𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝐂𝐅𝐎 𝐌𝐢𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐬: “𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 – 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐉𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐃𝐫. 𝐀𝐥𝐦𝐢𝐫𝐚 𝐀𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐨 𝐆𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐬”

Quezon City – The Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) conducted today, 17 March 2025 a lecture on Filipino international migration titled “The Cultural and Natural Treasures of the Philippines: The Journeys in Conservation of Dr. Almira Astudillo Gilles.”

The event featured Dr. Almira Astudillo Gilles, a recipient of the 2012 Presidential Awards for Filipino Individuals and Organizations Overseas (PAFIOO) under the Pamana ng Pilipino category.

To open the event, Secretary Dante “Klink” Ang II delivered the welcome remarks, emphasizing the importance of cultural conservation and how the event would deepen participants’ understanding of the Philippines’ rich heritage.

During the lecture, Dr. Gilles shared insights from her research on cultural heritage in Batanes, particularly Ivatan ethnoastronomy, which explores how the Ivatan people connect with the night sky through myths and celestial markers. She also discussed The Hinabi Project (THP), a trans-Pacific initiative dedicated to preserving and promoting Philippine weaving traditions using natural fibers. She underscored how weaving embodies ancestral knowledge and community heritage. Further, Dr. Gilles delved into the kapayvanuvanua, an ancient Ivatan fishing tradition that includes a ritual of drinking local wine to mark the start of the fishing season.

Dr. Gilles also introduced her book, “Hotspot, Cool Country: Biodiversity in the Philippines,” which showcases the country’s unique ecosystems and explains how geological and evolutionary processes have shaped its rich biodiversity.

Accompanying Dr. Gilles was Mr. Noli Gabilo, an Ivatan photographer and her collaborator on various field projects. Mr. Gabilo emphasized that while Ivatan traditions and superstitions continue to be practiced today, these have also evolved alongside modern digital technologies.

As strong advocates for the preservation of Filipino cultural heritage, Dr. Gilles and Mr. Gabilo stressed the need for greater appreciation and documentation of Filipino traditions, especially among younger generations. They proposed initiatives such as more exhibitions, increased international publications, and digital archiving efforts to ensure cultural sustainability.

To conclude the event, Undersecretary Ma. Arlene Borja delivered the closing remarks, commending the insightful presentation and encouraging participants to integrate the lessons learned into their daily work.

This lecture is the second installment of the 2025 CFO Migration Talks series, a series of lectures organized by the Policy, Planning, and Research Division (PPRD) designed to enhance the knowledge of CFO personnel and the public on Filipino international migration.