By Xyla Mercedita Gualberto
A cloud of colors burst in the air as students, cooperatives and members of the civic society gathered together to participate in Cagayan de Oro City's first IP color run on August 21.
The I Run for Preservation of culture, Protection of Forests and Peace (IP Run) was spearheaded by the Xavier University - College of Agriculture (XUCA) in partnership with the Xavier Science Foundation (XSF) and the Institute of Land Governance (ILG). It aimed to raise funds for the indigenous peoples (IP) scholars in Talakag and Pangantucan, Bukidnon, the partner lumad communities of XSF.
The IP Run formed part of XUCA’s 28th Manresa Days celebration which ran from August 19-22.
Datu Johnny Guina of the Portulin Talaandig Tribal Association in Pangantucan graced the event and brought with him the Kulahi (Talaandig term for "shout") band who performed songs of cultural pride.
Brgy Miarayon in Talakag and Brgy Portulin are tribal communities resting on the foot of each side of Mt Kalatungan. Its forests are denuded, threatening the home, safety and cultural identity of the tribes, and the survival of lowland communities such as CDO, which serves as catchment of the waters that trickle down from the highlands of Bukidnon.
The IP Run also meant to popularize the notion of inter-connectedness among the highland and lowland communities. How we care for our forests and rivers will directly affect all of us. To this end, XSF, with the Mindanao Development Authority, piloted the Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES), where private groups and individuals financially support the IP communities’ effort to reforest Mt Kalatungan to mitigate floods and other disasters.
Part of the IP run program was the awarding of plaques of appreciation to the PES supporters, namely the Cooperative Development Authority, MASS-SPECC - Cooperative Development Center, First Community Cooperative, Oro Integrated Cooperative, Oro Savings and Sharing Cooperative, Pilipinas Shell Foundation Inc, Xavier University Community Credit Cooperative, Bukidnon Pharmaceutical Multipurpose Cooperative and Del Monte Philippines Inc Employees Credit Cooperative. The plaques were presented by CDO Archbishop Antonio J Ledesma SJ DD, chairperson of the Cagayan de Oro Riverbasin Management Council.
The IP run ended with the awarding of race winners and a performance by the Kaliwat Ki Apu Agyu student organization of XU.
XSF hopes to raise more resources for its IP program initiatives.
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The IP run was sponsored by Kia, Mahindra, Rep Rufus Rodriguez, Abante Mindanao, Shell, MASS-SPECC, Cooperative Development Authority, Parasat, Radyo Ultra, Vjandep and Smart.