NCIP Pampanga QuaranStories: Seeds of Hope for the Ayta IPs

Ayta Mag-antsi Indigenous Peoples of Pampanga showed their resilience during the implementation of the community quarantine for over two months now by tending their gahak or indigenous farming system.

These photos are from the Indigenous Cultural Communities in Sacobia, Monicayo and Bilad all in Mabalacat City, Pampanga, preparing their gahak after receiving seeds from the Department of Agriculture (DA) this month. This was made possible through coordination of the Office of the Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative (IPMR) Ruvielane Margarito. IP framers received white corn, eggplant and squash seeds.

In Porac, the Ayta Mag-antsi and Ayta Mag-indi are continuously reaping the harvest of their gahak developed through the pioneering Indigenous Peoples Culturally Responsive Socioeconomic, Agro/Aqua Technology, Ecology and Special Services (IP-CREATESS) employing the Integrated Ancestral Domain Development Approach (IADDA).