Senators Loren Legarda and Robinhood Padilla led separate activities this week celebrating Indigenous Peoples (IP) Month, both emphasizing that the country’s cultural heritage and national identity are deeply rooted in the wisdom and traditions of indigenous communities.

Legarda, in a statement marking the October celebration, paid tribute to the invaluable role of IPs in preserving the nation’s heritage and promoting sustainable development.

“The Philippines is home to scores of ethno-linguistic groups, many of which have maintained their unique pre-colonial cultures and practices. This is not a mere point of pride, but a wealth of knowledge we can depend on for the future,” Legarda said Thursday.

She described Indigenous Peoples as “bedrock of the nation,” noting that many Filipino customs and traditions trace their origins to ancestral communities.

“True nation-building means celebrating and learning from the traditions of our Indigenous Peoples, and ensuring that their communities are safe, thriving, and respected,” she added.

A principal author of the law declaring August 9 as National Indigenous Peoples Day, Legarda stressed the need to integrate indigenous knowledge systems into policies on climate change adaptation, food security, and biodiversity conservation.

She said these are “time-tested systems that have long sustained our people and our environment.”

“Hindi sila ang may pangangailangan sa atin, dahil nagmumula sa kanila ang ating pagka-Pilipino (They are not the ones in need of us because our Filipino identity springs from them),” she added.

Meanwhile, Padilla joined the “Buwan ng Katutubo (Indigenous Peoples Month)” celebration in Isabela City, Basilan on Tuesday where he reaffirmed his commitment to advancing IP rights and recognition.

“Kung walang katutubo, walang Pilipinas (Without the Indigenous Peoples, there is no Philippines),” he said.

Padilla met with Gov. Mujiv Hataman, Mayor Sitti Turabin-Hataman, and local community leaders, pledging continued support for indigenous causes.

He cited two measures he filed in the 20th Congress: Senate Bill No. 11, seeking to amend the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA) to grant ICCs and IPs a 5 percent share in the net income derived from natural resources within their ancestral lands; and Senate Bill No. 1374, or the “Katutubo Para sa Gobyerno (Indigenous People for the Government)” Act, which would grant civil service eligibility to Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representatives (IPMRs) after their term of service.

During his visit, Padilla also attended the “Gathering of Tennun Weavers in Basilan” organized by Gov. Hataman, where he expressed pride in wearing traditional weaves in and outside the Senate to honor the artistry of Filipino indigenous weavers. (PNA)