PH’s first meeting on IP education is held in Bukidnon
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IP TRADITIONS. Tribal elders welcome on Thursday (July 4, 2024) participants to a national conference in Bukidnon State University (BukSU) in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon province. BukSU hosted the 'Bigkis 2024,' the country's first Higher Education Conference on Indigenous Peoples Education. (Photo courtesy of BukSU)
Mindanaoherald | PH’s first meeting on IP education is held in Bukidnon | CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The inaugural higher education conference on indigenous peoples (IPs) in the Philippines was inaugurated on Thursday in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon province. The conference’s objective is to integrate IP knowledge and practices into modern industry.
The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) was commended by Dr. Hazel Jean Abejuela, the vice president for academic affairs of Bukidnon State University, for the organization of the “Bigkis 2024” conference.
Abejuela stated that the initiative is a component of the university’s dedication to the integration of IP knowledge and traditions into its academic curriculum.
“BukSU has implemented culture-responsive courses that integrate Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Practices, including Indigenous Knowledge and Ecology and Indigenous Knowledge Management Systems,” she stated.
The two-day conference convened participants from across the nation to develop strategies for enhancing IP education in the workplace and postsecondary education.
According to CHED Commissioner Ronald Adamat, the IP knowledge systems are not simply “relics of the past,” but rather “living testaments to our collective resilience.”
Datu Rodelio “Waway” Saway, a tribal leader and IP arts and music conservationist, was one of the presenters.
According to Saway, the Bukidnon IPs’ vibrant traditional music, arts, and dance are not only artistic manifestations, but also repositories of wisdom, community values, and spiritual connections.
“These cultural forms are living manifestations of enduring traditions and legacies, encapsulating the collective identity and heritage of the indigenous communities,” he stated.
The Talaandig School of the Living Traditions was founded by Saway, a distinguished artist and chieftain of the Talaandig tribe from Lantapan town, Bukidnon, in collaboration with his family. (via PNA)
