75. DAYAW

DAYAW

Dr. Troy Alexander G. Miano

10 October 2018

I was instructed by the Governor and Provincial Administrator to grace the Dayaw 2018 Philippines International Indigenous People’s Festival held at Roxas City spearheaded by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Provincial Government of Capiz who sponsored the event for the second time (first in 2009). My counterpart, Capiz Provincial Tourism and Cultur­al Officer Alphonsus “Al” D. Tesoro stated that they coincided the hosting of Dayaw on the commemoration of National Indigenous Peoples Month as per Presidential Proclamation No. 1906 signed on October 5, 2009.

The festival had several components including traditional song and dance performances. There are exhibits for weaving methods, basketry, culinary expertise, traditional healing practices and oral literature at the Villareal Stadium, Robinsons Place Roxas and Cuartero town. A conference with academic and cul­tural experts discussed best practices in safeguarding and revitalizing cultural heritage. Dayaw also featured a commu­nity outreach program at the Municipalities of Mambusao, Tapaz, Sigma, Jamindan, Ivisan and Pilar, where there are cross-cultural sharing activities. Dayaw 2018 also launched the Ang Kultura App, the coun­try’s first mobile app for tourism and heritage powered by InnoPub Media and Smart Communications. I took a selfie with Capiz Governor Antonio A. del Rosario (Mayor of Roxas City 1998-2007 & Congressman 2007-2016) who welcomed the participants of more than 400 mem­bers from 100 ethnolinguistic groups together with foreign dignitaries from Nigeria, Bangladesh, Indonesia and Australia including the Governor of Guimaras, Hon. Samuel T. Gumarin. I enjoyed the Escotis Dance by Hanawa Dance Group of Sigma, Capiz performance during the opening ceremonies.

With this year’s theme, “Celebrating Heritage of Creative Communities”, the international event was an opportune time for government workers and administrators, as well as policy makers to gain comprehensive knowledge and undertakes on safeguarding and reinvigorating intangible cultural heritage intended to raise cultural awareness, advance cultural sensitivity and nurture sustainable development orientation. Hon. Al Tesoro, who is also an NCCA Commissioner of the Subcommission on Cultural Minorities and Traditional Arts, hosted the NCCA Board of Commissioners meeting which was presided by Chairman Virgilio S. Almario who is also the Chairman of the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino.

Conferences and fora for two days dubbed as “Maaram, Maalam, May Kinaadman” were participated in by foreign cultural and indigenous activists and was held at the Filamer Christian University in the capital-city. The topics were: “The Bearer of Our Soul” by Prof. Felipe M. De Leon, Jr.; “Australian Indigenous Higher Education Positive Deviance Standpoint” by Prof. Maryann Bin-Sallik; “Integrating Intangible Cultural Heritage in Philippine Culture-Based Education: Implications the Contextualization, Localization and Indigenization of the Curriculum” by Prof. Ferdinand M. Lopez; “The Four Faces of Heritage: An Integral Perspective, Integral Theory Applied To Think About Culture” by Mr. Jose Iñigo Homer L. Ayala; “Decolonizing the School Science Curriculum Through IP Research” by Dr. Vicente C. Handa; “Indigenous Knowledge System and Practices on Arts and Crafts in Ati and Panay Bukidnon Communities in Capiz, Philippines” by Dr. Louis Placido F. Lachica; “Reinvigorating Indigenous Knowledge, Systems and Practices (IKSPs): The Role of Local Studies Center in Safeguarding and Revitalizing Indigenous Peoples Cultural Heritage” by Prof. Joyce Christine D. Colon; “Cordillera Music Traditions: Crossroads of Integral Heritage and Glimpses of Indigenous World Views” by Prof. Arvin Manuel R. Villalon; “Kesesonom (Weaving/Connecting) in T’boli Spirituality” by Ms. Maria Todi; “SLT: Gains and Challenges” by Ms. Merly Camarig-Delfin; “Ang Kaloob-looban: Ang Katutubong Kultura at Pagkakakilanlan” by Ruth P. Canlas; “Ilub, Unong at Amok: Ang Pagpadayaw sa Kinagisnang Sining ng Pagtatatu at Panublion sa Paglilingkod Bayan ng mga Panayanhon sa Kasaysayan” by Dr. Vicente C. Villan; “Sari-saring Ugali at Salita: Filipino Multilingualism and Cultural Diversity” by Mr. Jose P. Mallari; “Framework in Developing An Enriched Culture-Based Instruction” by Dr. Orlando Magno; “Well-springs of Panayanon Kinaadman” by Dr. Randy Madrid; “The Philippine Legal Framework for Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage” by Atty. Lucille Karen Malilong-Isberto; and “Assessment of the Perceived Impact of Tourism on the Intangible Cultural Heritage of the T’boli Community in Lake Sebu, South Cotabato” by Mr. Alberto Gadia, Jr.

Everytime I stop over a province, I normally go see my counterpart in the locality. The Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office of Capiz is situated at the second floor of the Provincial Capitol located at the 1.5 hectare plaza of Roxas City. The Capitol Building, built in 1910, shares the same classical architecture with the Old Capitol Building of Isabela at Barangay Osmeña in Ilagan. Originally known as the Municipality of Capiz (from which the province derives its name), the area became a chartered city on May 12, 1951, and was renamed in honor of Capiz’ most illustrious son, Manuel Acuña Roxas, the fourth President of the Philippines and the first of the independent post-American Third Philippine Republic. Part of the festivities was a walking tour to every historical site in the city proper located by the Capiz River which includes the Roxas City Fountain (originally built in 1925), Roxas City Bridge (originally the Old Capiz Bridge, built in 1910), Roxas City Bandstand at Halaran Plaza (built in the 1920s), Panublion Museum (originally a water tank built in 1910), President Manuel A. Roxas Monument, Manuel Roxas Shrine (birthplace of the president), Roxas Cathedral (officially Immaculate Concepcion Metropolitan Cathedral Parish completed in 1876) and the American-era Rizal Monument at the capitol’s forecourt on a tall plinth.

The Dayaw Festival, dubbed as the biggest gathering of indigenous peoples, highlighted the importance and richness of our indigenous culture, promoted a deeper awareness and appreciation of our intangible cultural heritage through the Schools of Living Tradition (SLTs), discussed issues on indigenous peoples and cultures, and facilitated interactions with other ethnic groups.

I sat in front of the national hero’s memorial for over an hour and enjoyed watching the magnificent view of the century old plaza, observe the people of the city and the province as they stroll in front of me and recollected the lectures I attended for the past two days. Having learned so much about the indigenous peopIe, I am very proud of being a citizen of this country which is very rich in history, tradition, culture and the arts.