KYLA ISABEL E.

DIONEDA
BSCE – 4B
GEC 22: Philippine Indigenous Communities

Final Examination

Main topic for the finals Specific lesson learned and its How will you apply what you learned in
period relationship to your experience your profession as future engineers
Philippine Indigenous The video entitled, “The Lifestyle of The Ifugaos were able to live and survive
Communities and Identity Mountain Tribe in the Philippines” showed through their existing systems and
how the Ifugaos live in the mountain region practices that are simple, non-destructive
of Cordillera. They are known for the to the environment, and sustainable. As
Banaue rice terraces which were much as I would like to provide a detailed
recognized as one of the world heritage method on how I can apply my learnings
sites by UNESCO. According to the video, from the lesson to my future profession, I am
they can sustain the needs of the rice lacking in experience, at least in the context
terraces like water through a system of construction, to provide such information
called Muyong – a managed forest. This that bears a huge responsibility.
showed how the Ifugaos give importance Nevertheless, the lesson made me more
to the environment and their forests. By eager to get involved in projects that
protecting the forests, the rice terraces promote sustainability. Although it may
get a sufficient water supply that can seem hard, especially in the context of the
result in an abundant harvest for the construction industry, to minimize the
Ifugaos. damages or impacts on the environment
 As someone who lives in a rural area where that are caused by urbanization per se,
access to water from the water district is several efforts can still be done through
very limited, our primary source of water is proper research and innovation.
the mountain (Mt. Pulog) located near our Furthermore, with the concerns that are
barangay, which provides water to the being raised about climate change, its
other neighboring barangays. Although I detrimental impacts on our planet, and its
am not directly involved in how the implications for us, I think it is high time that
mountain is being managed and taken care we evaluate our actions, not as an engineer
of, I am aware of the efforts done by the or of any profession, but as an individual.
respective authorities in protecting it. For This is a crucial time for us to change
example, our barangay officers and whatever that is causing harm to our
volunteers would go to the mountain to environment. Further destruction of the
clean the source of water for any dirt or environment would mean the destruction of
debris that may clog the pipelines. Logging our natural resources (i.e., our primary
is also prohibited unless a permit is sources of food, shelter, energy, etc.). This
secured from the necessary offices or is something that we should do, not just for
agencies of the local government. These ourselves, but for the future generations to
efforts are necessary for keeping the come.
mountain from damage or exploitation
which will have a direct impact on the
residents and their livelihoods.
Indigenous Peoples’ The Republic Act No. 8371 or the As I have previously mentioned, I firmly
Republic Act (IPRA) “Indigenous Peoples’ Republic Act of 1997” believe that the IPs deserve just as much
lists the rights of indigenous cultural effort and attention as any other people get
communities (ICCs) or indigenous peoples from the government. As a future civil
(IPs) that should be recognized, engineer and as an individual, I would like
protected, and promoted by the State. everyone, not just the ICCs, to have easy
One of the rights that were stated in the access to basic human necessities like
act was the right to government’s basic food, water, and electricity. Furthermore,
services which include, but are not limited everyone also deserves to experience
to, water and electrical facilities, quality education, health, and necessary
education, health, and infrastructure. infrastructures like farm-to-market roads.
However, these won’t be possible without
IPRA was established and enacted by the intervention of the government,
following the framework of the although some private sectors, NGOs, and
constitution. For this reason, most of the volunteers can help. But the
rights that were enumerated in the act are implementation of projects that will be
the basic human rights that every human beneficial to many can only be made
being gets. However, the establishment of possible through the government as it
such an act provides extra protection for issues the permits and funds that are
the rights of the IPs who are vulnerable to needed for the projects. The government
oppression and exploitation. As someone projects must reach even the remote places
who has easy access to basic services as there are residents, especially the young
from the government, I firmly believe that ones, who are most deserving of the
the IPs deserve just as much effort and benefits that these projects provide.
attention from the government. I am lucky
enough to experience life with access to
water and electricity since birth, and
 access to quality education and health.
However, this is not the usual case for the
ICCs, especially for those who live in
remote places.
Social Change The lesson discussed social change, its I have always made it clear to myself that I
nature, scope, modes, factors affecting it, want to contribute to the betterment of
and the theories and concepts that society as much as I can, as an individual and
explain it. According to the lesson, these as a future civil engineer. This is also fitting
changes can happen on a large or small as a student of Bicol University with a vision
scale depending on the factors that affect of producing leaders and change agents for
them. These changes can happen in a wide social transformation and development. For
scope which includes changes in our social this reason, I always push myself to be
values, social relationship, and social better which is only possible through
institutions. Its implications include the continuously learning from my actions and
possible changes in economic and political experiences, and the lessons that other
aspects of life, as well as the accepted people taught me. For the past 4 years of my
modes of life of humans. Social changes stay at the university, I have learned the
can happen through evolution, societal basic skills and knowledge that I will need as
progress, revolution, social reformatory I pursue my profession. However, aside from
movement, the spread of education, laws, these, I think the most valuable thing that I
and mass media. Several factors that play gained was the values that I learned and
a huge role in social change include instilled in myself that made me a lot better
biology, geography, population, as a person. I think this is a good starting
point, at least for me, which is to have the
psychology, culture, economy, genuine intention to contribute to the
technology, and ideology. betterment of society. While I admit that I
am still lacking in many aspects, I am always
Being a part of a society, I am a product of willing to learn. When your heart is
the social changes over the past years determined to leave a positive impact on the
inasmuch as I have also been a contributor world, everything is worth the effort. I know
to these changes throughout the course that for now, these are all just words, but I
of my life. I have witnessed the various hope that in 5 to 10 years from now, I can
changes – good and bad, that were mostly confidently say that I have contributed to
the results of the actions of mankind. As a the betterment of society, at least to a
child, I have seen the importance of certain extent.
education and its role in how my life would
turn out in the future. Now, on top of
education, I have seen the importance of
having a set of values that would help me
as I interact with people who have similar
or different values and outlooks in life as I
do. It also helped me in understanding how
life and society aren’t always favorable to
everyone – a harsh reality that my grade
school self in the past might not be able to
accept and understand. Furthermore, as
someone who was born in 1999 and have
developed sufficient understanding of life
in the early 2000s, I have seen how
modernization in several aspects of life like
transportation, construction,
manufacturing, communication,
education, health, etc. was extensive,
especially in the recent years. I believe that
most of the social changes in recent
history are brought about by the fast-
paced improvements in technology.
Technology affects us the same way as we
affect it – through developments and
innovations. I have witnessed various
breakthroughs in technology that greatly
affect our way of living today. Socialization
was made easier through the help of the
internet and social networking sites.
Moreover, because of the massive use of
social media and the ease of accessibility
to the internet, information dissemination
had been easier. However, as much as it is
beneficial, especially in the context of
providing information to many, it also has
its downside as the quality of information
that is being shared online isn’t regulated
which usually results in the spread of fake
news and disinformation. I think this is one
of the biggest issues in the modern-day
that not only the Philippines faces but a
huge part of the world too. Disinformation
results in other issues of life especially in
the aspects of politics, religion, culture,
and how we interact with other people. For
this reason, we must always keep in mind
that we should be mindful of how we share
information online, and be critical and
responsible for the quality of information
that we digest.