People would be surprised today if different indigenous groups “invade” a park and a mall.
That was what happened recently when indigenous groups from all over the Philippines suddenly broke into a “flash mob” in public places to regale spectators with songs and dances, underlining the message of respect and understanding for all people of diverse cultures.
The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), with chair Felipe de Leon Jr. and executive director Emelita V. Almosara, led the flash mob to usher in the Indigenous People’s Month last October and to drum up interest for Dayaw: Indigenous Peoples’ Festival this November.
The flash mob took place at Rizal Park in Manila and SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City.
Participants were the Kaheligal Cultural Dance Troupe, a T’boli performing group from Lake Sebu, South Cotabato; Mamayog group from Maguindanao; and Sindaw Philippines Performing Arts Guild from Pasig, which presented Cordilleran and Visayan dances.
Presidential Proclamation 1906, signed in 2009, declares October as Indigenous Peoples Month, “the month of people’s participation in the celebration and preservation of Indigenous Cultural Communities as part of the Life of the Nation.”
This year’s Dayaw festival, spearheaded by the NCCA’s Subcommission on Cultural Communities and Traditional Arts (SCCTA), headed by Joycie Dorado-Alegre, will be held in Tacloban, Leyte, on Nov. 27-30, in cooperation with provincial government of Leyte, led by Gov. Dominic Petilla, and the Leyte-Samar Heritage Society, Inc.
Expected to participate are 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.
For more details, contact NCCA Public Affairs and Information Office (PAIO) head Rene Sanchez Napeñas at tel. 5275529, 5272192 loc. 207-208, 0928-5081057. E-mail ncca.paio@gmail.com or nccaheritage@yahoo.com and log on to www.ncca.gov.ph.