45th IP Sunday Celebrated in Davao

On October 9, 2022 the tribal community of the Bagobo – Klata tribe was graced by the presence of three Bishops and priests in celebrating their annual Menum Festival and the 45th Indigenous Peoples Sunday with the theme, “Indigenous Filipinos, One in God’s Family.”

The festival started with the traditional tribal ritual led by Pongngu-o Rosalito Anug together with Pongngu-o Castillo Mantawel and other culture bearers, IPS, IP Women and Youth. During the ritual, the good IP Leader stressed out that “they are not worshipping idols but rather offering to God their thanksgiving for abundant harvest, good weather and good health” adding that the elements of nature is indicative of the presence of God, and praying for protection and guidance.

After the ritual the tree planting followed and was joyously participated by the delegation from the Episcopal Commission on Indigenous Peoples headed by the Chairman Most Rev. Valentin C. Dimoc, DD of the Apostolic Vicariate of Bontoc – Lagawe and Most Rev. Jose Corazaon Tala-oc, DD, from the Diocese of Kalibo, Tony Abuso the Executive Secretary, IPA Directors and Coordinators.

The Holy Eucharist was presided by the Archbishop of Davao Most Rev. Romulo G. Valles, DD. In his Homily, Bishop Valentin Dimoc delivered a kind of message which explains the relationship of the environment and the IPs. He explained that “the Indigenous Peoples has contribution to the civilization, but this relationship to nature is destroyed, this relationship is already fading away due to the presence of “peso sign”. A new kind of relationship comes to mind and tend to adopt other forms of development.”

Bishop Val continued “we need the Indigenous Peoples, their relationship to nature, all of us need to be indigenized, even indigenous peoples need to be indigenized, because being indigenous is the harmonious relationship with the environment”.

Hence, “there is also the need to focus and reflect what it means to celebrate the Indigenous Peoples Sunday in the 21st century. The church promotes the lifestyle of synodality. This spirituality is the relationship of merciful love. God is merciful love. We worship God so let us allow ourselves to be transformed by the merciful love. This is what we need now.”

Every Indigenous Peoples Sunday calls for a more integral transformation of the relationship to the environment because being indigenous in the sense is relationship to environment. The Indigenous Peoples Apostolate and the Josefa Segovia Foundation extends its heartfelt gratitude to all Tribal Leaders, Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative, City IPMR Rudy Mandy, City Government of Davao, City Mayor Sebastian Duterte, the Davao Clergy, and most especially to Archbishop Romulo G. Valles, DD and the CBCP Episcopal Commission on Indigenous Peoples.

Archbishop Valles said in his final message “the most important contribution of the Church while journeying with the IPs is merciful love”. (June P. Guadalquiver)