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Photo: Philippine Sports Commission Comm. Matthew ‘Fritz’ Gaston (right) poses for posterity with the host municipality Mayor Ninya Grazielle Gironella-Itchon during the opening ceremonies of the 2024 Indigenous People’s Games – Luzon leg.
The Indigenous People’s Games formally opened in Salcedo town Ilocos Sur, and the Philippine Sports Commission received a warm welcome from 271 participants across 14 municipalities with a festive opening ceremony.
Salcedo Municipal Mayor Ninya Grazielle Gironella-Itchon expressed her gratitude to PSC Commissioner Matthew ‘Fritz’ Gaston, the oversight commissioner for the project, for bringing the games to their town and ensuring it bringing positive outcomes for the IP communities.
“Nagpapasalamat ako sa PSC. Hindi ko akalain na mapili ang Salcedo na mag-host ng kauna-unahang IP Games ngayong taon. Sa pamamagitan po nito, mapo-promote pa namin lalo ang aming bayan,” Gironella-Itchon said.
The total number of participants is a balanced mix of elderly and young IPs, which, according to the town leader, is a testament to achieving the harmony and unification of generations that the project truly aims for.
Photo: IP members from Ilocos Sur enjoy playing their traditional game, ‘patalunton,’ which has a similar concept to ‘patintero.’
“Hindi lang yung mga elderly ang kailangang isali dito. Kailangan din i-involve ang mga bata. Sila yung mga exposed na sa gadgets. Kailangan nating tawagin sila at ipakilala ang traditional games na kailangang i-preserve natin,” Gironella-Itchon said.
Commissioner Gaston agreed and stressed that the critical victory the games can achieve is the possibility of gathering all IPs across generations performing the traditional games they have been proud of since then.
“Sa bawat hakbang, ngiti, pagkapanalo at pagkabigo, nais kong tandaan niyo na hindi lamang simpleng paglalaro ang nais nating maipakita rito, bagkus ay ‘yung mapahalagahan natin ang karapatan at kultura ng ating Indigenous People,” Gaston said.
The festivities opened with a parade of participants, including members of the PSC – a technical working group for IP Games, members of the Provincial Council of Ilocos Sur and Municipality of Salcedo, and representatives from the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples in Ilocos Sur.
Ilocos Sur Governor Jeremias Singson also witnessed the ongoing games and hosted a lunch meeting with PSC officials at the Salcedo Municipal Hall.
Meanwhile, the Indigenous Person Mandatory Representative (IPMR) for Salcedo Lauro Ugalde wishes the IP Games to be held annually in their town.
“Sana maging yearly ang IP Games para ma-preserve ang mga ipinagmamalaki naming traditional games na nilalaro namin tulad ng kadang-kadang, banga, gabbo, at sunay,” Ugalde stated.
IP Games, inaugurated in 2018, will be staged for three legs this year. After the Salcedo tilt, Bacolod and General Santos are top prospects for hosting the project in Visayas and Mindanao, respectively.
Gaston added that the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao expressed interest in bringing the IP games to their place.
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