Community resilience of the Ayta Magbukon during the Covid-19 pandemic: Towars an indigenous resilience framework

Abstract

This study explores community resilience among the Ayta Magbukon of Sitio Matalangao, Barangay Banawang, Bagac, Bataan, during the Covid-19 pandemic, highlighting the critical role of collective resilience in indigenous communities. Employing a phenomenological research design, the study captured the lived experiences of community members through in-depth household interviews, with 20 households represented by one to three adult members (typically the head of the household), and focus group discussions involving 20 community members. The analysis revealed five core dimensions of community resilience: cultural values and identity, community participation, cohesion outside the community, coping in education, and community-based leadership. These findings illustrate how the Ayta Magbukon leveraged their cultural heritage, communal bonds, and shared practices to adapt to adversity and sustain well-being amid the pandemic. Based on these insights, the study proposes an indigenous community resilience framework aimed at preserving cultural identity while strengthening adaptive capacities against future challenges. The framework emphasizes the integration of indigenous knowledge, promotion of collective action, and fostering of sustainable practices, providing practical guidance for enhancing resilience in similar indigenous contexts. This study contributes to the growing literature on community resilience by offering a nuanced understanding of how indigenous communities navigate uncertainty, and it informs strategies for culturally grounded interventions and policy development.