Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt Conducts Lecture to Promote Importance of PH Cultural Communities in National Unity, Development

FRANKFURT 16 July 2021 – In celebration of the Cultural Communities Week, the Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt conducted today an online lecture entitled, “The Indigenous Peoples of the Philippines,” with Dr. Nestor Castro, a well-known professor of the University of the Philippines-Department of Anthropology and president of the International Council of Museums-Philippines, who served as guest speaker on 14 July 2021.

The activity, which was shown in the Consulate’s Facebook page, aimed to enhance a better understanding of our cultural communities. It also emphasized “the importance of indigenous tribal Filipinos to national unity and development and the need to preserve their rich cultural heritage, not only for the Philippines but also for the world.”

During the lecture, Dr. Castro identified the various indigenous peoples of the Philippines and described their cultures. He expounded on the pre-colonial way of life of Filipinos by looking at prevailing cultural beliefs and practices of the indigenous communities. He underscored the threats to indigenous peoples such as commercialization of culture, conversion to non-indigenous religions, displacement and militarization due to extractive projects in ancestral domains and armed conflict. He also stressed the importance of raising public awareness on the richness of indigenous culture and value cultural diversity.  

Vice Consul Fatima Mueller, who hosted the discussion, called on the audience “to contribute to the efforts of the government to achieve broader inclusion of the indigenous peoples and welcome their involvement in the nation-building process.” END