Nueva Vizcaya Gaddang tribe cited for governance

MANILA, Philippines - The National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) recently conferred on the indigenous cultural community (ICC) of the Gaddang Indigenous Political Structure of Nueva Vizcaya the Certificate of Confirmation during the recent Grand Ammungan Festival to mark the 175th  founding anniversary of the province.

The certification was issued to confirm the authentic Indigenous Political Leadership of the ICCs/IPs of the province in accordance with their rights to self-governance and self-determination.

It also secures their collective rights to their land and establishes their collective identity in pursuit of sustainable development of their ancestral domain which they shall conserve, protect and restore.

The NCIP, through executive director Leonor Quintayo, hailed the Nueva Vizcaya provincial government as among the outstanding local governments with programs and services catering to the empowerment and upliftment of IPs.

Aside from the Gaddangs who inhabit Solano and Bayombong towns, the province has 18 IP groups.

The major tribes include the Ifugaos of the towns of Quezon, Bagabag and Kasibu; the Isinais of Dupax del Sur and Bambang; the Dumagats of Aritao; the Kalanguyas of Sta. Fe and the Bugkalots of Alfonso Castañeda and Dupax del Norte.

This cultural convergence is celebrated annually in the Ammungan Festival, a Gaddang word which means gathering, to showcase the strides made by the province in terms of economy, tourism, governance and respect for indigenous peoples’ rights.

It also brings to the fore the unity and peaceful coexistence of peoples from various cultural roots who have made Nueva Vizcaya their home.

The focus of the festivity is the Indigenous Peoples’ Day, with the various indigenous groups converging at the Ammungan Village at the provincial capitol grounds in Bayombong and performing the Cañao traditional ethnic feast led by the Ayangan (Ifugao) tribe.

Traditional tribal games which are slowly vanishing due to modernity were revived in the “Ragragsak ti Sangka Ilyan.”

Celebrations drew to a close with a colorful float parade which highlighted the tourist attractions, local products and industries of the participating towns.