Finding the right balance

MANILA, Philippines - Local tourism is expected to contribute significantly to the country’s economic growth, driven in part by the rising number of travel-savvy millennials who are constantly on the lookout for instagram-worthy destinations.

While the growth of the tourism industry leads to more opportunities for economic growth, it also poses a threat to the environment when local communities struggle to accommodate the demand of vacationers.

But for the people of Malico in Northern Luzon, finding the  right balance between the conservation of their heritage and inclusive economic growth has given rise to a community-based ecotourism initiative.

Malico is a community that spans the towns of Sta. Fe and Sta. Rosa in Nueva Vizcaya, and San Nicolas in Pangasinan.The community is composed of four villages namely Centro, Monumento, Antero and Salacsac. Its locals are part of the Kalanguya tribe, the indigenous group that has legitimately claimed Malico as ancestral domain.

According to documents from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), members of the Kalanguya tribe reside in administrative regions of Pangasinan, Cagayan Valley, Nueva Ecija and the Cordillera.

The NCCA noted the Kalanguyas have developed indigenous institutions and simple, sustainable economic system.  “With the advent of cash economy, the Kalanguya lifestyle began to yield to certain pecuniary motivations,” the NCCA said.”The indigenous life system where ecological concerns were protected is now vanishing.”

In a bid to preserve the Kalanguya tribe’s culture, the Malico Community Development Association organized the Hulpon Festival. Last February,the indigenous people of Malico celebrated the second year of the Hulpon Festival. The word “Hulpon” is the Kalahan, the native language of the Kalanguyas, term for bayanihan or  pagtutulungan.

The festival celebrates the cultural traditions of the Kalanguyas through dance, music and plays.

Former National Commission on Indigenous Peoples commissioner for Region 2 Langley Segundo said the festival aims to preserve the environment and the culture of the Kalanguya tribe.

Ecotourism destination

Driven by the desire to protect the enviroment, culture and heritage of the Kalanguya tribe in Malico, United Coconut Planters Bank-Coconut Industry Investment Fund (UCPB-CIIF) Foundation president Edgardo Amistad spearheaded the effort to help the community’s ecotourism initiative.

UCPB-CIIF is the corporate social responsibility arm of the UCPB group.

The goal is to develop Malico as a unique experience for visitors while creating an inclusive economic growth for the indigenous people by creating  sustainable ecotourism-based livelihood.

“Hindi pwede all development at the expense of culture. Karamihan ng grumagraduate na mga anak ng Kalanguya, walang matrabahuhan dito. So kailangan umalis, walang livelihood,” Amistad said.

At present, the planting of crops, particularly sayote and ginger is the main source of livelihood in Malico.

Amistad said the locals could gain livelihood from tourism-related activities.

“For example, culture is a tourist attraction in itself. A lot of  foreigners and locals would like to visit Malico because of the existence of the  culture and heritage of the Kalanguya,” Amistad said.

“The environment, the quality of the air at present, if that can be preserved, that is the wealth of the community,” he added.

“If we succeed here, its a major accomplishment  for the country and the indigenous people. We can improve the quality of life of the people of Malico without sacrificing their culture and heritage,” Amistad said.