Talaingod Manobos Indigenous practice framework: Indigenous approaches in Philippine social work education

Indigenous peoples are considered the most marginalized communities in the Philippines, and these communities are the recipients of various government social welfare programs. The design and delivery of these programs rarely involves consultation with Indigenous communities to determine what the communities want. Social workers frequently work in the programs often without adequate knowledge of Indigenous culture as Indigenous knowledge has been subjugated in Philippine social work education. This paper reports on a study in which the Indigenous Talaingod Manobos leaders of Mindanao shared their healing and helping practice framework which comprises Indigenous knowledge and elements, such as Land, Indigenous Rituals, and Indigenous collectivity. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the Indigenous healing and helping practice framework which could be included in Philippine social work education contributing to a more culturally informed and potentially decolonizing social work pedagogy.