October 04, 2023
BCPCH joins other Ministries and Offices of the BARMM in commemorating the Month-Long Celebration of the National Indigenous Peoples' Month
In line with the theme, “Pagpapayaman ng Pamanang Kultural at Katutubong Yaman Tungo sa mas Maliwanag na Kinabukasan para sa Bagong Pilipinas”, the Bangsamoro Commission for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage (BCPCH-BARMM) joins the other ministries and offices of the BARMM in commemorating the month-long celebration of the National Indigenous Peoples’ Month.
The Indigenous Peoples’ Month is celebrated annually in October by Proclamation No. 1906, which commemorates the signing of the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA) on 29 October 1997. The enactment of the IPRA law provided the Philippines the distinction to be the first country in Asia to empower Ips through legislation.
The IP Month aims to raise awareness on the importance of Indigenous Peoples in nation-building. The Philippines has over fifty distinct indigenous cultural communities. They are acclaimed for their rich artistic and cultural heritage, indigenous knowledge, and mastery of the landscape that has sustained them for centuries.
As part of this month-long commemoration, the Commission features the masterpiece of Mr. Mohaimen M. Guiamal, one the participants during the 2023 National Arts Month Virtual Arts Contest last February, called “Mariani”.
Mariani is an indigenous college graduate Filipina who has faced discrimination throughout her life due to her cultural differences. Despite of this, she is persistent in her pursuit of making a positive in her community.
Notwithstanding the prejudice she faced, she worked hard to graduate with a degree and now uses her education to advocate for the rights and preservation of her people.
Mariani’s persistence in the face of discrimination is an inspiration to her community, and she is a shinning example of the power of education to uplift and empower the marginalized communities.
—
BCPCH is the primary institution in preserving the history, culture, arts, tradition, and rich cultural heritage of the Bangsamoro people across the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. The Commission is currently under the leadership of Chairperson Salem Y. Lingasa, Ph.D.
#IndigenousPeoplesMonth