Weaving Roots, Enriching Futures

From the mountains to the sea, we carry our roots with pride and honor the people who keep them alive.

The Philippines is woven by the colorful threads of the Indigenous people. For as long as the islands have existed, the Indigenous people have spun stories as old as the archipelago itself. Long before the cities and modern buildings were built, they nurtured the soil, shaped the mountains, and lived in harmony with the land and sea.

For centuries, these communities have cared for the earth, safeguarded traditions, and endured the weight of oppression since the Spanish colonization. Yet through it all, they have persisted — resisting, adapting, and reimagining their way of life. Their courage and resilience continue to breathe life into our culture, keeping the essence of the Filipino spirit alive across generations.

Through Proclamation No. 1906, s. 2009, October is declared as National Indigenous Peoples Month, to honor and respect these communities not just for enduring hardships, but also for the beauty and bravery they continue to embody.

As we celebrate this month, may we go beyond admiration and move toward understanding. Let us engage in meaningful experiences that deepen our appreciation of their heritage and acknowledge their role as the bedrock of our nation’s identity. With this year’s theme, “Weaving Culture, Enriching Future: Empowering Indigenous Communities as Bedrock of Sustainable Development,” we are reminded that genuine progress springs from respect, inclusion, and cultural preservation — the very foundations of a sustainable and just future.

They nurtured our land and preserved our culture; now it’s our turn to help shape the future they deserve. Happy National Indigenous Peoples' Month!



Written by Bea Khryss Bongado
Layout by Martina Louise Real