“We are facing the deaths of so many indigenous languages so we hope that this event would be able to help save our languages.”
Francisco ‘Kiko’ A. Datar of 170+ Talaytayan MLE Incorporated expounded on the need to save the different languages in the Philippines in his opening address during the 2022 Philippine Conference on International Decade on Indigenous Languages (IDIL) at the University Hotel at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines on 25 to 27 October 2022 where around 106 participants composed of indigenous peoples’ leaders and representatives from the different civil society organizations, educational institutions, and government line agencies shared their researches, publications, and lived realities on the ground in relation to promoting and promoting Philippine indigenous languages.
The said conference included a session where participants filled out the Global Plan of Action matrix, enlisting possible activities and corresponding outputs to promote, document, preserve, and revitalize indigenous languages, specifically in the Philippines and possibly around the world.
“This event is the first attempt on our side to really look into the Global Plan of Action and to see what are our responsibilities as indigenous peoples, as academia, as non-government organizations are to promote and to achieve the outcomes, the outputs and the activities that are spelled out very clearly in the Global Plan of Action of the International Decade of Indigenous Languages 2022-2023,” shared Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, former UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and Tebtebba executive director, who was the keynote speaker during the said conference.
With support from the Pawanka Fund and the Wellspring Philantropic Fund, the event was co-facilitated by 170+ Talaytayan MLE Incorporated, Ugnayang Pambansa para sa Katutubong Kaalaman at Talino (UPAKAT), and Tebtebba. “Mas marami pa sanang venues para sa ganitong pag-uusap (May there be more venues for this kind of discussion on indigenous languages),” said Jerry Datuwata of the Lambangian Peoples Organization as he emphasized the need to revitalize the mindset of community elders who are also considered to be the key keepers and teachers of these indigenous languages.
Participants from all over the Philippines joyfully pose for a photo as part of the culminating activities of the national conference.