Agta community of Sitio Dipontian, Barangay Cozo, Casiguran, Aurora. Documentation of Philippine traditional knowledge and practices in health: the Agta people of Sition Dipontian, Barangay Cozo, Casiguran, Aurora. University of the Philippines Manila 2011.
Documentation of Philippine traditional knowledge and practices in health: the Agta people of Sition Dipontian, Barangay Cozo, Casiguran, Aurora
ABSTRACT
The ethnographic and ethnopharmacological study of the Agta people of Casiguran, Aurora and the Dumagat people of San Luis, Aurora, is a component of the Documentation of Philippine Traditional Knowledge and Practices in Health Program. This project aims to conserve both the biodiversity and cultural heritage of the indigenous communities and ethnolinguistic groups in the country.
Documenting with the indigenous communities their health traditions may contribute in upholding their knowledge and practices. It is a way to transfer the healing traditions to succeeding generations. Indigenous elders may pass away but the community can still refer to the documentation for their ancestors’ health practices.
The project recognizes that the ancestral domain of our indigenous peoples is a rich source of potentially useful pharmacologic agents. The documentation may be used by communities/community members as evidence of particular health knowledge and practices which they posses and have rights to. Knowledge gathered may also help in providing the indigenous communities with culturally acceptable health care services, including health education materials.
The documentation may aid in spreading awareness that the cultural wealth of indigenous communities is inextricably tied to the richness of biodiversity of their ancestral domain. It may contribute in promoting the protection of communities’ ancestral land which they rely on not only for health but is the primary basis of life for the indigenous peoples.
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