BAGUIO CITY – Nine members of the Council of Elders took oath during the closing ceremony of National Indigenous Peoples Month and Ibaloy Festival at Baguio City Hall grounds on October 27, Sunday.
Councilor Benny Bomogao administered the oath to the newly declared elders for barangay Liwanag-Loakan, a first in the city for a barangay. This aims to apply the culture of ‘dap-ay’ in a modern community and highly urbanized city.
Maximo Hilario Edwin Jr., Baguio City’s Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative, encourages other barangays to establish their own council of elders because they also give viewpoints that are beyond the holistic approach of natural development.
“Kailangan natin ang different perspective aside from the natural or logical explanation kasi ang mga elders, nagbibigay sila ng point of view na nakaka-shift ng perspective sa isang plano. Iyong akala nating whole picture ay mayroon pa palang bigger picture kapag nagsasalita sila,” he said.
Councilor Peter Fianza also reminded that elders are not just older people, but can be young adults. “Kitan yu dagitoy mas ubing, nag-adal da, nagtrabaho da, ket nakita da ti nangyayari idiay field da nga saan da nga makitkita ti dadduma nga tao. Isu nga mabalin da metlang nga elders ta jay experience da ket saan tayo nga naranasan,” he emphasized.
Fianza also highlighted that the term ‘Igorot’ is not just by blood but also who want to identify themselves. “Igorot is not exclusive. Adu ti dinmakel ditoy nga haan nga taga ditoy o ijay bantay ngem agkapada met ti lifestyle tayu. Isu nga nu kayat da ma identify, ket awan met problema,” he added.
The Ibaloy Festival started in February 2014 and was soon celebrated annually every October, while the National Indigenous Peoples Month was issued by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, where each municipality or city celebrates its own event. By Michael Dadd
