The Indigenous People’s (IP) month is celebrated annually on October by virtue of Proclamation No. 1906, s. 2009 which commemorates the signing of the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act on October 29,1997. This October, in the celebration of 2024 Indigenous Peoples Month, Ministry of Indigenous Peoples Affairs (MIPA) of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) as the lead Ministry in the observance of this significant activity in the life of every Indigenous Cultural Community, MIPA prepared programs and activities with the support of different Ministries, Offices and Agencies to make this month more productive and memorable Indigenous Peoples Month celebration in the region. One of those activities is the IP Month Celebration at Dulangan Manobo Indigenous Community of Barangay Tubak in partnership with MBHTE-Project Iqbal.

This year’s theme, aligned with the National Commission for Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) with a theme: “Mga Katutubo at Katutubong Dunong: Pahalagahan, Pangalagaan at Parangalan” or “Valuing, Nurturing, and Honoring Indigenous Peoples and Indigenous Knowledge,”

Over one hundred (100) individuals gathered and actively participated the activity, composed of Dulangan Manobo and Teduray IP Learners of Sultan Umping Elementary School, Tribal Elders, Barangay Officials, Parents, Teachers and MIPA Personnels. This program is in collaboration with office of Municipal IPMR of Ampatuan, Hon. Mario Kadingilan, and Office of Barangay Chairman of Tubak Hon. Lovely Kadingilan, Tribal Leaders of Dulangan Manobo Indigenous Cultural Community. The Program was full of cultural learnings and awareness that could help on the IP Learners and community of Tubak in preserving, promoting the rich cultural heritage of Dulangan Manobo.

The Office of Minister Melanio Ulama is thankful to the leadership of Hon. Mohagher Iqbal for the Learners Kits and Books given to the IP Learners of Tubak. This will be a great help as instruments of learning in motivating them to love the school as their second home. Teachers and number of tribal leaders received a food packs. The Ministry of Indigenous Peoples Affairs is also thankful for the assistance extended by the Bangsamoro READi headed by Atty. Datu Hamad M. Abas- Head Secretariate of BDRRMC for extending support in the activity. This community is one of those areas who were severely affected on weather conditions in previous months that causes large damages on their livelihood and even their agricultural products.

The Ministry of Indigenous Peoples Affairs would like also to thanks those individuals who provide slippers for IP Learners of Tubak- it was sponsored from a friend from OFW Party List.

Present on that special IP Month Celebration for Dulangan Manobo were Judith D. Caubalejo, Director on Bureau of Indigenous Peoples Education (BIPED), Hon. Mario Kadingilan, Hon. Lovely Kadingilan, Ma’am Mercy Cano, Tribal Council and other MIPA Staff who gave time on that very special event. This activity was facilitated by Caroline Love T. Magbanua, Head, Cultural Affairs Section and Ex Officio for Indigenous Peoples on the Preservation of Cultural Heritage.

This activity complies the Ministry’s mandate to protect, preserve and promote the well-being of the Indigenous Peoples of BARMM.