BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – The Ibaloy people’s enduring struggle for land rights took center stage as the Onjon ni Ivadoy celebrated the 16th Ibaloy Day at the Rose Garden, Burnham Park, on March 8, 2025.
More than just a festival, Ibaloy Day is a commemoration of resilience, history, and identity. It honors the landmark 1909 US Supreme Court ruling that recognized Mateo Cariño’s native title, a victory that affirmed the land rights of indigenous peoples worldwide.
A fight for ancestral lands
The annual event traces its roots to Mateo Cariño, an Ibaloy chieftain whose pasturelands in Ypit and Lubas were seized by the American colonial government in 1903 to establish Camp John Hay. Cariño fought back, filing a case that eventually reached the US Supreme Court. On February 23, 1909, the court ruled in his favor, establishing the Native Title Doctrine, a legal precedent that indigenous communities continue to invoke in land disputes.
In recognition of this historic triumph, Baguio City Council Resolution No. 395, S. 2009, declared February 23 as Ibaloy Day to honor the Ibaloy people’s fight for their ancestral lands.
This year’s celebration was moved to March 8 to accommodate the Panagbenga Grand Float Parade, which fell on February 23. Onjon ni Ivadoy president Demosthenes Paus assured the community that next year’s event would return to its rightful home at the Ibaloy Heritage Garden, which is currently under renovation.
A day of tradition and unity
With the theme “Pan iinajuwan, paunong shi kaibadoyan (Preserving compassion amongst the Ibaloy nation),” the festivities began with a parade through Session Road, followed by rituals, music, and traditional dances.
One of the highlights was the “owik” ritual, a pig butchering ceremony symbolizing blessings and communal sharing.
Baguio Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative (IPMR) Maximo Hilario Edwin Jr. emphasized the importance of love and unity within the community.
“Let us keep showing our ‘semek,’ our love,” he said, explaining that love for culture, land, and kinship remains at the core of Ibaloy identity.
Edwin also noted that Ibaloy Day is not only a commemoration of history but also a call to action.
“Today, as we celebrate both Ibaloy Day and International Native Title Day, we acknowledge our past struggles for recognition and renew our pledge to safeguard our cultural legacy for generations to come,” he added.
Calls for legal reforms
The celebration also became a platform for addressing ongoing legal challenges faced by the Ibaloy community. Baguio City Councilor and Ibaloy elder Jose Mencio Molintas called for amendments to Section 78 of the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act (IPRA), which currently exempts Baguio City from certain provisions protecting indigenous land rights.
“The Native Title Doctrine originated here in Baguio City, yet Section 78 of the IPRA excludes us from its benefits,” Molintas stated. “We continue to struggle for a better law. Our right to our land determines the future of our culture.”
Section 78 of the IPRA specifies that Baguio City shall remain governed by its charter and that all lands proclaimed as part of its townsite reservation shall remain as such until reclassified by appropriate legislation. This provision has been a point of contention, as it limits the application of ancestral land claims within the city.
Dancing for identity
The celebration also featured traditional Benguet dances, highlighting the community’s rich heritage.
Former Senator Leila de Lima joined the revelry and even performed the “tayaw,” a dance from the Kankanaey and Ibaloy people, typically performed at weddings and grand gatherings. The “Bendian,” a victory dance symbolizing unity, was also performed, serving as a reminder of the Ibaloy people’s powerful statement of self-determination, a tribute to the past, and a pledge to protect the future. – Rappler.com