Raymond Marvic 'Ice' C. Baguilat, an Ifugao lawyer, has been named one of the Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) of 2025 in the category of Law, Human Rights, and Indigenous Peoples. He received the award at Malacañang on January 22, 2025, alongside three other distinguished individuals. His career focuses on applying law as a tool for indigenous communities and amplifying their voices in policy and governance.
Raymond Marvic 'Ice' C. Baguilat, dressed in traditional Ifugao attire and tongoh headdress, received the honor at Malacañang Palace's Kalayaan Hall on Thursday, January 22, 2025. As a faculty member at the University of the Philippines College of Law, Baguilat has centered his legal practice on turning laws into practical resources for communities, especially indigenous ones, rather than chasing corporate or judicial paths.
He was recognized alongside Rafael Ignacio Dionisio, honored for initiatives aiding Aeta communities in Zambales through reforestation and sustainable livelihood programs; Dr. John Jamir Benzon Aruta, for research linking climate change to mental health; and Dr. Deo Florence Onda, an oceanographer who became the first Filipino to reach Emden Deep and led expeditions in the West Philippine Sea studying marine pollution and ecosystems.
In a message read by Executive Secretary Ralph Recto, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. urged the awardees to lead with integrity and compassion in their fields. As head legal officer of the UP Institute of Human Rights and program head of the Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy Program, Baguilat has embedded indigenous rights into legal education.
He contributed to the 2024 Bangsamoro Indigenous Peoples Development Act and drafted cultural protection ordinances in Kiangan and Hungduan, Ifugao, supporting ancestral domains and self-governance for over 160 indigenous communities. After earning a Master of Laws from the University of Melbourne, he developed a Tourism Code for Kiangan emphasizing human rights and sustainability. Internationally, he has voiced Philippine indigenous perspectives in ASEAN and United Nations forums. He also serves as a trustee for Indigenous Peoples Rights International. Baguilat is the younger brother of politician, journalist, and activist Teddy Baguilat. The TOYM Awards, organized annually by Junior Chamber International Philippines, honor Filipinos aged 18 to 40.
