By ALMA SINUMLAG
www.nordis.net

LA TRINIDAD,‭ ‬Benguet‭ ‬–‭ ‬The National Commission on Culture and the Arts‭ (‬NCCA‭) ‬has approved‭ ‬10‭ ‬Schools of Living Traditions‭ (‬SLT‭) ‬in this province this year.

Claire Prudencio,‭ ‬an Ibaloi,‭ ‬Kankana-ey representative to NCCA said in an interview last December‭ ‬21‭ ‬that this project aims to preserve the diminishing aspects of culture specifically food,‭ ‬arts and crafts.‭ ‬She added that these should be passed on to the younger generation to insure its continuity and to preserve it.

This is also according to NCCA SLT guidelines is a response to the call of the United Nations Educational,‭ ‬Scientific and Cultural Organization‭ (‬UNESCO‭) ‬for the preservation of cultural heritage by preserving it in a living form and ensuring its transmission to the next generations.

NCCA is approving SLTs per phase.‭ ‬The pre phase consists of‭ ‬15‭ ‬students and it will continually increase as they step into higher phases.‭ ‬Prudencio added that the approval depends on the development on the evaluation of the monitoring team.‭ ‬If they‭ (‬the students‭) ‬can already stand on their own,‭ ‬it will be their initiative to continue the project and share the knowledge to more young people.

In Buguias,‭ ‬there are three SLTs approved.‭ ‬These are Amgaleygey,‭ ‬Buguias,‭ ‬Benguet SLT on Kankana-ey Performing Arts which is still on phase one.‭ ‬Another is the Balili,‭ ‬Sebang,‭ ‬Buguias,‭ ‬Benguet SLT on Kankana-ey Tapuey-Making which is already in Phase two.‭ ‬The third is the Dontog,‭ ‬Poblacion,‭ ‬Buguias,‭ ‬Benguet SLT on Binubudan Traditional Food Preparation which is also in phase two.‭ ‬Kakaiw Binubudan is a Kankana-ey traditional food made from cassava which is mixed with‭ ‬bubod‭ ‬(fermenting agent‭)‬.

NCCA also approved Loakan,‭ ‬Baguio City and Tadiangan,‭ ‬Tuba’s SLTs on Ibaloi Performing Arts.‭
Kapangan,‭ ‬Benguet has two SLTs on Performing Arts and they are both in their phase two.‭ ‬These are Kankana-ey Performing Arts and Ibaloi Performing Arts.

Moreover,‭ ‬Lower Wangal,‭ ‬La Trinidad has also reached phase two in their SLT on Ibaloi Performing Arts.

On crafts,‭ ‬Carao,‭ ‬Bokod is in its phase one in their SLT on Ibaloi Bamboo and Rattan Crafts.‭ ‬Moreover,‭ ‬Tawangan,‭ ‬Kabayan has an SLT on making Kalanguya Musical drum and Wooden crafts which has already reached phase two.‭ ‬Prudencio said,‭ ‬Bamboo and Rattan crafts are no longer practiced nowadays and unfortunately,‭ ‬the art of making the said crafts was not passed on to the young people.‭ ‬This according to her is the reason why the Indigenous Peoples Organization in Carao initiated the SLT.

On the other hand,‭ ‬Balili,‭ ‬Sebang,‭ ‬Buguias SLT on Tapuey making and Dontog,‭ ‬Poblacion,‭ ‬Buguias SLT on Kakaiw Binubudan will be finishing phase two this month and will be holding a graduation program on December‭ ‬27.

Meanwhile,‭ ‬three festivals were also approved namely Alibay‭ (‬thanksgiving‭) ‬di Badang which was initiated by the Buguias Ancestral Domain Alternative for the Natives Governance‭ (‬BADANG‭); ‬Anitap ed Kapangan‭ ‬2010‭ ‬through the initiative of the municipal government of Kapangan‭; ‬Tuba Pansakatan‭ (‬Good Luck‭) ‬tan Kagam-es‭ (‬Thanksgiving‭) ‬Festival‭ ‬2010,‭ ‬also through the initiatives of the municipal government of Tuba.

The‭ ‬Anitap ed Kapangan is in its‭ ‬2nd year of assistance.‭ ‬All the SLTs and the festivals has a total assistance amount of P2,018,300.00.‭ ‬#nordis.net