NCCA celebrated Dayaw Festival in Capiz

LAST October 8 to 10, 2018, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) in partnership with the provincial government of Capiz celebrated the National Indigenous Peoples Month in Roxas City. Dayaw Festival touted as the biggest gathering of indigenous groups in the Philippines, led by its chairman, National Artist Virgilio S. Almario, executive director Rico S. Pableo, Jr., and deputy executive director Marichu G. Tellano.

The NCCA through its Subcommission on Cultural Communities and Traditional Arts (SCCTA), led by its head, Commissioner Alphonsus Tesoro, who is also Capiz’s Provincial Tourism Officer and Cultural Affairs Officer and Governor Antonio del Rosario, in Western Visayas, directed this year’s Dayaw Festival.

This year’s festival is themed, “Celebrating Heritage of Creative Communities/ Pagpupugay sa Pamana ng Malikhaing Sambayanan” which primarily focused on showcasing the best practices of the Indigenous Peoples along with their best works in the field of arts and crafts.

For three days, at least 250 participants from 45 indigenous cultural populaces of the Philippines and ASEAN member countries showcased an enriching and fascinating array of activities and events including performances, rituals, forums, traditional cuisine demos, traditional houses, traditional games, arts and crafts exhibit and cultural exchanges in the town of Cuartero in provincial capital, Roxas City.

Different indigenous cultural communities of the Philippines including Ayta of Pampanga, Bagobo Manobo, Blaan, Bugkalot, Gad-dang, Ifugao, Ilocano, Hiligaynon, Ivatan, Jama Mapun, Kalinga, Mangyan, Romblomanon, Tagalog, Maguindanao, Meranaw, Iranun, Panay Bukidnon, Subanen, Tausug, Tboli, Waray and Yakan took part in the festival. Additionally, the Dayaw has invited other ethnic groups in Asia and Australia to join the celebration.

The festival has several components that invigorates traditions and inspiring life stories of the indigenous.

"Bantug sang Banwa," narrated the ancient wisdom and contemporary truths of the indigenous communities through their songs, dances, and other performative platforms and cultural expressions. This component makes manifest a sense of identity and continuity, provides links from the past to the present, and accordingly helps individuals and groups to feel part of one or different communities and of society at large.

“Katutubong Likha, Daluyan ng Biyayang Kaalaman,” was designed as an interactive showcase of the shared wisdom and ingenuity of indigenous peoples from all over the country, conveying the richness of their traditional craftsmanship and wealth of indigenous knowledge. This component promotes indigenous heritage.

“Maaram, Maalam, May Kinaadman,” focused on safeguarding and reinvigorating intangible cultural heritage intended to raise cultural awareness, advance cultural sensitivity and nurture sustainable development-orientation for students, educators, cultural practitioners, government workers and administrators, as well as policy makers from all over the country.

"Mamugnaong Pagpa-ambit,” encouraged participating contingents to share aspects of their culture in different communities of Capiz.

Lastly, “Buntalagan,” was a special event that held concerts and film-showings featuring indigenous songs and stories; demonstration of traditional games and some native cuisines; and the Parada ng Kasuotang Pilipino, a curated parade our Indigenous Peoples’ attire.

The SCCTA is composed of the National Committee on Southern Cultural Communities head-