REMARKS OF H.E. JAIME VICTOR B. LEDDA
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JAIME VICTOR B. LEDDA
12th Igorot Cordillera BIMAAK-Europe (ICBE) Conference
ULB Campus du Solbosch, Bâtiment S, Salle Dupréel, Avenue Jeanne 44,
1050 Bruxelles, Belgium
29 May – 1 June 2025
1 REMARKS OF H.E. JAIME VICTOR B. LEDDA
2 Ambassador of the Republic to the Philippines to the Kingdom of
3 Belgium, the Grand Duchy Of Luxembourg and the European Union
4
5 CULTURAL GALA NIGHT
6 12th Igorot Cordillera BIMAAK-Europe (ICBE) Conference.
7 31 MARCH 2025
8
9 Distinguished organizers from the Cordillera Community in Belgium (Cordi-Bel) and 10 the Laboratoire d’Anthropologie des Mondes Contemporains (LAMC), esteemed 11 members of the Igorot Cordillera BIMAAK-Europe network, dear guests, ladies and 12 gentlemen, good evening.
13 As I reflect on our journey together, I’m reminded of the privilege I had to address the 14 10th ICBE Consultation back in 2019, when I was serving as the Philippine 15 Ambassador to the Netherlands. It’s truly a pleasure to return and see how this vibrant 16 community continues to grow and thrive.
17 I am deeply honored to join you tonight for this Cultural Gala Night of the 12th Igorot 18 Cordillera BIMAAK-Europe (ICBE) Conference. Allow me to begin by thanking our 19 organizers, Cordi-Bel and LAMC at the Université libre de Bruxelles, for their 20 dedication and hard work in bringing us together. Thank you for inviting me to share 21 in this celebration of culture, heritage, and community.
22 For the past several days, Igorot and Cordilleran compatriots from across Europe and 23 beyond have gathered here in Brussels for the 12th ICBE Conference. This gathering 24 has drawn participants from various countries in Europe, the United States, and the Pacific.1 25
26 This diversity is a testament to the remarkable global unity of this community. Seeing 27 so many of you come together to celebrate your heritage is truly inspiring. Indeed, 28 tonight’s event is a demonstration of the strength and resilience of the Igorot diaspora.
29 The theme of this year’s conference, “Raised in the Diaspora: Navigating our 30 Indigenous Identity as Second-Generation Igorots,” resonates deeply with everyone 31 here. It recognizes the unique journey of those who have grown up outside of the 32 Philippines yet carry the rich traditions and values of the Cordilleras in their hearts. 33 Many second-generation Igorots have had to balance two worlds: the customs and 34 wisdom passed down by their parents, and the realities of life in their European 35 communities.
1 https://lamc.phisoc.ulb.be/actualites/evenements/evenement-culturel-et-conference-raised-in-the diaspora-navigating-our-indigenous-identity-as-second-generation
igorots#:~:text=This%20four,The%20Igorots
36 It sparks an important conversation about identity: how to remain proud of who we are, 37 of where we come from, even as we adapt to new cultures and surroundings. Through 38 these discussions, you’re not only honoring your heritage but also weaving it into the 39 fabric of the diverse communities you now call home. It’s inspiring to see how this 40 generation continues to forge identities that are both rooted in tradition and open to 41 new cultural experiences.
42 Over the past two decades, the Igorot Cordillera BIMAAK-Europe network has been a 43 pillar of cultural preservation, unity, and friendship among our people. Since the very 44 first ICBE gathering in 2002, which was hosted here in Belgium, this network has 45 connected Igorot and Cordilleran organizations across the continent and beyond, 46 fostering a strong sense of community.
47 These conferences, held biennially, have reinforced the bonds among our countrymen 48 and reignited the flame of Cordilleran pride each time. Now, at this 12th ICBE 49 Conference, we witness a generational transition. It marks the beginning of a handover 50 of leadership, tradition, and trust to the youth.
51 This is a fitting symbol of continuity and shared commitment. The responsibility now 52 falls to the second and third generations to carry forward the legacy that the pioneers 53 of the Igorot diaspora have preserved.
54 I want to commend our first-generation Igorots here in Europe, many of whom left the 55 Philippines decades ago, for instilling in their children a deep respect for our traditions 56 and values. Because of your guidance, young Igorots in countries like Belgium, the 57 UK, Germany, and beyond can perform the dances of the highlands, wear our 58 traditional attire with pride, speak words of their ancestral languages, and understand 59 the proud history of their people.
60 To the youth here tonight, we look to you to continue this journey. Your heritage is a 61 gift; by embracing it, you ensure that the culture of the Cordilleras continues to thrive 62 and that it enriches not only your own lives but also the multicultural societies of 63 Europe that you call home.
64 On behalf of the Philippine Embassy in Belgium, I wish to assure you that we are 65 committed to supporting our diaspora communities in preserving their cultural 66 heritage. One significant initiative is the establishment of Sentro Rizal cultural centers 67 around the world. This is a government initiative under the National Commission for 68 Culture and the Arts dedicated to promoting Philippine arts, culture, and language 69 globally.
70 These centers serve as vital hubs for learning, giving overseas Filipinos and their 71 children a means to connect to their roots through language classes, workshops, and 72 cultural events. Whether here in Europe or elsewhere, we want our kababayans 73 abroad to feel that Philippine culture is alive and accessible to them and their families.
74 In addition, the Philippine government actively encourages our youth in the diaspora 75 to engage with their Filipino identity. The Commission on Filipinos Overseas, for
instance, runs the Youth Leaders in the Diaspora (YouLeaD) program.2 76 This is a two 77 week cultural immersion in the Philippines launched for young Filipinos born or raised 78 abroad.
79 Programs like YouLeaD give second-generation Filipinos an opportunity to experience 80 the motherland firsthand, learn about our history and customs, and bond with fellow 81 Filipino youth from around the world.
82 We have also supported gatherings of overseas Filipinos dedicated to cultural 83 immersion, such as the European diaspora forum held in Paris in 2018 by the 84 European Network of Filipino Diaspora, where community elders taught our arts, values, and traditions to the next generation.3 85
86 Through these programs and initiatives, we hope to inspire the next generation of 87 Filipinos to take pride in their heritage and act as bridges between their two homes, 88 the Philippines and the countries they now call their own.
89 CLOSING
90 As we come to the end of tonight’s celebration, I want to congratulate Cordi-Bel, 91 LAMC, and the entire ICBE community for the success of this conference and gala. 92 It’s been incredibly moving to witness Igorot culture thriving here in the heart of 93 Europe. Please, continue nurturing this precious heritage and passing it on to future 94 generations.
95 In doing so, you not only honor your ancestors and affirm your identity, but you also 96 enrich the multicultural fabric of Belgium and every country in which the Igorot diaspora 97 has made a home.
98 The Philippine Embassy is proud to stand with you in your efforts to preserve and 99 empower your culture, and I take great pride in seeing our heritage reflected in your 100 community’s accomplishments.
101 Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for the warmth of your welcome and the inspiration 102 you have provided tonight. It has been my honor to celebrate with you.
103 Together, let us continue to strengthen the bonds of kinship, culture, and friendship 104 that tie the Cordilleras to Europe.
105 Maraming salamat po sa inyong lahat, and mabuhay!
2 https://cfo.gov.ph/announcements-advisories-detail-2025/18735 3 https://diasporafordevelopment.eu/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/EUDiF-RTM-GUAM-Youth-focused diaspora-engagement-initiatives
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