The Research and Development Center once again have organized a seminar entitled Orientation cum Seminar on the Conduct of Researches Involving Indigenous Peoples last June 25, 2016. Students who are enrolled this Summer
Term of AY 2016 are given the chance to attend the seminar which will prepare them for their Research subjects for the next semester. The seminar was held at the AMS Hall of the University. There were 181 students from the Schools of Allied Medical Sciences, School of Business Administration and Accountancy, School of Criminal Justice and Public Safety, School of Engineering and Architecture, School of International Hotel and Tourism Management, and School of Teacher Education who attended.
The seminar was formally opened by Dr. Ely Jose As-il of the School of the Liberal Arts and Human Sciences. He challenged the students that a person must be more of an optimist rather than of a pessimist. Dr. As-il is a member of the University Research Board- Institutional Ethics Review Committee (IERC).
The seminar is a reiteration of the seminar last April 2, 2016 on the researches that involves participation of indigenous peoples. The R& DC tapped Mr. Michael G. Umaming, Development Management Officer V (DMO V) of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples- CAR as the esteemed speaker.
The speaker discussed afresh the differences among ethno linguistic groups, indigenous cultural communities and tribes. Interesting historical background, geographic location, and the involvement of the indigenous peoples in various activities from the timeline of our history were presented as well. The speaker discussed also the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act or IPRA which aims to recognize, protect and promote the rights of indigenous culture and indigenous cultural communities. IPRA’s 4-Fold Rights, the Right to Ancestral Domain Lands, Right to Self-Governance & Empowerment, Social Justice and Human Rights and Cultural Integrity were mentioned.
The students were also treated with a 15-minute ice breaker during the break. The hall was filled with youthful laughter and renewed the audience as the seminar continued.
Towards the end of the seminar, the audience was encouraged to react and ask questions regarding the lecture. Dr. Galangco gave a reaction to the topics that were given by Mr. Umaming. Correspondingly, Dr. Ayunon-Dean of School of Teacher Education provided reaction to and appreciation of the lecture. Dr. Liwanag of the School of the Liberal Arts and Human Sciences also threw some questions.
Mr. Miguel Xerxes R. Villacrucis of the School of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences gave the closing remarks. He is a member of the University Research Board-Institutional Research Committee (IRC).-Eden Vidal-RDC
