DISS

Roles and Significance of Filipinos’ Indigenous Social Ideas to National Development

Local and indigenous knowledge

 refers to the understandings, skills, and philosophies developed by societies with long histories of
interaction with their natural surroundings. For rural and indigenous peoples, local knowledge informs
decision–making about fundamental aspects of day-to-day life.

Indigenous Knowledge

 is a part of a larger process that brings to light new paradigms and conceptions of indigenous social work,
social welfare, and social development practice and research.

Social work

 is a practice-based profession and an academic discipline that promotes social change and development,
social cohesion, and the empowerment and liberation of people.

Social Welfare

 is a group of assistance programs that are designed to ensure the well-being of a nation’s citizens. It is a
system that aims to provide quality care to society participants.

Social Development

 is about improving the well-being of every individual in society so they can reach their full potential. The
success of a society is linked to the well-being of each and every citizen

INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE SYSTEM TECHNOLOGIES AND PRACTICES.

1. Farming System - Seen from a wider perspective, the farming system consists of the payoh (rice
terraces), muyung (wood lot), and the uma (swidden) as practiced by the Northern Luzon farmers. This
indigenous knowledge believes to originate in the high mountains of the Cordilleras.
2. Wood Carving - Wood carving is both livelihood and an art. It has an ancient origin. Many indigenous
groups are involved in wood carving in combination with farming. This craft is done during the dry
season. For many residents, it is more profitable to remain at home carving than to work for wages in any
industry in faraway places.
3. Livestock Farming - The tribe people also raise livestock including swine pigs, chickens, and carabao.
The main reason for raising animals, especially chicken and pig, relate to the tradition of performing
cañao for the Ifugao, atang for the Ilocano, and or simply paying the gods and goddesses during the
harvest. Moreover, it is a source of additional income
4. Fishing - Fishing is the lifeblood and way of life for some indigenous groups. Before seaweed farming
was introduced, sustenance and survival depend solely on fishing. The fishing methods employed are
environmentally friendly. These include linggih (net fishing) pag-ambit (deep sea fishing) paubik or
panah (spear and arrow or hook and line), bubu (bamboo fish trap), pitikan (diving weapon) and
sangkaliyah (shark fishing).
5. Weaving - Another home-based livelihood among tribes is weaving. Their woven products include
placemats, bags, purses, wallets, bed sheets, chaleco, and pencil cases to name a few. Raw materials used
for these products are obtained locally.
6. Food Preparation - Root crops are gathered from the forest or from the hills with the use of rough tools
like wooden dibble stick (tagad) or iron tipped dibble stick (pitala). These are some of the indigenous
knowledge that are still practiced nowadays. These practices evolved but the foundation is still similar.