Christian John R.

Biol GE 10

BSCE-2B

1. Discuss the basic background of the indigenous people in the Philippine

The Philippines is home to a diverse range of highland and lowland indigenous ethnolinguistic groups,
with Austronesians accounting for the vast majority and complete or partial Negritos distributed over the
archipelago. For thousands of years throughout the Philippine archipelago, the highland Austronesians
and Negrito have coexisted alongside their lowland Austronesian cousins and neighboring communities.
The main difference is that they were not assimilated into the Philippines during centuries of Spanish and
American colonization, and hence have preserved their cultures and traditions. This is primarily owing to
the steep inaccessibility of the highlands, as well as established headhunting and warrior cultures, which
inhibited Spanish and American conquerors from approaching the highlanders.

2. Identify geographical locations of the indigenous people in the country

With an estimated 14- 17 million Indigenous Peoples (IPs) belonging to 110 ethnolinguistic groups, the
Philippines is a culturally varied country. They are primarily located in Northern Luzon (Cordillera
Administrative Region, 33%) and Mindanao (61%) with a few clans in the Visayas region. In
acknowledgment of this variety and in the interests of national unity and development, the Philippine
Constitution requires the state to recognize, preserve, promote, and fulfill the rights of Indigenous
Peoples. Furthermore, Republic Act 8371, popularly known as the "Indigenous Peoples Rights Act"
(IPRA) (1997, IPRA), recognized IPs' right to administer their ancestral properties, and it has since been
the cornerstone of contemporary national IP policy.

3. Explain the significance of understanding the essence of the IP’s

Indigenous studies is a significant topic. It's all about widening the human story and ensuring that different
cultures are equally valued. It's also a great option for students who want to contribute to making the
world a safer and more affluent place for everyone. Understandings, abilities, and philosophies
established by local cultures with extensive histories and experiences of engagement with their natural
surrounds are referred to as indigenous knowledge.