Food vlogger Deo Balbuena, known online as “Diwata,” has drawn widespread criticism after his recent visit to Baguio and La Trinidad, Benguet, where his actions were deemed disrespectful to Indigenous Peoples (IPs). The National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) and netizens slammed his portrayal of Cordilleran culture, calling it insensitive cultural appropriation.
Diwata was seen wearing a traditional Cordilleran outfit at the Grand Float Parade during the Panagbenga Festival and at the La Trinidad Strawberry Farm. In his vlog, he was also captured mimicking tribal gestures, sticking his tongue out, and playing with a spear—actions that many found offensive.
The NCIP emphasized that his actions undermined Indigenous identity. “From the vlog, Diwata attributed the ICCs/IP’s native attire as a costume. In effect, relegating the IP’s attire, which forms part and parcel of the IPs’ customs and identity, as a mere accessory,” the agency said in a statement. The commission also clarified that Diwata does not belong to any Cordilleran tribe and that his behavior does not reflect the values of the region.
The controversy comes amid ongoing discussions on cultural appropriation, defined as the inappropriate adoption of customs and traditions from marginalized communities without proper acknowledgment. The NCIP reiterated that the use of traditional attires should be done with permission and in accordance with cultural significance.
Beyond Diwata’s case, the float parade itself faced scrutiny, with netizens accusing some politicians of using the event for early campaigning. The Baguio Flower Festival Foundation Inc. (BFFFI) has since launched an investigation into possible violations of non-campaigning rules.
Following the backlash, Diwata issued a public apology, admitting his mistake and vowing to educate himself further about Indigenous cultures. “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 wrote on Facebook.
