• CHERYL G. CRUZ
Thirty-five indigenous peoples (IP) clusters from all over the country will join the Dayaw 2025 Philippine IP Festival in Bacolod City and Negros Occidental from Oct. 7-9, initiated by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCAA).
The IP clusters from the Northern Cultural Communities are Iloko Bago, Pangasinan, Ga’dang, Bugkalot, Ivatan, Kapampangan, Kalinga, Kalanguya, Ibaloy/Kankanaey, and Balangao.
From the Central Cultural Communities are the clusters for Palawani/Jama Mapun/Molbog, Pala’wan/Tagbanua, Rombloanon, the Ati of Iloilo/Guimaras, Ati of Antique, Ati of Negros Occidental, Panay Bukidnon, Ilonggo/Hiligaynon cluster, Boholano, Waray, and Dumagat Remontado, the NCCA said.
For the Southern Cultural Communities, the Yakan, Sama Banguingui, Manobo, Bagobo Klata, Mandaya, T’boli/Ubo, Blaan/Sangir, Mamanwa, Agusanon Manobo, Maranao, Maguindanao/Iranon, Teduray/Erumanen, Tausug, and Subanen communities are also expected to join the three-day celebration.
NCCA deputy executive director Marichu Tellano said in a press conference Sept. 24 at L’Fisher Hotel in Bacolod that, so far, 230 IPs nationwide have confirmed their participation to this year’s Dayaw, on the theme “Habi ng Kultura, Yaman ng Kinabukasan (Weaving Culture, Enriching Future)”.
The festival aims to facilitate knowledge and skill-sharing towards mainstream IP system and education pedagogy, support IP youth contributions in safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH), and further raise awareness on the sustainable development of the indigenous peoples and their communities, the NCCA said.
There will be three days of performances, fora and discourses, community outreach, and an overall celebration of October as IP Month in the Dayaw 2025.
The opening program on Oct. 7 will kickoff with a parade, starting at the Bago City gymnasium, to be followed by a recognition of participating communities. A special forum, dubbed “Future Proofing Dayaw and the Indigenous Cultural Communities”, will be one highlight that day, alongside the performances of IPs from the northern, central, and southern cultural communities.
A series of community outreach will be held the following day, Oct. 8, with the Dayaw participants visiting Don Salvador Benedicto, Cadiz City, Talisay City, Bago City, Binalbagan, and Kabankalan City, the LGU hosts of the outreach.
An inclusive governance forum, dubbed “Listening to Indigenous Experiences” will cap off the festival on Oct. 9. The NCCA said stakeholders from various sectors are expected to attend, including representatives from the Department of Tourism, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Education, and the Commission on Higher Education. | CGC
