Indigenous cultures center stage

MANILA, Philippines - It will be a truly grand celebration as indigenous peoples from all over the country gather in Bulacan this month for a feast of indigenous Filipino cultures in Dayaw 2012.

The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) is spearheading the festival on Nov. 27-29 in Malolos, in celebration of National Indigenous Peoples’ Month.

With this year’s theme “Katutubong Pamumuhay, Halawan ng Aral sa Buhay” (Indigenous way of life, source of lessons in life), Dayaw 2012 will feature the different indigenous groups of the country, and an enriching and interesting array of activities including performances, rituals, forums, traditional cuisine demos, traditional games, arts and crafts exhibit and cultural tours. 

Dayaw 2012 seeks to highlight the importance and richness of indigenous cultures as well as the issues indigenous peoples face today. It also aims to mine traditional knowledge as well as draw inspiration and insight from indigenous ways of life to find solutions for modern problems as well as to enrich other groups of people, especially the Tagalog people and residents of Metro Manila.

Miss Universe 2010 fourth runner-up Venus Raj will serve as the ambassador of Dayaw 2012.

 “Napakaganda pong isipin na kahit papaano ay magiging instrument ako para  ‘yung mga kabataan ay malaman kung ano ba talaga ang pinagmulan natin at ano ba talaga ang kultura natin (I’m happy that in some way I can be an instrument for our youth to know our origins and what our culture really is),” Raj says.

Numerous indigenous peoples from all over the country are expected to participate, including the Gaddang, Isinay, Tinggian, Itneg, Ibanag, Yogad, Itawit, Malaweg, Ivatan, Bugkalot, Isnag, Kalinga, Ifugao, Ibaloi, Kankanaey, Balangao, Bontok, Applai, Ayta, Mangyan, Palawani, Molbog, Jama Mapun, Tagbanua, Pala’wan, Batak, Cuyunon, Agta, Ati, Panay Bukidnon, Waray, Abaknon, Yakan, Subanen, Manobo, Higaonon, Bagobo, Mandaya, Mansaka, B’laan, Sangir, Ata Manobo, T’boli, Teduray, Arumanen, Mamanwa, Maranao, Magindanao, Iranun and Tausug.

They will showcase their songs, dances and rituals during the three-day festival at the Bulacan Provincial Capitol Complex. Also, there will be Sining sa Hapag-Kainan, a food festival and cooking demo; Katutubong Laro, a demonstration of traditional games and sports; Kuwentuhan sa Sari-Sari Store, an informal forum; and Dayaw Tyange, an arts and crafts sale.

The Seryosong Usapan formal forum at the PGB Gym, to be attended by members of the academe as well as indigenous leaders, will feature the discussions on community-based tourism program that seeks to provide employment to indigenous peoples; climate change issues; and forum discussion on the Department of Education (DepEd) curriculum for indigenous peoples. 

Select indigenous groups will tour Bulacan for performances, particularly at malls like SM City Baliwag, SM City Marilao and Robinsons Pulilan. There will also be film showings at the PGB Gym featuring Cinemalaya films on Philippine indigenous groups.

Traditional musicians will also jam with contemporary musicians including Kenyo, White Sand Band and other local bands at the PGB Gym, 2 to 3 pm. Participants will have chance to watch a tradition sarsuwela show of Bulacan entitled  “Kakarong” to be performed by the Barasoain Kalinangan Ensemble at PYSEACTO Bulding, Nicanor Abelardo Auditorium. These activities will be bookended by opening and closing ceremonies. 

Delighted with her role as Dayaw ambassador, Raj noted that life in the city is a far cry from living in Bicol, her hometown. As an example, she mentioned that  “organic food” is expensive in Manila while it’s just normal cuisine in the province.

Recalling her childhood experiences in Bicol, Raj said that it is an honor to be Dayaw ambassador since she is familiar with the activities of some of the country’s indigenous people.

“Maraming-maraming salamat kasi sa tingin ko naman po, isa po akong tunay, may dugo at katutubong Pilipina. Ako po ay lumaki sa Bicol, ang magulang ko po ay magsasaka. Nakita ko po sila na nag-aani ng palay at nagbabayo (Thank you very much for this, because I am a true-blooded native Filipina. I grew up in Bicol, my parents are farmers and I have seen them harvesting and pounding rice),” she said.

NCCA’s Subcommission on Cultural Communities and Traditional Arts (SCCTA) commissioner Joycie Dorado-Alegre said that they never had doubts when Raj was suggested to be the face of Dayaw, she being an icon of Filipina beauty and very ideal in representing the indigenous peoples of the Philippines and Dayaw.

NCCA chairman Felipe de Leon, Jr. said the modern concept of beauty among many Filipinos is influenced by western culture. He said that the color of the Filipino skin is beautiful and Filipinos must be proud of it. He added that through Dayaw, Filipinos will appreciate and respect their own culture.

“With Dayaw, I’m sure that we will begin to respect more our indigenous cultures. Kasi ipapakita dito ang galing ng Pinoy (Here we will show how good the Pinoy is),” De Leon said.

Marichu Tellano, head of NCCA’s Plan/Policy Formulation and Programming Division, said that Dayaw has been the venue for the different communities to interact with each other as well as listen to the concerns of the indigenous people.

 “Dayaw is also a venue for indigenous communities to meet each other, because it gives the opportunity to exchange understandings of different cultures from different communities,” she said. “Dayaw becomes an opportunity and forum for us to listen to the indigenous knowledge presented by the people themselves.”

In previous years, the NCCA celebrated National Indigenous Peoples’ Month in different parts of the country.

 In 2007, Kalimudan: Panaghi-usa sa Mindanao (Mindanao Indigenous Peoples’ Gathering) was held in Davao City in November, featuring Mindanao’s ethnic groups. The following year, Timpuyog: Indigenous Peoples’ Month Celebration was held in Santiago City, Isabela, focusing on Luzon ethnic groups while in 2009, the Indigenous Peoples’ Festival was held in Roxas City, Capiz, called Dungog, for the people of the Visayas. Dayaw was held in Metro Manila and Tagum City, Davao del Norte in 2010 and 2011, respectively.

Dayaw celebrates the cultural richness of the country through its indigenous peoples. It is hoped that the festival will foster a deep appreciation of their contributions. This year’s conduit NGO is the Inter-skills Development Foundation, Incorporated and the provincial government of Bulacan.

For details, visit the NCCA website www.ncca.gov.ph