The Obu Manuvu community of Sitio Luyan, Barangay Tambobong, Baguio District, Davao City, officially opened the Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Practices (IKSP) Festival on October 24, 202 with the theme “Paghinumdom sa Kulturanhong Kahibalo” — a celebration of wisdom, tradition, and intergenerational learning.
The festival began with sacred rituals and prayers led by Obu Manuvu elders, setting the tone of reverence and unity. In his opening remarks, IPS Head Lipatuan Joel Unad Sr. emphasized the importance of remembering and practicing traditional knowledge, “As Indigenous people, we have the responsibility to protect our ancestral lands and the forests that give us life. When we care for the environment, we also protect our identity and the future of our community.”
Suddoan Joel Unad Jr., who presented the background of the activity, noted that the IKSP Festival is an avenue for knowledge exchange among generations, “Through this celebration, we aim to strengthen the bridge between our elders and youth so that our people’s wisdom continues to live on,” he said.
In his message, Mr. Dennis Joseph Salvador, Executive Director of the Philippine Eagle Foundation, reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to culture-based conservation, “As part of our culture-based conservation work, the Foundation fully supports the Obu Manuvu’s desire to document your ancient knowledge, your customary rules, and your indigenous way of life,” he said. We in the Philippine Eagle Foundation are very proud of our partnership with the Obu Manuvu. Together, we have shown the country and the world that Indigenous Peoples—and the wisdom that comes from your deep connection with nature—can truly guide modern society toward treating the environment with respect and care”, he added.
Partners echoed similar sentiments, highlighting how the festival strengthens collaboration between government, private institutions, and cultural communities in sustaining both nature and heritage.
“Ngayon, masaya kaming maging bahagi muli ng bagong yugto ng ating pagtutulungan—ang documentation at contextualization ng Pusaka Philosophy. Kasama ang Philippine Eagle Foundation at Alcantara Foundation, tutulong ang Alsons Dev sa pagsasalin ng mga aral ng Pusaka sa mga books para sa kabataan, upang magpatuloy ang karunungan ng mga ninuno”, said Margarita Gross, Corporate Communications Manager of Alsons Investment and Development Corporation.
“With the sudden changes in our environment that may affect biodiversity, brought about by natural phenomena and human intervention, along with the use of technological advancements towards development, rest assured that the City Government of Davao is in full throttle in protecting and preserving ancestral areas, biodiversity, and the communities as a whole”, said Mr. Reynante Vallejo, Coordinator of the Bantay Bukid Program of the Public Safety and Security Office.
Lyne Pepito of Josefa Segovia Foundation reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the Obu Manuvu in preserving their cultural heritage”, “The Josefa Segovia Foundation reaffirms its commitment to stand with the Obu Manuvu in keeping their cultural heritage alive. Supporting the documentation of their traditions is our way of honoring their wisdom and resilience and ensuring that future generations will continue to learn from their deep connection with the land and the forest.”
Throughout the first day, elders and youth led sessions on ancestral history, sacred art, and music. Topics included “Pusaka and the People of the Land,” discussions on sacred designs, and performances of traditional songs and dances that reflected pride in identity and cultural integrity. The evening ended with “Circle of Fire, Circle of IP,” a moving bonfire gathering filled with storytelling, chanting, and traditional music.
Day two continued with hands-on learning through “The Recipe of Resilience: Indigenous Delicacies as Cultural Preservation.” Elders demonstrated how traditional dishes such as baki, kasili, apusaw, and pako reflect deep connections to the forest, land, and community values of sharing and sustainability.
Youth participation took center stage in “Playing with Tradition: The Cultural Heritage of Indigenous Tribal Games.” Traditional games like sa’ac, pana, and sisivow not only entertain but also teach cooperation, endurance, and respect — values essential to communal life. A special talk on “Indigenous Youth Mental Well-being in a Changing World” encouraged the younger generation to find balance between modern life and ancestral wisdom.
A special session on mental and reproductive health among Indigenous youth was led by Dr. Pauline Leray, encouraging young participants to embrace holistic well-being and find balance between modern life and ancestral wisdom.
The final sessions, “Bridging Worlds: Integrating Indigenous Knowledge Systems for Sustainable Development” and “From Dialogue to Deeds: Action Planning for IKSP Revitalization,” opened discussions on how traditional knowledge can contribute to today’s environmental and development challenges. Through workshop outputs, participants mapped concrete actions to sustain IKSP initiatives in education, environment, and governance.
As the festival closed, participants reaffirmed their unity in preserving the Obu Manuvu identity and the ancestral wisdom that continues to guide their stewardship of nature.
The Philippine Eagle Foundation extends its heartfelt thanks to the CEK Foundation, Davao City LGU, CLAFI, Alsons Investment and Development Corporation, Josefa Segovia Foundation, NCIP Region XI, Apo Agua Infrastructura, Inc., and the Revitalized Pulis sa Barangay (RPSB) Program of the Philippine National Police for their steadfast support in making the IKSP Festival possible. Their collaboration reflects a shared vision of protecting both culture and nature through partnership, participation, and respect for Indigenous knowledge.
(PR)
