20/08/2026
๐๐๐๐๐๐ | Project Aytalakad Ing Lahi
๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฃ๐๐๐ญ ๐๐ฒ๐ญ๐๐ฅ๐๐ค๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ก๐ขโ๐ฌ ๐๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ ๐๐ง๐จ๐ฐ๐ฅ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฎ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐จ๐ง๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐ฎ๐๐ญ๐ฌ ๐๐๐๐ข๐ง๐๐ซ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐๐ฑ๐ญ๐ฎ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ณ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ก๐ข๐ฅ๐ข๐ฉ๐ฉ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ ๐๐ง๐จ๐ฎ๐ฌ ๐๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐ฌ
Project Aytalakad Ing Lahi, through its Culture Knowledge Awareness Education Component, successfully conducted the first webinar session of its four-session series contextualizing Philippine Indigenous Cultures on August 15, 2026, via MS Teams. Participated in by teachers from Manabayukan Elementary School, the webinar aims to explore various topics on Indigenous histories, cultures, knowledge systems, and lived experiences.
As part of Project Aytalakad Ing Lahi initiative to cultural responsive education, the component seeks to promote an inclusive understanding of Philippine history that recognizes Indigenous communities not merely as sources of knowledge, but as active contributors to the countryโs cultural and historical landscape.
The webinar was opened by the Dean of the College of Arts and Social Sciences, Dr. Myrel M. Santiago, who highlighted in her message, โWe are not only transmitters of knowledge; we are also stewards of culture and advocates of understanding. Through education, we can create learning spaces where cultural diversity is valued, every story is heard, and differences become sources of strength and collective wisdom.โ
Dr. Raffy S. Aganon, Head of the Culture Knowledge Awareness Education Component, provided a background of the component centered on the deeper understanding and appreciation of Philippine Indigenous Cultures. Further, he discussed the objectives of the four-session webinar series, which focus on explaining key concepts, developing a learning plan that integrates the Aeta Mag-Antsiโs historical traditions and customs, and demonstrating culturally grounded teaching by applying information and knowledge across various topics.
The four-session webinar series began with Modules 1 and 2, led by Ms. Diona P. Macasaquit, Executive Assistant of the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs and a faculty extensionist from the College of Arts and Social Sciences.
She highlighted that the webinar provided an opportunity to strengthen the Universityโs DALAN Framework, which embodies Tarlac State Universityโs vision of becoming a premier university of global distinction in inclusive education, sustainable innovation, and community transformation.
It also emphasizes that true transformation must be inclusive, reaching all sectors of society, including Indigenous Peoples and their communities, she added.
Ms. Macasaquit focused her discussion from module 1 on the foundations and theoretical models explaining the Peopling of the Philippines, where she underscored archaeological, maritime, anthropological, and linguistic evidence.
The discussion also presented various theories that strengthen and contributes on the understanding of human movement into the Philippines, supporting perspectives and studies that demonstrate the complexity and interactions of Indigenous Peoples across the world.
Building from the discussion of Module 1, Ms. Macasaquit provided in-depth knowledge and understanding of Module 2 about the Indigenous Peoples of the Philippines where it shows data from different communities, which identified 12 million Indigenous individuals belonging to 110 distinct ethnolinguistic groups across the country marking strong indigenous presence.
These Indigenous Peoples live in upland, mountainous, and island communities, where they continue to preserve their traditions, cultures, heritage, and identities while upholding their rights across Luzon, the island groups, and Mindanao region.
โNot only do you protect your culture, you also protect your territory. Our heritage and our Indigenous Peoples are very vital to our national identity and ecological preservation. We have our culture; we practice our culture in our own territory," Ms. Macasaquit added.
Following the discussion, the webinar proceeded with key takeaways shared during the session, followed by a photo opportunity.
Dr. Francelle L. Calub, Overall Head of Project Aytalakad Ing Lahi, delivered a closing message, where she highlighted, โWe are not simply studying or speaking about the community. We are learning with them and hopefully working with them. Let us continue to listen, ask questions, and most importantly, approach Indigenous cultures with humility and respect.โ
More than a cultural knowledge awareness education session, the webinar served as an opportunity to deepen the understanding and contextualize information about Indigenous Peoples while making education culturally responsive to its learners.
The second session will continue next Saturday focusing on Indigenous Philosophy and Worldviews and providing a detailed discussion of Indigenous Peoples.
Report by Romer Madrid
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