Benguet State University (BSU) in partnership with Partners for Indigenous Knowledge Philippines (PIKP), hosted the three-day Tawid Indigeneous Knowledge and Learning Festival 2025 from November 20-22, 2025. The event, organized by BSU’s Institute of Social Research and Development (ISRD) and the Center for Culture and the Arts (CCA) brought together different groups including the community, students, researchers, educators, and government institutions.
The first day started with a prayer led by CCA Director Leonardo L. Samonte and an elder from the community. In behalf of the University President Kenneth A. Laruan, VP for Business Affairs Josel M. Florentin gave the welcome remarks.
In his message, Florentin emphasized that the Indigenous Knowledge (IK) are the tawid or inheritance that has been entrusted to us by the past generation and that we should preserve and pass forward to the future generation. He also added that IK is not mere folklore or tradition for tradition’s sake. It is sophisticated, time-tested wisdom that has sustained communities through countless challenges.
“So the inheritance we celebrate today, our indigenous knowledge, is not frozen in the past. It is living, breathing, and remarkably relevant to our present challenges” Florentin added.
This was followed by the presentation of the rationale and flow of the activity by Asiah Czarinne Mariano of PIKP and a cultural performance by the Dap-ayan ti Kultura iti Kordilyera (DKK) and the BSU Kontad.
Matyline A. Camfili-Talastas, ISRD Division Head for Indigeneous Knowledge and System introduced the keynote speaker in the person of Micheal G. Umaming, the Provincial Focal Person of the National Commission on Indigenous People – Mountain Province. Another keynote speaker was Maria Lourie C. Victor, the Senior Technical Assistant of the Department of Education, Central Office.
Umaming discussed the role of IK in the sustainable management of our natural resources. He underscored the Indigenous values of inayan, lawa, paniyaw, and ipuyas nan gawis. According to him, resources provided by nature are for everyone, including the spirits and the unborn generation.
Victor provided a comprehensive discussion of the history of Indigenous Peoples Education (IPEd), and the initiatives related to it. She discussed that reflections from these initiatives revealed that the schooling experience is not responsive, it is insensitive, discriminatory, and not reflective of IP realities. She encouraged the participants to continue reflecting on how we portray Indigenous communities, especially in the academe.
Allan Cariño, the Culture and Arts Stream Focal person of PIKP introduced their partner organizations such as Ili Press, Center of Distinction for Indigenous and Local Knowledge, BSU CCA, BSU ISRD, joint DKK Cultural Alliance and Cordillera Youth Center, the Baeng Network of Home Gardeners and the Bituwon Ethinic Arts and Crafts from Baguio City who showcased their products, materials, and publications which also served as learning stations for the participants.
The first panel discussion about the Experiences in IK Learning and IPEd featured Maningning H. Vilog of Liwanag at Dunong, who shared the Aeta community’s literacy journey in Sitio Kalangitan, Capaz, Tarlac. She emphasized their desire for literacy, the struggles with displacement/development activities, the need for contextualized materials, reciprocal learning, and recognizing community strength.
Fr. Andrew K. Claver discussed the importance of Indigenous spirituality in achieving umpanan nemnem. He focused on the life lessons of Bishop Francisco F. Claver, the pioneer of the Schools of Living Traditions (SLT) in Mountain Province. The Bishop’s life modeled grassroots immersion and courage for social change, while the SLT uses the CHRIST framework (Culture, History, Roots, Enculturation, Spirituality, Trinity) to interface Christian values and Indigenous culture.
Maria Luz D. Fang-asan, discussed going beyond the academe in IK learning by highlighting traditional venues like the Dap-ay , Payew, and Mogao. Reflecting on the challenge of indigenous language loss among youth, she suggested leveraging digital connections to help the younger generation maintain their indigenous identity.
The second day started with a message from the VP for Research and Extension Roscinto Ian C. Lumbres proposing that a podcast be made for better dissemination to other younger generation about cultural and IK. Following this, Cariño led a brief discussion on the PIKP Perspective in Indigenous Pedagogy.
The morning’s first panel, that focused on Experiences in Basic Education, SLT, and Alternative Learning, featured sharing and presentations:
Lioba Aisa E. Piluden from the University of the Philippines (UP) -Baguio, shared her personal experiences regarding the learning and teaching of IK within the community.
Aries L. Busacay of the Happy Hollow National High School, presented the “ORGANIC” project (Offering Resources of Growing Agri-Product and Nutrition to the Community), which supports both students and community’s food security.
Deborah L. Reyes, Principal of St. James High School of Mountain Province, Inc., discussed Umudong to Tawid: Transformative Actions with Indigenous Direction, highlighting the school’s approach based on core indigenous values: inayan, uyya, gawat, ayyew, and kasiyana.
Dexter B. Cawaing of Wangal SLT, also shared the impact of IK and culture on the younger people of Wangal.
After the panel discussion, DepEd Benguet Education Supervisor for Social Studies, Macarthy Mallanes acknowledged the challenges and provided recommendations for enhancing IPEd in formal education specially in public schools.
The afternoon session continued with the third keynote address from Wilfredo V. Alangui, from UP – Baguio, Centers of Distinction on Indigenous and Local Knowledge. Alangui’s discussion focused on the implementation and challenges of IPEd policy in the Philippines specifically in the IPEd in Basic Education (Department of Education Order No. 62, s. 2011 or DO62) and IPEd in Higher Education (Commission on Higher Education Memorandum Order No. 2, s. 2019 or CHED Memo No. 2).
After the discussion, a parallel session was held on the topic Experiences and Research on IPEd by Tertiary Level Institutions. Presentations included:
The Ethnoscience of Kayabang Weaving: A Culturally Responsive Education Through Participatory Development of Multimedia Based Learning System by Paul Joseph A. Nuval, faculty member of BSU – College of Information Sciences.
Indigenous Kankanaey Songs: Its benefit to teachers handling Mother Tongue Classes in Kankanaey-Dominated DepEd Elementary Schools in Mankayan,Benguet by Rachel K. Maguen, faculty member of BSU-College of Teacher Education.
Tipon at Salin ng mga Katutubong Akda: Ambag sa Pagtuturo ng Panitikang Panrehiyon by Dominga S. Tomas, faculty member of BSU-College of Arts and Humanities.
Experiences and Narratives on learning IK by Student Performing groups of SUC by Talastas.
Institutionalizing Cordillera History and Culture as a Course in Tertiary Education: The Case of Cordi 101 by Maribel T. Apnoyan, faculty member of BSU-College of Social Sciences (CSS).
Empowering Indigenous Communities: The Pursuit of Quality Education and Peaceful Societies by Beverly B. Laltoog of the University of Baguio, School of Teacher Education and Liberal Arts.
The second day ended with a panel discussion on the Experiences of Civil Society Organizations in relation to Educational Institutions and Local Government Units in the Practice, Promotion, and Assertion of IK. Participants included:
Florence “Dom-an” Macagne from Sagada Mountain Province, discussed Women, Peace, and Human Rights; Julius Ceasar “Bayubay” Daguitan of DKK shared Indigenous Knowledge, Arts, and Indigenous Peoples Rights, and Catherin Cimatu-Toyeng presented the Gong Festival as venue for learning.
Parallel sessions for Community Learning and Indigenous Learning and New Media continued on the final day of the event. Topics presented inlcuded:
Knowledge Transmission on Urban Gardening by Brigit Pitok of Baeng Network and Rekindling the Fire: The Tanggew Story of Community, Culture and Courage by Karryl Mae C. Ngina, faculty member of BSU-CSS; Experiences of Radyo Sagada in disseminating IK in the digital era by Julyen Paleyan of Radyo Sagada; IK and Social Media by Absalom D. Toyeng from the National Nutritional Council – Cordillera Administrative Region; Transmission through Comics and Animation by Tor Sagud of Studio Sagud, and Visual Arts as Living Alternative for IK by Lianne Tamares of Sulong Likha.
Workshops on Traditional Arts and Performance such as the Bendiyan Dance was led by Ghlen Balatbat from Amwao Performing Arts; Chants led by Ventura Bitot and Hilliard Puguon from the community; Zine Making by Risha Ordas of Ili Press, and the Theater production: “The people Called Bago: The Tiguey Chronicles of Apo Sawate” presented by the Union Christian College Abong Collective group.
The last day of the activity concluded with a synthesis of the event by Jacqueline K. Cariño PIKP coordinator, followed by the closing remarks by Kiwang.//DPaydowan
