Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson and Bago City Mayor Marina Javellana-Yao on Tuesday recognized the contributions of the indigenous peoples (IPs) to society as the province hosts the Dayaw 2025: Philippine Indigenous Peoples Festival this week.

The three-day event, led by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, gathers more than 200 delegates from 36 IP clusters across the country under the theme “Habi ng Kultura, Yaman ng Kinabukasan” (Weaving the Culture, Enriching the Future).

“This celebration is a tribute to our IPs who have made a great contribution to the preservation of our culture and history. Their lives and traditions give us a deep understanding of our country and our ancestors,” Lacson said during the opening program at the Manuel Y. Torres Memorial Coliseum and Cultural Center in Bago City.

He said “Dayaw” is not only a celebration of the beauty of the Filipino culture, “but it is a call for us to preserve, promote, and pass on to the next generation the richness of our culture.”

Javellana, meanwhile, said “Dayaw” highlights the strength found in the country’s roots and heritage, which guides the nation toward a more inclusive future through the traditions of indigenous communities.

“As we celebrate this meaningful occasion, may we also strengthen our commitment to preserve, protect, and promote the vibrant cultures of our IPs,” she said.

Part of the event is the Dayaw 2025 cultural exhibit at the SM City Bacolod North Block, which opened Tuesday afternoon.

On Wednesday, participants joined a series of community outreach events in the towns of Don Salvador Benedicto and Binalbagan, as well as the cities of Bago, Cadiz, Talisay, and Kabankalan.

The event will conclude on Thursday with an Inclusive Governance Forum on Listening to Indigenous Experiences, with stakeholders from various sectors and representatives from various government agencies.

Participants are from the IP clusters in the Northern Cultural Communities in Luzon, Central Cultural Communities in Visayas and Southwestern Tagalog Region, and Southern Cultural Communities in Mindanao.

Presidential Proclamation No. 1906 declares October as the National IP Month, based on Republic Act No. 8371 or The Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act. (PNA)