Harmonizing indigenous and national law: Kalinga IPMRs push for recognition of traditional tribal marriage

Tabuk City, Kalinga – The iKalinga Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representatives (IPMRs), in coordination with key agencies, convened on August 1 to formalize tribal marriage laws, addressing possible issues that may arise from the practice of this tradition, such as its validity.

Marriage, as defined under Philippine law, is a legal institution under the Family Code of the Philippines (Executive Order No. 209, s. 1987), but among the iKalingas, it holds a deeper cultural meaning as a sacred and communal rite. 

The initiative seeks to standardize the recognition of customary unions across the province as well as to empower 120 iKalinga IPMRs to bridge legal and cultural practices on marriage, ensuring respectful, inclusive, and lawful approaches to family concerns. 

IPMRs are individuals chosen to represent tribes. Each barangay, municipality, and province typically has one IPMR. They are considered experts in tribal culture, traditions, and customs. IPMRs, as mandated by the Republic Act No. 8371, or the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA), safeguard indigenous traditions and ensure their recognition in local governance and law. 

The province, according to District Public Attorney Francis Calsiyao during the day-2 discussion, lacks a system for registering customary marriages, as RA 3753, the Law on Registry of Civil Status, covers only civil unions. 

“Ditoy Kalinga, awan pay ti sistema nga inaramid ti gobyerno panggep ti pag-dokyumento ken panangrehistro iti customary marriage. Uray ibigbig iti gobyerno bayat iti Indigenous Peoples' Rights Act of 1997 (IPRA) law ti kultura tayo ti panagasawa, awan ti naisayangkat nga sistema nu kasanu nga marehistro gapu ta adda ti national law nga masurut, isu diyay Civil Registration Act wennu Republic Act 3753. Ti padasen tayo ng isayangkat wennu adalen, nu kasanu tayo nga irehistro met iti tribal marriage idiay Civil Registry iti amin nga munisipyo ken Tabuk,” he said. 

With the theme “Harmonizing Indigenous and National Law: A Learning Series on Bridging Traditions and Law,” partner agencies, along with Barangay IPMRs from District 2 of Kalinga, particularly from the municipalities of Rizal, Tanudan, and Tabuk City, convened to tackle the context of tribal marriage in the province. 

After tribal marriages, especially those in far-flung areas or those who cannot afford a church wedding, couples are left with just promises, witnesses, and elders to prove a wedding took place. Without documents, government and other transactions can become difficult for them and their children.

During the two-day session on August 1, 2025, at the Alumna Center of Kalinga State University Bulanao Campus, the IPMRs proposed the use of a document they called “Affidavit of Confirmation of Tribal Marriage.” The document will be signed by couples who tie the knot or decide to become husband and wife through traditional marriage.

Two proposed projects

In order to make this happen, the IPMRs proposed to projects. The first one is Bridging Traditions and Law, which includes capacitating IPMRs on Understanding Marriage under the Family Code and Kalinga Customs. There will be three key topics: the nature and consequences of marriage under the Family Code, the validity of tribal marriage under Philippine law, and Kalinga customary marriage practices. 

The second project is the implementation, rules and regulations of Customary Marriage Documentation and Record keeping. This establishes the crafting and presenting of documentary forms for customary marriages, registering Certificates of Tribal Marriage, and it includes a workshop on how a customary marriage is documented and performed.

With these efforts and the help of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, tribal marriages in the province will soon be formalized and registered, ensuring legal recognition and support and creating official records and certificates.