Philippine government launches tourism circuit to feature Bugkalot culture

The Department of Tourism Region II and the Department of Trade and Industry Region II launched Lakbay Likha, a tourism circuit in Quirino and Nueva Vizcaya to connect travelers with local artisans and indigenous communities.

This initiative creates hubs where visitors can participate in workshops, learn traditional skills, and purchase products directly from local creators. In Nagtipunan, Quirino, the program features the Bugkalot people, who are also known as the Egongot.

Myra dela Cruz, a member of the Bugkalot community, explains that the group maintains a spirit of Bayanihan, or community spirit, which guides their daily survival and social customs. This cooperation extends to seasonal hunting and fishing, where families share their catches with neighbors. While many families in Nagtipunan grow corn for sale and upland rice for home use, the community also raises livestock to generate income.

The community underwent a major cultural shift during the 20th century as Christianity arrived in the region. Dela Cruz notes that the New Tribes Mission, led by Filipino missionary Florentino Santos, began arriving in the 1950s. While the group eventually abandoned headhunting, historical accounts and studies indicate that the practice persisted in isolated areas until the 1990s.

Today, the community focuses on passing down oral histories, traditional dances like the Tagëm, and beadwork techniques to younger generations to ensure their heritage survives modern changes.