Panagtagbo 2022 Cultural Gathering – A Path to Synodality

A festive moment ensued during the 5th Panagtagbo – celebration of culture, faith and hope on the occasion of the 45th Indigenous Peoples Sunday held at Alternative Marketing Center (AlMaCen) beside St. Pedro Poveda Parish, Catalunan Pequeño, October 8 2022.

Josephine Estopil, the Executive Director of the Josefa Segovia Foundation said “Panagtagbo is a Visayan term meaning gathering, or an encounter.” Panagtagbo started with a simple encounter of stakeholders to build and to shape a sustainable future while strengthening partnership towards genuine peace and development. This year’s Panagtagbo adheres to the call of Pope Francis’ synodal path “to encounter, listen and discern as one community and to let each one become experts in the art of encounter”.

In his special participation Davao City IPMR Datu Rody Mande delivered a prayer chant in their lumad language expressing thanksgiving of the help and assistance given to the five major tribes of Davao.

The Bagobo performance exuded an aura of beauty and elegance in playing the kulintang and flute while executing a dance step representing the persona of the Bagobo Tagabawa during planting, bounty harvest and of love.

Equally graceful and genuine is the performance of the Matigsalog Tribe in portraying hunting, gathering and conflict and presenting how they settled disputes and celebrate after peace and harmony is restored.

The Hiyas sa Kalambuan 2022 Krezel Joy Ungab of the Bagobo Klata Tribe highlighted the cultural performances in a portrayal of love and conflict which truly awed everyone watching. The dance was called “Ippod Ko”, a famous old love story with a twist – the husband was killed in a fight to covet the wife, but the wife asks for strength and courage to avenge her husband to Mandalangah the God of War, and her prayers were answered.

The cultural show was graced by the presence of his Excellency Archbishop Romulo G. Valles, DD and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines – Episcopal Commission on Indigenous Peoples headed by the Chairperson His Excellency Bishop Valentin Dimoc, DD.

The Panagtagbo envisions to gather together the five major tribes of Davao – the Klata, Ata, Matigsalog, Obu, Tagabawa in building their communities through dialogue and active participation. It aims to develop the talents of IP youth as second line culture bearers. Krishnan Carl Ecay an IP Scholar, the show’s host got his instant training on hosting from the shows director Ateng Arconcel.

The IPA conveys its gratitude to all its sponsors and benefactors and IP communities present in making the celebration of culture, faith and hope a success. (June Guadalquiver | IPA)