DOT Sec Frasco graces Sagada IP month event

By Gina Dizon

SAGADA, Mountain Province -- Tourism Secretary Maria Esperanza Christina Garcia-Frasco is guest speaker during celebration of Indigenous Peoples Day in this tourist town on Oct. 28.

Frasco is the newly appointed DOT secretary by President Bongbong Marcos Jr.

The program starts with a cultural parade of members of the community led by indigenous peoples mandatory representative (IPMR) Jaime Dugao to do an overview of the event themed: “Getken, ikkan ya bannolen nan nainsigudan ay kaugalian (Know, do, value indigenous culture).”

Sagada municipal mayor Felicito Dula welcomes participants followed by message of Mountain Province Rep. Maximo Dalog Jr.

The Church of St Mary the Virgin (CSMV) choir renders opening prayer in a song followed by singing of the national anthem, Cordillera hymn and Sagada song conducted by choir director Elvis Ganggangan.

A trade fair follows within the local government compound featuring the town’s processed foods, wines, crafts and woven products including coffee and locally grown fruits and vegetables.

On the second day on Oct. 29 at Kamanwigit Park, proposed tourist sites at the south side of town shall be introduced with the presence of the municipal local government officials and regional Dept. of Touriam representatives.

The celebration of Sagada’s Indigenous Peoples Day came with passage of municipal ordinance 21-2020 declaring every  third Friday of October to showcase the town’s cultural identity through cultural presentations and display of indigenous handicrafts and local products.

The ordinance was penned through a Sangguniang Panlalawigan ordinance approving the municipal measure.

The provincial government of Mountain Province celebrates IP month every first Friday of the October with a program with the day declared non-working holiday.     

The observance of indigenous people’s day comes from Proclamation No. 1906 of 2009 declaring October national Indigenous Peoples Month in the context of indigenous people’s as part of the life of the nation.

In the national church setting, observation of indigenous people’s rights was first celebrated in 1978  then as 

Tribal Filipino Sunday by the Roman Catholic Church.

In a related event, the CSMV shall be celebrating the Indigenous Peoples Month Oct. 23 with the celebration of the Holy Mass with indigenous songs and attire.  

(photo from wikiwand file)