
Frasco named ‘Bae Mahumanoy’
During tribal visit
TOURISM Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco was bestowed the name ‘Bae Mahumanoy,’ by the Obu-Manuvu Unified Ancestral Domain Tribal Council of Elders/Leaders in investiture rites on Friday at the Kadayawan Tribal Village during the 38th Kadayawan Festival in Davao City.
For the Obu-Manuvu, Bae Mahumanoy means an “invisible spirit tasked by Magbabaya to protect Culture and Environment and promote Development and Cultural Preservation to the indigenous cultural communities/indigenous peoples (ICCs/IPs).”
As explained by Datu Lipatuan Jonel A. Unad, who led the investiture rites along with Mahabokk Luis Lambac, Frasco was given a head gear, which represents her leadership, a garment which is a symbol of the Obu Manuvu group’s respect, bracelets for her happiness as she carries out her duties as secretary, beaded belt for strength, and beaded necklace to symbolize the pure intentions of the Obu-Manuvu group that come from the heart.
According to the resolution filed by the Obu-Manuvu Unified Ancestral Domain Tribal Council of Elders/Leaders, the Tourism secretary was accorded the title of Bae Mahumahoy “in recognition of her efforts to advance the rights of the indigenous peoples of the Obu Manuvu tribe.
Also in attendance at the presentation of Resolution of Investiture as Bae Mahumanoy to Frasco were leaders of the Mindanao Indigenous Peoples Council of Elders and Leaders (MIPCEL), IPs of Obu Manuvu tribe of Davao City, Tribal Deputy Mayors of Davao City, and National Comission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) represented by Regional Director Mumar Mamukid.
Last Aug. 16, the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) forged a formal agreement in a bid to support and implement the Katutubo-KAPWA project in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
Frasco and NCIP Chair Allen A. Capuyan led the ceremonial signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) and witnessed by Undersecretary and Chief of Staff Atty. Mae Elaine Bathan and NCIP Acting Bureau Director Glenda Pua at the DOT Central Office in Makati City.
Frasco said the partnership with the NCIP only manifests the DOT’s firm commitment to honoring the indigenous peoples and giving them opportunities for economic advancement through tourism.
She added the MOA formalized the DOT’s commitment to support the good work that the NCIP has done to ensure the preservation and promotion of the indigenous peoples of the Philippines.
A Technical Working Group (TWG) will be created composed of representatives from DOT and NCIP to monitor and oversee its implementation.
The tourism chief emphasized that the partnership is part of the current administration’s thrust toward reintroducing the Philippines to the world, with the ICCs/IPs as the starting point.
Among the important commitments of the DOT from the partnership include the provision of financial support to tourism-related capacity building/capacity development, infrastructure projects, product development, and other tourism-related programs activities.
The DOT has also committed to providing assistance and promotional platforms for the products of the ICCs/IPs to attract tourists to patronize the local tourism economy.
Frasco emphasized the importance of striking a balance between heritage and promotion as a value proposition for tourism, thus, citing as well that the DOT is excited about embarking on the partnership by investing first in soft infrastructure for IPs who are also tourism frontliners.