The Provincial Local Government of Nueva Vizcaya joins the nation in celebrating the 2025 Indigenous Peoples (IP) Month on October 30, 2025, at the Carlos M. Padilla Convention Center, with the theme “Weaving Culture, Enriching Future, Empowering IP Communities as Benchmark of Sustainable Development.”
The successful conduct of the 2025 IP Month was spearheaded by the Provincial Tourism Office, headed by Ms. Marichelle O. Costales, with her team coordinating cultural performances, inter-agency collaboration, and community participation that is aligned with the vision of Governor Jose V. Gambito to champion programs and his enduring partnership with the province’s IPs.
In his keynote message, Governor Gambito delivered words of appreciation and commitment to the IP communities, emphasizing that their empowerment remains at the heart of his administration’s development agenda. His message echoed the essence of the IP Month celebration and his flagship program “Dalan ti Umili,” which symbolizes roads built not only with concrete but also with shared progress and unity.
He further explained that every year, his administration allocates funds specifically for IP Month because of its importance to inclusive growth and cultural preservation. “Every year, I set aside funds to celebrate IP Month because this is important to me,” he said. “I want your voices to be stronger because I believe that if all the IPs in Nueva Vizcaya stand together, you are even greater in number than the Ilocanos and Tagalogs in our province.”
Addressing one of the province’s most pressing issues, the governor assured IP communities that their voices will be the deciding factor on matters concerning mining activities in their ancestral lands.“I want you to know that I will listen. I will not decide on my own. If you say no, then it is a “NO to mining, in our province,” he affirmed, earning strong applause from the audience.
Also part of the celebration was highlighted by the role of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in resolving forest and ancestral domain conflicts, where issues on land conversion, boundary disputes affecting IP areas were discussed, along with the issuance of Certificates of Land Ownership Awards (CLOA).
The celebration also featured a lecture from the Integrated Bar of the Philippines. (IBP)-Nueva Vizcaya Chapter , on relevant laws protecting IPs, strengthening their understanding of their legal rights and active engagement in policy discussions that affect their communities. Medical and health services from the Provincial Integrated Health Office (PIHO) and Bagabag District Hospital were also among the services provided.
Complementing the program was the showcasing of Indigenous Peoples’ traditional attires, handwoven fabrics, beadwork, native delicacies, and locally made products, which reflected the artistry and creativity of Nueva Vizcaya’s cultural communities. /gpp
[This article was initially created on Facebook – Provincial Government of Nueva Vizcaya. For PGNV updates, visit: https://www.facebook.com/vizcayareporter]
