Sablayan unveils Mangyan monument

MANILA, Philippines - The municipality of Sablayan, the resort town and tourist capital of Occidental Mindoro, feted its indigenous settlers with the inauguration of the Mangyan park monument as part of its 110th founding anniversary celebration recently.

One of the first settlements on Mindoro island, Sablayan is home to the Tao Buid and Batangan tribes of the Mangyan.

According to Mayor Eduardo Gadiano, the park is the first of its kind in Mindoro and is a recognition of the Mangyans’ contribution to the development of Sablayan and the preservation of its natural resources.

He said that the town is also instituting the Araw ng Katutubo (Indigenous Peoples’ Day) and the Dugoy Festival to be part of its annual founding day celebration to showcase the Mangyans’ culture and way of life.