Diwata wearing cultural outfit. Facebook/Diwata Pares OverLoad

MANILA — Deo Balbuena, more popularly known as the food vlogger "Diwata", drew flak online after many netizens and the state tribal rights body itself condemned his "demeaning gestures" against Indigenous Peoples during his recent visit in Baguio and La Trinidad, Benguet.

The National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) particularly slammed Diwata's vlog where he was seen wearing a traditional attire which belongs to one of Cordillera's IP communities. The content creator wore the tribal outfit  at the Grand Float Parade in Panagbenga (Baguio Flower Festival) and at the Strawberry Farm in La Trinidad, while also doing actions that some deemed insensitive and disrespectful to IPs.

In another video, Diwata was seen sticking his tongue out and playing with a spear as he tries to entertain the crowd who are mimicking what they believed are sounds some tribes make.

A post where he was wearing the cultural attire while holding a bow is captioned: "Hindi kumpleto ang pag punta dito kung hindi ako mag suot ng Native  Costumes.".

Noting that the vlogger has caused "widespread outrage", NCIP said Diwata's viral "insensitive cultural appropriation" has left a bitter aftertaste that awakened the Indigenous Cultural Communities (ICCs) and IPs of the region.

As defined by Oxford Languages, cultural appropriation is "the unacknowledged or inappropriate adoption of the customs, practices, ideas, etc. of one people or society by members of another and typically more dominant people or society."

While NCIP acknowledged that it may not be Diwata's intention to degrade IP culture, it still emphasized that the incident shows the "persistent challenges" that IPs and the state tribal rights body face in their efforts to decolonize Filipinos towards ICCs and IPs.

It also clarified that Diwata do not belong to any clan and tribe of the Cordillera province — Ifugao, Kalinga, Abra, Benguet, Apayao, and Mountain Province Ifugao, Kalinga, Abra, Benguet, Apayao, and Mountain Province — and that his behavior does not represent Cordillera's values and cultures.

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"From the vlog, Diwata attributed the ICCs/IP's native attire as costume. In effect, relegating the IP's attire, which forms part and parcel of the IPs' customes and identity, as a mere accessory, or worst, trinkets," NCIP said in a statement.

"It is vital to recognize that his actions, either intentional or unintentional, reflect a broader societal issue... The backlash experienced from this event indicates that significant work remains to be done in promoting cultural awareness and sensitivity, thus, highlighting more the urgent need for continued efforts toi educate and reshape perception toward the ICCs/IPs," it added.

The office also mentioned its advisory no. NA-2023-09-002 which cleared that cultural materials like traditional attires and accessories are deemed sacred for Indigenous Peoples. This explained that the materials sometimes depend on the status of some IP groups and are worn in accordance to their respective special occasions and festivals.

The advisory emphasized that using traditional IP attires require the permission of the community where the cultural materials are identified with, and that the wearing demonstrates "respect and deference".

Diwata on his float at Panagbenga Festival. Youtube/diwata pares overload Official account

Apart from this, netizens also called out Diwata and several other politicians who attended the float parade for alleged campaigning.

On Wednesday, the Baguio Flower Festival Foundation Inc. (BFFFI) said it was probing two particular floats for possible violation of strict rules against campaigning during the event.

Senator Imee Marcos also participated in the parade, while leaflets of reelectionist Senator Lito Lapid were scattered downtown.

'ISANG MALAKING PAGKAKAMALI'

Diwata on Friday apologized to ICCs in Cordillera Region, saying he now understands that wearing the traditional attire and calling it a "costume" is a one big mistake.

He also said it was not his intention to disrespect IPs' culture.

"Inaako ko ang aking pagkakamali at ang sakit at galit na idinulot nito. Nagpadala ako sa aking pusong bata dahil sobrang saya ko nang makarating ako - for the first time sa Baguio. Magsilbi po sanang akong paalala sa lahat na ang kultura, tradisyon, at pagkakakilanlan nating mga Pilipino at maging sa ibang lahi ay dapat bigyan ng mataas na respeto, at nabigo akong gawin iyon," he wrote in a Facebook post.

"Ngayon ko lubos na naunawaan na ang aking kilos—ang pagsuot ng tradisyunal na kasuotan sa isang hindi angkop na paraan at ang pagtawag dito bilang isang "costume"—ay isang malaking pagkakamali," he said.

As his rectifying effort, Diwata said he would study the IPs' cultures more and will heed the ICC's advices whenever he makes content that is related to them.

"Bilang pagwawasto, ako po ay magsisikap na mas maunawaan at pag-aralan ang kultura ng mga komunidad na aking ipinapakita sa aking contents. Makikinig ako sa mga payo at hatol ng ICC at titiyakin na sa susunod, ang aking plataporma ay magiging daan upang ipalaganap ang pag-galang at tamang pagpapahalaga sa kultura," he explained.

Diwata is among the viral personalities in 2024 for his pares business and acting gig in "FPJ's Batang Quiapo."