The story of a nation is not only evident in the ways and practices of its people that have endured across time, but also in the tangible materials that they have used to build and create for generations.
These “materyales fuertes” (materials that build a nation)—from the simplest to the rarest of materials—are the focus of the third season of “Dayaw,” the six-part documentary series on the rich culture and heritage of indigenous people (IP) of the Philippines.
The program, produced for television by the the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and anchored by Sen. Loren Legarda on ANC, the ABS-CBN News Channel, is airing every Thursday, 6 p.m. Series started Feb. 23. It is also airing online via live streaming on abs-cbnnews.com/live and on ANC’s Facebook page.
The first two episodes, “Hinabing Lakas” Parts 1 and 2, focus on expressive fibers of distinct cultures, and how fibers woven into textiles, baskets, mats and utensils express our identity, celebrate life and represent the strength and resilience of the weavers.
The third episode, “Mula sa Kalikasan,” looks into the use of wood and stone by our ancestors to build structures dedicated to agriculture, exploration and the community, and how these materials have helped shape an evolving image of a nation.
Episode 4, “Ginto, Pilak, Garing,” takes on the treasured and precious materials, the glittering materials that have been skillfully used to create beautiful things.
Episode 5, “Putik at Papel,” showcases how simple materials like clay and paper have been used to make unique works of art.
To wrap up the season, Legarda will give emphasis to the simplest yet most powerful material ever used by Filipinos—words. The episode “Sa Diwa, Sa Salita” celebrates the most inspiring materials from which we have sought to build a nation.
Legarda said she is an advocate of IP rights.
“Unlike many of us who only buy what we need,” Legarda explained, “our indigenous peoples make and build their own things—from clothes, accessories, mats, baskets, pots, to vessels, houses and other structures—which are built following procedures and techniques that are significant to their indigenous community. Through our tangible heritage, we see expressions of a culture, we witness creativity that only those who are culturally enriched and one with nature can possess.”