NCIP Davao City Provincial Office
๐๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐ฒ ๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ง๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐ฒ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฅ๐โ๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ ๐๐ง๐จ๐ฎ๐ฌ ๐๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐๐ฌ! 
Today (Sun, 9 August 2026), we honor the richness of Indigenous cultures, the traditions passed down through generations, the wisdom of our ancestors, and the identities that make every Indigenous community unique. 
Indigenous heritage is a living legacy that reflects the history, values, and resilience of communities and continues to contribute to a more inclusive and diverse society. It is our shared responsibility to respect, protect, preserve, and promote Indigenous cultures and traditions for present and future generations.
May we strengthen our commitment to promoting respect, inclusion, cultural preservation, and the meaningful recognition of Indigenous Peoples and their rights.
#solidarityforIPdevelopment #ncipdavaocity #DavaoPromos
National Museum of the Philippines โ Davao
[๐ง๐ข๐๐๐ฌ] ๐๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ป๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ช๐ผ๐ฟ๐น๐ฑโ๐ ๐๐ป๐ฑ๐ถ๐ด๐ฒ๐ป๐ผ๐๐ ๐ฃ๐ฒ๐ผ๐ฝ๐น๐ฒ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฒ
The National Museum of the Philippines โ Davao celebrates with the Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous Peoples (ICCs/IPs) in commemorating the International Day of the Worldโs Indigenous Peoples. This yearโs theme, โHonoring Indigenous Midwives: Safeguarding Life and Well-being,โ recognizes Indigenous midwives as knowledge holders and caregivers, which affirms the enduring value of Indigenous knowledge systems in safeguarding life and promoting culturally appropriate approaches to well-being.
In Davao Region, diverse ethnolinguistic groups continue to practice unique cultural traditions, including rituals and beliefs associated with conception, childbirth, and early childhood. One such practice is ๐๐๐๐๐รก๐ , a ritual commonly performed during pregnancy to pray for a safe childbirth, prevent complications, and ensure the newborn’s good health. Its practice varies among communities.
The Ata, for instance, offer a white chicken symbolizing purity, while the Obu-Manuvu direct smoke from a burnt coconut shell toward the pregnant woman. Among Moro groups, such as the Tausug, Sama, and Kagan, the ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐รก๐/๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐/๐๐๐รบ๐๐๐๐๐ ritual is performed during the seventh month of pregnancy.
After childbirth, rituals are performed to welcome the child into the community and invoke a good future. The Obu-Manuvu conduct a ๐๐๐๐๐รก๐ for the newborn using fresh chicken blood, ๐๐๐๐รณ๐ (betel chew), and ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ (rice wine). Among the Bagobo-Tagabawa, water collected from Mt. Apo was traditionally poured over a childโs head, followed by bathing with ๐รก๐๐๐๐๐, a fruit believed to impart its characteristics to the child.
Among Moro communities, the baptismal ritual is known as ๐รก๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐. During the ritual, an Imam applies perfumed oil to the childโs head, cuts a lock of hair, and feeds the baby sugar or honey as a wish for a sweet life and to prevent stuttering. The Sama prepare an ornamental ๐๐๐๐๐๐/๐๐๐๐๐๐๐decorated with money, candy, and biscuits, while the Iranun offer ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐รก๐๐ to the spirits for the childโs well-being and growth.
As a steward of cultural heritage, the National Museum of the Philippines โ Davao remains committed to preserving and promoting the tangible and intangible heritage of Indigenous Peoples. Through its Exhibits and Museum Activities, the Museum works with communities to co-create exhibits, amplify Indigenous voices, and promote greater appreciation of Indigenous knowledge, traditions, and cultural practices.
Understanding Indigenous Peoples begins with listening, learning, and respecting their knowledge systems. By visiting the National Museum of the Philippines โ Davao, you take a step toward educating yourself about Indigenous cultures, traditions, and ways of life. In doing so, you can help safeguard their heritage, uphold their rights, and ensure that their distinct cultures and ways of life continue to thrive for generations to come.
ยฉ National Museum of the Philippines – Davao 2026
#InternationalDayoftheWorldsIndigenousPeoples2026 #MindanaoHeritage #NationalMuseumPHDavao #DavaoPromos
Related: August 14, 2026 (Friday) is a Special Non-Working Day!
Sources:
- NCIP Davao City Provincial Office Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Samrwd4f9/
- National Museum of the Philippines – Davao Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CtcP2o1ui/