Tribal Filipino Sunday

Every second Sunday of October, we commemorate the Catholic Church’s commitment to standing in solidarity with, and fighting alongside, the Indigenous Peoples of the Philippines. Initiated under the leadership of Bishop Bienvenido Tudtud of Marawi, then chair of the Episcopal Commission on Tribal Filipinos (ECTF), and institutionalized by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on October 8, 1978, the celebration of IP Sunday has also been adopted by Protestant churches, particularly the member churches of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP). Thus, the second Sunday of October is celebrated by both Catholic and Protestant churches in the Philippines as a shared expression of solidarity with Indigenous Peoples.

This unity across churches symbolizes a commitment to stand not only with Indigenous Peoples but also to fight alongside them in their struggles for their rights, ancestral lands, and self-determination — a union that the struggle needs now more than ever.

Looking back at this year alone, we see this solidarity take shape not only in words and prayers, but also in the presence of the Church among communities on the frontlines of struggle. In Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya, Bishop Jose Elmer Mangalinao celebrated Mass at an anti-mining barricade alongside communities defending their ancestral lands, forests, and watersheds. In Mankayan, Benguet, church leaders and ecumenical groups brought their services to the barricades, standing with residents resisting mineral exploration that threatens their farmlands and livelihoods. Across these struggles, Catholic and Protestant communities have joined solidarity missions, called for accountability over the harassment of land defenders, and affirmed the people's right to protect their ancestral domains. These are but a few instances in which the Church has stood with the people, recognizing its responsibility as an institution not merely to speak about Indigenous Peoples, but to echo their voices and stand alongside them in their struggle.

Today, this solidarity is called upon once more. The proposed Pax Silica project in Capas, Tarlac, has raised serious concerns about the future of Ayta communities and other Indigenous Peoples whose ancestral lands, homes, and livelihoods stand to be affected. We are reminded that the rhetoric of development cannot come at the expense of the very people who have long called these lands home, nor can progress be built upon the displacement of those who have cared for them across generations.

As we commemorate the Catholic Church’s history of solidarity with Indigenous Peoples, we are reminded that this struggle cannot be carried by the Church alone. Every sector, every institution, and every community must rise to defend Indigenous Peoples’ rights to their ancestral lands and self-determination. Solidarity must be more than remembrance. We must stand with the people and fight alongside them in their struggle for justice.

References:

1. https://nordis.net/2026/08/04/article/news/churches-back-communities-opposing-north-luzon-mine-projects/

2. https://www.fides.org/en/news/77843-ASIA_PHILIPPINES_Sued_for_supporting_indigenous_communities_in_the_fight_against_mining_Church_representatives_express_solidarity_with_Bishop_of_Bayombong

3. https://mindanews.com/around-mindanao/2010/10/the-story-behind-the-indigenous-peoples-sunday/