Even with COVID-19 putting a strain on the country’s healthcare system and economy, experts have found that the world’s indigenous peoples have been disproportionately affected. The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs recently cited that their relatively poor access to healthcare, higher rates of communicable and non-communicable diseases, and lack of access to essential services make indigenous communities especially vulnerable to the ravages of a global pandemic.
As part of their mandate of social responsibility, the UP Badminton Association in Diliman (UP BadAss) has organized two projects to assist the indigenous communities, particularly the Itneg, of Namarabar, Peñarrubia, Abra to find a partial solution to these problems.
Recently, the group partnered with slow-fashion brand, Abra Indigo Manila, to help raise funds for the community. The first was a donation drive in May 2020 to raise funds and provide relief packs for 160 families in Namarabar. This drive to cushion the social and economic effects of COVID-19 on the community was also done in partnership with UP Circuit and the UP Economics Society.
More recently, the UP partnership of the UP BadAss and Abra Indigo Manila has been selling facemasks made by the Itneg community via their Facebook page. The face masks are made with neoprene and painted with natural dyes, patterned according to the designs of Itneg embroidery. According to the page, each mask carries a unique symbol embossed by the embroiderer that carries a piece of Itneg history and culture.
Buying a facemask from the UP BadAss Facebook page is quick and simple. You can do so by commenting ‘mine’ under the picture of the design one is interested in, sending a message containing your contact details to the page, and paying via the four indicated channels (BDO, GCash, Landbank, and BPI).
You may send proof of your transaction to the email: [email protected] For more details, and to see all the designs for yourself, please visit the UP BadAss Facebook page.
View a similar story from our partners at UP Diliman: https://upd.edu.ph/up-badass-sells-face-masks-for-ips/.
Visit the Abra Indigo Manila Facebook page at: https://facebook.com/AbraIndigoManila/.
(This was originally posted on the UP System website on July 6, 2020)