Capizeno Way
Dungog: Indigenous Peoples Festival 2009
NCCA Director Cecile Guidote Alvarez (center) with Gov Tanco and several mayors of Capiz.The Province of Capiz was host to the Indigenous Peoples Festival 2009 held in Roxas City last Oct. 2-6, 2009. The hosting of the event was in partnership with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts-Subcommission on Cultural Communities and Traditional Arts.
DUNGOG, a Hiligaynon term which literally means “dignity” is this year’s title of the first IP month celebration that brought representatives from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao in which traditional and cultural practices of 18 major communities were featured. Our country has more than 100 ethno-linguistics groups all over the archipelago.
The Ati of Capiz.The festival showcased the rituals and chants, indigenous games, cultural performances, traditional houses, traditional cuisine, and indigenous crafts of our ethno-linguistics communities from all over the Philippines. Featured communities from Luzon were: Gaddang (Mt. Province), Kankana-ey (Benguet), Ifugao (Ifugao), Kalinga (Kalinga), Jama Mapun (Palawan), Palawani and Molbog (Palawan), Pal’awan (Palawan), Mangyan (Mindoro), Agta/Ita (Camarines Sur); from Visayas: Lineyte/Samarnon (Leyte and Samar), Panay Bukidnon (Capiz, Iloilo, Aklan, Antique), Ati (Western Visayas), Akeanon/Hiligaynon/Kiniray-a (Western Visayas) and from Mindanao: Bagobo (Davao), Subanen (Zamboanga del Sur), Tausug (Sulu), and Sama (Tawi-tawi).
An IP Village was established inside the Villareal Stadium featuring the various indigenous houses showcasing their customs and way of life. Interactive demonstrations with the indigenous people fostered a deeper cultural understanding of the cultural communities and the traditional arts. Through the IP village, many spectators especially students learned about the culture and traditions of the various cultural communities.
Visitors and tourists from local, national, and international populace came to Roxas City to witness the celebration of the rich cultures of our country’s indigenous people. Capiz Governor Victor Tanco, who propelled the province to become recipient of the Culture-Friendly Local Government Unit Award, said that hosting of the IP festival is an honor for the Province of Capiz. “We, Filipinos, love our culture and we should sustain it for our country’s progress and development,” he said.
The Indigenous Peoples Festival is part of our national government’s efforts of advocating cultural exchange, traditional arts and cultural preservation.