NCCA Leads Dayaw 2016 Festivities as Part of Commemorating Indigenous People's Month

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) held on October 19, 2016 a press conference at its office lobby in Intramuros, Manila to formally initiate the start of the series of activities lined up as part of the commemoration of Indigenous People's Month. It is said that we are to expect a month-long series of activities that will end sometime third week of November.

The main event of Dayaw will be held in Manila from November 21 to 23. 

Forming the panel of key personalities involved in the celebrations were OIC-executive Director Marichu G. Tellano; Dr. Edwin Antonio, Head of the National Committee on Northern Cultural Communities; Cirio Pastolero, Director IV from the Office of the Cabinet Secretary; Lee Arroyo, OIC-Executive Director of the NCIP; and Dr. Al-Anwar Anzar, Commissioner of the SCCTA.

At this media launch, the organizers also incorporated traditional music and dances as part of the program to both entertain and inform the press conference attendees of our cultural history.

Everyone in the panel gave their opening messages, as well as closing messages after a Q&A to answer all inquiries from the media and other people present at the event.

OIC-executive Director Marichu appreciates the attendance of the media and mentioned that they are grateful for the support in disseminating information. She also replied to an inquiry about partnering with the Department of Education (DepEd) in integrating the knowledge about IPs and other related matters by making it as part of the curriculum or as a subject or topic discussed in school. Our understanding is that they are already collaborating with DepEd and may soon come out with more visible solutions.

An exhibit at a nearby room was also formally opened through a ribbon cutting ceremony.

Photos and videos from the press con will soon be available on both our official Facebook fan page and YouTube channels

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Below is the official press release from the event:

“Education, peace and development, and cultural understanding highlighting the Philippine cultural and socioeconomic landscape” will be the heart and theme of Dayaw 2016: The Indigenous Peoples Festival, organized by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), headed by its chairman Felipe M. de Leon Jr. and OIC-executive director Marichu G. Tellano.

Spearheaded by the NCCA’s Subcommission on Cultural Communities and Traditional Arts (SCCTA), headed by Dr. Al-Anwar Anzar, the biggest gathering of Philippine indigenous peoples (IPs) will be held this October and November in Metro Manila.

This year’s theme highlights traditional and local knowledge on environment protection and advocacy for peace. All activities will aim to be cultural exchanges to cultivate a much deeper understanding of culture in order to sustain a culture of peace. Dayaw will also be a venue where IP rights and concerns will be discussed.

The prelude of this year’s festival will be held in Quezon City on October 28 and will include a photo exhibit, an exhibit of traditional crafts, demonstrations of traditional cuisine and crafts, display of traditional houses and vernacular architecture, a trade fair and different workshops on baybayin writing and henna tattoo, beads accessory making, ethnic pattern printing and pabalat making.

The event will be highlighted by showcases of dances, songs and chants from invited ethnic groups including the Gaddang, the Ibaloi, Ifugao, Romblomanon, Panay Bukidnon, Ati of Negros, Tausug, Tboli and Subanen.

The IP Pride Night will be graced by Sec. Leoncio B. Evasco, Jr. of the Office of the President; Aiza Seguerra, Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of the National Youth Commission; Atty. Leonor T. Oralde-Quintayo, chairperson of National Commission on Indigenous Peoples; Herbert M. Bautista, mayor of Quezon City; and Glenn B. Santos, OIC-administrator of the Philippine Coconut Authority.

The main event of Dayaw will be held in Manila from November 21 to 23.

Dayaw is annually held in celebration of National Indigenous Peoples’ Month, which is observed every October and showcases the different indigenous groups of the country, and an enriching and interesting array of activities including performances, rituals, forums, traditional cuisine demos, traditional games, arts and crafts exhibit and cultural exchanges among others. Dayaw aims to highlight the importance and richness of indigenous cultures, to discuss issues indigenous peoples face today and facilitate interactions with other indigenous peoples. It also aims to mine traditional knowledge as well as draw inspiration and insight from indigenous ways of life to find solutions for modern problems.

Since the signing of Presidential Proclamation 1906, declaring October as National Indigenous Peoples’ Month, the NCCA has been annually celebrating the occasion in different parts of the country through Dayaw. In 2007, Kalimudan: Panaghi-usa sa Mindanao (Mindanao Indigenous Peoples’ Gathering) was held in Davao City in November, featuring Mindanao’s ethnic groups. The following year, Timpuyog: Indigenous Peoples’ Month Celebration in Luzon was held in Santiago City, Isabela, focusing on Luzon ethnic groups and featuring performances, arts and crafts workshops, cultural awareness lectures, forums, tours, and a theme-park exhibition featuring the traditional houses, cultural resources, practices/rituals, chants, music, songs and dances, stories, traditional arts and crafts, and indigenous games.

In 2009, the Indigenous Peoples’ Festival was held in the Visayas, particularly in Roxas City, Capiz, called Dungog, with similar activities and aims. Dayaw 2010 was held in Metro Manila, and in 2011, it was held in Tagum City, Davao del Norte. In 2012, Dayaw graced the province of Bulacan. In 2013, Dayaw was slated to be held in Tacloban City but super typhoon Yolanda hit the region. It was reprogrammed into psychosocial and arts for healing activities in Leyte, Bohol, Aklan and Cebu. In 2015, Dayaw was held in the three island clusters—Baguio City in Luzon; Bacolod City in the Visayas; Zamboanga City in Mindanao. Last year, Dayaw was in Pampanga.

The SCCTA is composed of the National Committee on Southern Cultural Communities headed by Dr. Al-Anwar Anzar, National Committee on Northern Cultural Communities headed by Dr. Edwin V. Antonio, the National Committee on Central Cultural Communities headed by Alphonsus Tesoro, with Renee Talavera as SCCTA section head of the NCCA secretariat.