Tuguegarao City – The Ikalahan (Kalanguya) tribe of barangay Imugan Sta. Fe, Nueva Vizcaya bags Model IP Community for the Regional Search for IP ang Yaman ng Nasyon (IPaMaNa) 2020 during the virtual awarding ceremonies at the Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office 02 (DSWD FO2), March 15, 2021.

Besting the Aggay tribe of Basao Gattaran, Cagayan; Ayangan tribe of sitio Pili San Mariano, Isabela; and Tuwali tribe of Tucod Cabbaroguis, Quirino; the Kalanguya tribe pride themselves with their extraordinary diligence and discipline, avoiding conflict and settling disputes first through their “Tongtongan” system.

As agricultural highland folks, the tribe managed to maintain and preserve their culture and traditions while promoting modernization and development as being part of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).

The Aggay tribe was adjudged in second place, the Ayangan tribe was awarded the third place while the Tuwali tribe was placed in fourth after the field validation from February 23-24, 2021 and desk validation held on March 5, 2021.

A component of the IPaMaNa is the IPinaghain search for IP iconic dish and nutri-baon which features the unique taste as well as traditional food preparation practices of the candidate communities.

Here the Aggay tribe reigned as champions with their “Tinubung” traditional practices in food preparation from rice to their iconic dish Sinursuran nga aba, Sinursuran nga Agatol, and Sinursuran nga Agurong and their iconic nutri-baon Nilubian. The iconic dish and nutri-baon recipes will be included in the IPinaghain 2020: Iconic Dishes cookbook which is set for publication later in the year.

The search for IPaMaNa aims to inform the public on the existing laws and policies that would protect the rights of every Indigenous Peoples while empowering the IP community to be champions of their own kind.
###written by Jeanet Antolin-Lozano