Church to celebrate Indigenous Peoples Sunday

The Catholic Church in the Philippines will center the voices of the Aeta people during its national Indigenous Peoples Sunday celebration on Oct. 11.

The gathering in Sitio Bacao will bring together Indigenous Peoples, Church leaders, government officials, and pastoral workers. During a session titled “Listening to the Indigenous Peoples: The Bacao Ayta Experience,” Bacao Aytas and Dumagats will share their experiences, aspirations, and pastoral concerns. The CBCP Episcopal Commission on Indigenous Peoples said the event will highlight issues such as environmental destruction, displacement, the loss of traditional livelihoods, the erosion of cultural identity, and threats to ancestral domains.

The commission called for stronger protection of Indigenous Peoples' rights and genuine Free, Prior and Informed Consent regarding decisions that affect their communities and lands. The commission noted that the Church views Indigenous Peoples as partners in the Church mission and custodians of creation rather than just recipients of pastoral assistance.

Sitio Bacao serves as an example of Indigenous resilience through reforestation, agriculture, and livelihood programs. Approximately 1,000 Aeta families settled in Bacao following the 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo, using land developed through an arrangement with the Diocese of Cabanatuan.