Welcome Remarks to the Plenary Session

   

        Kathleen Lindelauf 
Good morning, everyone! I feel so honored to be standing here today to welcome you all for this 12th ICBE gathering. I am saying this because 23 years ago when this gathering started here in Belgium, I was barely two and a half months old. I only learned from my parents and the elders in Cordi-Bel that this kind of gathering was given the name ICBE during the second European gathering of Igorots in Vienna hosted by the Igorot Austria. That time, I was onlyone year old, and I was told that I was the youngest participant. But now, that has become history. I am now twenty-three years old taking the turn to welcome you for this 12th Igorot Cordillera (BIMAAK) - Europe gathering. Unfortunately, I can not be with you today due to work commitments thus Aaliyah Joan Valentine, a second generation also from the UK, reads the message on my behalf.

So, to our first Igorot generations, I am honored to welcome you. And for the second generations like me as well as the third generations, I am so pleased to welcome you and notice that we are as numerous as the first generations as what I have seen from the participants’ registrations. This is indeed right since our theme for this 12th gathering is: “Raised in the Diaspora. Navigating our indigenous identity as second generation igorots.” With this opportunity to be together, it is my innermost wish in welcoming you to feel at home and benefit in every way as this is, if I may say, a rare occasion. We have our first
generations with us as the direct transmitters of our ancestors' values and wisdoms, cultures and viable practices, and many others, et cetera. And for us, second and third generations, we are the direct beneficiaries here. Nevertheless, I am fairly sure that we are incapable of understanding or absorbing everything that will be discussed or whatever we will observe within these days of togetherness but so be it. This is just to reecho what Cristobal said last Thursday. As direct beneficiaries, the best for us is to be open and receptive to the inputs during this plenary session.

Therefore, dear participants, Igorots and friends of Igorots, a warm welcome to all of you and may “Apo Kabunian,” the God of our ancestors continue to bless us and guide our hearts and minds all throughout the rest of this 12th ICBE gathering.
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/Kathleen Lindelauf - External Chairperson of Cordi-Bel
May 31, 2025
Salle Dupréel, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) , Solbosch Campus
Avenue Jeanne 44, Ixelles, Belgium.