MANILA — Senator Loren Legarda honored the nation’s Indigenous Peoples (IPs) as vital pillars of Philippine culture and identity, emphasizing their role in preserving the country’s heritage and guiding its sustainable development.

In a statement marking Indigenous Peoples Month this October, Legarda lauded the contributions of IPs to the nation’s traditions and practices, describing them as “the bedrock of our nation.”

“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 it represents a wealth of knowledge we can depend on for the future,” Legarda said.

“We have long regarded IPs as the bedrock of our nation, for it was them who laid the foundation in many of our traditions and practices that we Filipinos have embraced throughout the centuries,” she added.

Legarda, principal author of the law declaring August 9 as National Indigenous Peoples Day, acknowledged the persistent challenges facing indigenous communities, including threats to ancestral lands, climate change, and the erosion of cultural values due to globalization.

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

She urged the integration of indigenous knowledge systems into national strategies on climate change, food security, and biodiversity conservation, calling them “time-tested systems that have long sustained our people and our environment.”

“Celebrating and learning from the traditions of the IPs, recognizing their inherent rights, and partnering with them is to build a prosperous future that is also culturally vibrant and environmentally sound,” she added.

Legarda also underscored the deep cultural roots shared by Filipinos with indigenous communities. “Hindi sila ang may pangangailangan sa atin, dahil nagmumula sa kanila ang ating pagka-Pilipino, at natutuklasan natin ito sa araw-araw, salamat sa kanilang mga naiambag,” she said.

A long-time advocate of indigenous rights, Legarda authored landmark laws such as the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009 and its amendatory Cultural Mapping Law, which mandates local government units to document and safeguard their cultural assets.

She has also supported Schools of Living Traditions, which preserve indigenous craftsmanship and cultural skills, and co-sponsored the Philippine Tropical Fabrics Law, promoting the use of local textiles for government uniforms to sustain weaving traditions and local livelihoods.

Beyond legislation, Legarda continues to showcase indigenous knowledge and artistry through Dayaw, a long-running and multi-awarded documentary series she conceptualized and hosts.