Celebrating Heritage and Conservation: Culminating Activity for IP and Tamaraw Month

The Culminating Activity for the Indigenous Peoples and Tamaraw Month Celebration was participated in by the Thriving Together with Tamaraw Consortium as part of its continuous support for biodiversity conservation and Indigenous empowerment. Held at the Sablayan Astrodome, the event gathered around 400 attendees, including representatives from DENR, LGUs, IP communities, and civil society organizations.

The event opened with speeches from prominent provincial leaders, including the Mayor of Sablayan, Governor and Vice-Governor of Occidental Mindoro, Congressman of Occidental Mindoro, and the DENR MIMAROPA Regional Executive Director (RED). Mayors of Calintaan and Paluan, along with the entire Sangguniang Bayan of Sablayan, were also in attendance, demonstrating strong support from local government units.

An audio-visual presentation traced the history of tamaraw conservation efforts, providing context to the month’s series of events leading up to this culminating celebration.

A key moment of the program was the oath-taking of 59 new volunteer guards, composed of Katutubong Bantay-Tamaraw and Barangay Bantay-Tamaraw from the Buhid, Taobuid, and Alangan ethnolinguistic groups. These volunteers will directly support the Tamaraw Conservation Program (TCP) by reporting to assigned TCP team leaders. Youth involvement was also celebrated through the formal appointment of new Environment and Natural Resources (ENR) Youth Ambassadors.

Several memoranda of agreements (MOAs) were signed during the event:

• Between DENR and the D’ABOVILLE Foundation and Demo Farm, Inc. (DAF) for the construction of a Tamaraw Ranger Station in Amnay area
• Between DENR and the Taobuid community in Mounts Iglit-Baco Natural Park (MIBNP) for the expansion of the tamaraw safe reproduction zone

Another key highlight was the Handog Titulo ceremony, where over 90 residents of Sablayan were awarded with land titles. These titles recognize long-term land occupation validated through the LGU’s Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) as part of the areas classified as alienable and disposable (A&D).

Certificates of Appreciation were presented to key partner institutions and individuals, including DAF, MBCFI, LGUs across Occidental Mindoro, OMSC, and other supporting organizations. Special recognition was given to Mr. Emmanuel Schutz for his decades of personal dedication to Tamaraw conservation.

An artist’s perspective rendering of the proposed Tamaraw Conservation Research Center was also unveiled during the event, symbolizing a collective vision for the species’ continued protection.

As part of the closing rites, a ceremonial turnover of responsibilities for the Tamaraw Month 2025 was held, officially passing the hosting role from Sablayan to Calintaan.

Cultural elements enriched the program, with performances of group dances and songs, some involving public participation. The venue also featured an art display by the Gintong Tamaraw Artists Association of San Jose, and a unique participatory painting activity led by local Sablayan artists, where guests contributed to completing a collaborative canvas artwork.

Through this culminating activity, diverse stakeholders once again affirmed their shared commitment to safeguarding Mindoro’s rich cultural and ecological heritage. Thriving Together with Tamaraw Consortium remains dedicated to amplifying these efforts by working hand-in-hand with IP communities, conservation partners, and local governments.