BACOLOD CITY, Oct. 8 -- Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson and Bago City Mayor Marina Javellana-Yao on Tuesday recognized the contributions of the indigenous peoples (IPs) to society as the province hosts the Dayaw 2025: Philippine Indigenous Peoples Festival this week.

The three-day event, led by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, gathers more than 200 delegates from 36 IP clusters across the country under the theme "Habi ng Kultura, Yaman ng Kinabukasan" (Weaving the Culture, Enriching the Future).

"This celebration is a tribute to our IPs who have made a great contribution to the preservation of our culture and history. Their lives and traditions give us a deep understanding of our country and our ancestors...