Reflections by our ICBE Pioneers by Conchita Pooten
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12th Igorot Cordillera BIMAAK-Europe (ICBE) Conference
Salle Dupréel, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Solbosch Campus
Avenue Jeanne 44, 1050 Ixelles, Belgium
May 29-June 1, 2025
REFLECTIONS by our ICBE PIONEERS
By Conchita Damaguen Balagtey Pooten (UK)
Thank you to our gracious hosts, Cordi-Bel, one of the ICBE pioneers. Thank you also to my fellow elders, and to everyone gathered here today.
When we first started Igorot UK, our goal was simple yet deeply meaningful: to bond with fellow kailians in the diaspora - because we were no longer living in the Philippines - and, more importantly, to teach our children, the next generation, about who they are and where they come from. I believe it was the same purpose that inspired the creation of ICBE, and I am so proud to have been part of this shared vision.
To stand here today and witness our grandchildren - the third generation - carrying their identity with pride is such a blessing. It proves that what we started was not in vain.
ICBE holds a very special place in my heart. It gave me the opportunity to connect deeply with fellow elders, to build lifelong friendships, and to explore different parts of Europe along the way. I’ve been blessed and fortunate to attend nearly all of the ICBE events - and God willing, I shall continue to do so.
Looking back through the decades brings great joy, but I believe the stories of our beginnings are best shared by my fellow elders who walked this journey with me. Today, I want to encourage us all to look ahead.
To Igorot UK and the other organisations across Europe: we, your elders and pioneers, represent the past - and it must not be forgotten. Our Igorot culture teaches us to honour our history, because it shapes who we are. One of the values we hold dear is inayan. For those unfamiliar with it, inayan can be likened to karma - a moral compass rooted in our culture. It reminds us not to act in ways that are harmful or unacceptable to the values we uphold as Igorots. For example: listen to your elders, do not be wasteful, and care for each other, your families, and the wider community. Inayan is real - and I have seen this truth time and again throughout my life.
To my children and to the younger generation: while we, your elders, are still here, listen to our voices and what we have to say - even if you may not always agree - for one day, these will be the voices of your ancestors. Learn from what we have done, and then go further. Strive always for the betterment of our whole community. Do more - because we persevered and sacrificed so that you would have more - and when you do, always share your blessings with one another.
God bless everyone.