The Isabela Indigenous Peoples (IPs) mandatory representative and the executive assistant on Tourism, Culture, and Arts were among the hundreds of representatives from 40 various indigenous cultural communities across the country, who joined Dayaw 2023 at the Metropolitan Theater and Arroceros Park in Manila recently.
The gathering, on the theme “Buhay na Dunong: Pagkamalikhain at Kalikasan (Living Heritage: Creativity and Nature)” highlighted the IPs creativity and nature’s richness that sustain our living heritage, its press release said.
Teresita “Dayku” Sinceda, the Marikudo Ati leader, also received the “Gawad Gabay para sa Katutubo”, in honor of her skill as cultural master in preserving “Buhay na Dunong” at the School of Living Traditions and advancing indigenous cultures and traditions.
Sinceda was also among the panelists for the Ugnayan Forum on Living Heritage: Creativity and Nature, alongside cultural workers from the different Schools of Living Traditions in various areas of the country.
These include Flora Gerdan (Ikalahan/Kalanguya), Olmigy Hagada (Tuwali/Ayangan/Kalanguya), Rennel Lavilla (Panay Bukidnon), Maria Todi (Tboli), and Julieta Melangan (Subanen). Guests from Tesda, the National Commission on IPs, and Commission on Higher Education also discussed policies and programs on culture and the arts.
Meanwhile, Francis Ryan Pabiania was among the three other representatives from Ilonggo/Hiligaynon/Akeanon and Kiniray-a cluster, who had an outreach program with the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila and visited the NCCA Leandro Locsin Auditorium for cultural demonstrations and performances.
The National Commission for Culture and the Arts said October is Indigenous Peoples Month pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 1906 series of 2009, which is also in line with the 20th anniversary of the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage.||
