Sharing indigenous knowledge of their region in the Philippines, two visiting university professors say they see similarities in challenges facing the preservation of culture in the face of modernization.

Benguet University professors Dr. Karryl Mae Ngina and Dr. Gigi Banes are here to share indigenous knowledge of the Cordilleras - a mountainous region in the Philippines that is home to the indigenous Igorots and the mountain range is the ancestral domain of the "people of the mountains."

Banes and Ngina say the region has a shared history of resisting invading imperial powers from Spain, the U.S. and Japan.

The women tell KUAM News missionaries were able to bring Catholicism to the region, but indigenous Cordilleran culture put its own mark on the practicing of the religion - similar to how Guam mixes CHamoru superstitions and beliefs with Christian dogma.

"We are practicing a combination of Roman Catholic beliefs and also our traditional beliefs - we call that "Folk Catholicism," Banes said.

Banes and Ngina are speaking before the University of Guam's CHamoru studies and Division of Social Work at 6:30 tonight, Oct. 30. The public is invited to attend the event at the UOG CLASS Lecture Hall.

Banes' lecture will focus on "Igorots of the Cordilleras: Cultural Practices and Beliefs" with an emphasis on food and dance. Ngina will lecture on "Indigenous Healing Worldview in the Cordilleras."

Dr. Ngina, a social psychologist, says much of her work is documenting indigenous healing practices - both medicinal and spiritual - but as older generations pass on, Ngina says she will focus on how to encourage the young to carry on practices done out of respect to elders - even after those elders pass on.

"That's why the challenge nowadays is to document it to pass it on to the next generation especially when I'm teaching my college students and I ask them do you know about the values and beliefs of the indigenous people you belong to, most of them would say they don't know so there's a challenge nowadays to strengthen the passing on of these indigenous beliefs and values."

The woman have also made their way around the island meeting with CHamoru cultural practitioners who mirror their dedication. They thank UOG's Dr. Lisa Natividad - who the professors met at an indigenous leadership seminar. Their trip to Guam is the continuation of shared experiences between our island and the Cordilleras.

"They came to the Philippines and explore also our culture so this is part two of it," Banes said. "So we came here to also lecture on the indigenous knowledge of the Cordilleras since we have similarities in terms of culture and history."

Banes and Ngina tell KUAM they will also share how indigenous healing of trauma plays an integral part in modern Cordilleran life. Banes also says food is an enormous part of culture and she will share stories of how ceremonial preparation of dishes is still valued today. Both woman agree that while they do their work, they feel they are also being aided by their ancestors.

"The ancestors are doing their way, They transfer the knowledge to the young ones," Banes said. "They're healers who are teenagers. Maybe it's the power of ancestors to pass to their grandchildren. So there are young healers who will eventually continue the indigenous knowledge."