Senatorial aspirant and former Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat Jr. said on Sunday, Nov. 14, that he will advocate for the return of “positive Filipino values and culture” if he wins a seat in the Magic 12 in 2022.
The former congressman refers to himself as a “katutubo (indigenous)” having grown up in Ifugao after he moved there from Manila when he was 13 years old.
His primary advocacy is still the rights of the indigenous communities in the country, making sure that he finds time for them when he joins presidential aspirant Vice President Leni Robredo in her visits to provinces.
But Baguilat said he also wants to connect the rights of the indigenous people to the promotion of positive Filipino values.
“And then iko-connect namin doon sa adbokasiya namin sa kultura—promotion ng Filipino culture, katutubong kultura, katutubo ng mga Cebuano (And then, we will connect it to our advocacy in culture—promotion of Filipino culture, indigenous culture, indigenous of Cebuano),” he said.
The former lawmaker, who went with Robredo to Cebu last week to meet with IP communities there, was the special guest during the Vice President’s Sunday radio show.
“Hindi lang iyong mga sayaw at saka kanta kundi iyong mga Filipino values, cultural values natin dahil nga medyo nag-iiba na rin iyong values kung ano ba ang maayos na lider dahil nga sa social media, ano (Not only the dances and songs, but our Filipino values, cultural values that changed with regards to who is a good leader because of social media),” Baguilat added.
He lamented that it’s now okay for Filipinos to see and hear their leader being rude and swearing.
“So gusto naming hikayatin ulit na gunitain natin iyong mga (We want to advocate for the reminder of our) positive Filipino values and culture,” Baguilat said.
He will also be pushing for environmental protection and sustainability if he wins a seat in the Senate.
Baguilat, who decided at the last minute to run for senator after Senator Kiko Pangilinan had to forego his reelection bid to run as vice president, said he is happy Robredo is open to discussing issues of climate change in her administration.
The issue of climate action is near to his heart because IP communities are interconnected to nature, he added.
In fact, Baguilat said that he makes it a point to push for these issues whenever he got to talk with the media, sectors, and supporters.