali, and kadangkadang.

Atty. Marvin C. Biligan, Ilocos Sur’s Provincial Officer of National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) served as the guest speaker where he emphasized the importance of cultural gatherings especially when children are involved.

Atty. Biligan also encouraged teachers in the implementing schools to instill and integrate the Bago Tribe’s various cultural practices and traditions.

He also emphasized the importance of raising awareness and conducting research on indigenous knowledge systems and practices (IKSPs) so that they can be passed down to future generations.

Moreover, Atty. Biligan donated three hardbound books on various ethnicities, ancestral domains, and IP practices in the Philippines.

The guest speaker was introduced by Ernesto B. Aquino Jr., Chief of Curriculum Implementation Division (CID).

Meanwhile, City Councilor Oscar “Chito” Balagot assured SDO Candon City and the indigenous cultural communities that the city government will continue to support its IPED programs and activities.

Pastor Leoncio L. Bacolod, Candon City’s Indigenous Peoples’ Mandatory Representative (IPMR), expressed gratitude to the division for its support of the IP communities and promised to continue assisting the DepEd in realizing its vision in IPED.

On the other hand, the resolution of establishing the Center for Living Tradition in the city was presented by John Marvin M. Gacutan, Chief Education Program Supervisor for School Governance and Operations Division (SGOD).

School Division Superintendent Anselmo R. Aludino concluded the congress with a message emphasizing that gaps in inclusive education can be filled by learning and enriching indigenous history, wisdom, and language.

SDS Aludino also informed the attendees that the CID will plan for the division’s IPED curriculum preparation.

The said congress was participated by the city’s nine indigenous cultural communities, teachers and learners of the seven IPED implementing schools, SDO personnel, different community elders, city government officials and IP mandatory representative (IPMR).

The nine indigenous cultural communities are barangays Amguid, Bagani Gabor, Bagani Tocgo, Bugnay, Calaoa-an, Cubcubbuot, Palacapac, San Andres, and Santo Tomas.

Meanwhile, Amguid Elementary School, Bagani Tocgo Elementary School, Bugnay Elementary School, Calaoan Elementary School, Cubcubbuot Elementary School, Santo Tomas Elementary School, and Santo Tomas National High School are the seven IPED implementing schools in the division.