By Gandhi C. Kinjiyo
ALABEL, Sarangani (February 27, 2008) - Dressed in colorful tribal costumes, Sarangans (people of Sarangani) from the seven municipalities of the province gathered at the provincial capital Tuesday (Feb. 26) to showcase their different culture, arts and tradition in celebration of the National Arts Month.
Participants from the towns of Glan, Malapatan, Alabel, Malungon, Maasim, Kiamba and Maitum displayed the traditional costumes and dances of Lumads (Indigenous People) and different Moro tribes.
Tribal dances and plays performed by youth participants depicted the way of life, rituals, practices and beliefs of the original inhabitants of the province.
"The gathering entitled 'Ani ng Sining ng Sarangani' provides a venue for the young Sarangans to learn about culture of the people here and appreciate arts as well," said Maribeth Farnazo, program manager of the Indigenous People Development Program (IPDP).
The IPDP, which spearheaded the program, is under the office of Governor Migs Dominguez whose main thrust is the preservation of culture and the arts of the different Lumads of the province.
The IPDP also facilitates the creation of School of Living Tradition (SLT) of the different tribes of the province geared to educate the young IPs in weaving mat, traditional clothes, beads making, making ethnic accessories made of brass as well as performing traditional dances and songs. The cultural experts in the province are tapped as mentors and facilitators in the SLTs.
Majority of the IPs living in Sarangani include Tagakaolo, Blaan,Manobo, Ubo and Tboli with few Klagans. Moro tribes are dominated by Maguindanaon, Samal, and Sangirs. Some Tausugs and Badjaos are found in few coastal barangays.
Farnazo said the affair is in line with the celebration of the National Arts Month and Philippine Arts Festival every February.
Provincial Administrator Fredo Basino and Board Member Arturo Lawa, both belonging to the Blaan tribe, graced the occasion.
Basino lauded the affair as "it opens the door for us to understand who we are." He added that with the event which "reflects and depicts" the culture of Sarangani, "we shall not lose our cultural identity."
Carlos Silva, coordinator of the Philippine Arts Festival from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts was the guest speaker.
Silva related the message of Vilma L. Labrador, acting chairperson of the NCCA which states: "We are certain that 'education through the arts' can empower the Filipinos to create a culture of peace, harmony and understanding towards progress and sustainable development." He said the NCCA is grateful for all the partners in promoting culture and the arts all over the country.The 'Ani ng Sining ng Sarangani' was supported by the NCCA.
Sarangani province has institutionalized a "Provincial Council for Culture and Arts," as a body that plans and prepares policy for the development of the culture and arts of Sarangani. (GCK/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Arts Festival
ALABEL, Sarangani (February 26, 2008) - Tboli performers from Kiamba town during the "Ani ng Sining ng Sarangani" celebration of the National Arts Month and Philippine Arts Festival Tuesday (Feb. 26) at Alabel Gymnasium, an event sponsored by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, the provincial government Indigenous Peoples Development Program and the Lamlifew Tribal Women's Association. (Photo by SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/CAS)
Tboli dance
ALABEL, Sarangani (February 26, 2008) – A Tboli couple from Maitum town performs a number during the "Ani ng Sining ng Sarangani" in celebration of National Arts Month and Philippine Arts Festival Tuesday (Feb. 26) at Alabel Gymnasium. (Photo by SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/CAS)
Production number
ALABEL, Sarangani (February 26, 2008) – A dance group of Alabel National High School performs during the "Ani ng Sining ng Sarangani" in celebration of National Arts Month and Philippine Arts Festival Tuesday (Feb. 26) at Alabel Gymnasium. (Photo by SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/CAS)
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Tribal leader
MALUNGON, Sarangani (February 23, 2008) – Recognized as makabatug (tribal leader), Vice Governor Steve Solon, with wife, Michelle (seated left behind the vice governor) expresses his deep honor to the Tagakaolos at the opening of the tribal training center in Kityan Friday (Feb. 22). Tagakaolo has a population of 14,000 in the hinterlands of Malungon. The provincial government supports the Kityan School of Living Tradition through the province's Indigenous People's Development Program. (Photo by SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/RGP)
Tagakaolo training center
MALUNGON, Sarangani (February 23, 2008) – Vice Governor Steve Solon leads the ribbon cutting and inauguration of a Tagakaolo training center in Kityan Friday (Feb. 22) where women make their traditional tribal dress, baskets and beads. (Photo by SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/RGP)
Flower garden
MALUNGON, Sarangani (February 23, 2008) – A Tagakaolo girl collects yellow petals to shower visitors as they arrive at the Tagakaolo training center – a School of Living Tradition (SLT) - in Kityan Friday (Feb. 22). The provincial government runs the SLTs through the Indigenous People's Development Program of Governor Migs Dominguez. (Photo by SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/RGP)
Arrival
MALUNGON, Sarangani (February 23, 2008) – Tagakaolo girls welcome Vice Governor Steve Solon at the Tagakaolo training center – a School of Living Tradition (SLT) - in Kityan village Friday (Feb. 22) where women make their tribal dress, baskets and beads. Tagakaolo has a population of 14,000 in the hinterlands of Malungon. The provincial government supports its SLTs through the province's Indigenous People's Development Program. (Photo by SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/RGP)
Monday, February 18, 2008
Two Sarangani finalists in Gawad Galing Pook
ALABEL, Sarangani (February 18, 2008) – Sarangani's outstanding local governance programs on farm learning and indigenous people are finalists in the Galing Pook Awards.
Awarding ceremonies are scheduled in Malacañang on February 28 with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
One of the finalists is Lamlunay Research and Learning Center (LRLC) of Maitum, a 108-hectare facility that maintains nurseries of fruit trees and other crops and distributes seedlings to barangays.
LRLC demo farms use sloping agricultural land technology. Diversified farming systems are also maintained in the center. Through LRLC, a brainchild of the late Mayor George Yabes, the average family income in barangay Upo has continuously increased from P4,000 in 2004 to P7,000 in 2005, and to P10,000 in 2006.
The other finalist is Gov. Migs Dominguez' Indigenous Peoples Development Program (IPDP). The program worked for the acquisition of IP tenurial instruments in ancestral domains, restoration of the cultural heritage and identity of Sarangani IPs.
The program increased participation of IPs in development, and the provision of socio-economic and environmental services in IP communities.
LRLC and IPDP were picked as among the 19 finalists that were evaluated last year.
It is the municipality of Maitum's third straight year in the Gawad Galing Pook.
In 2005, the municipality of Maitum received from Galing Pook the Special Citation on Child Rights Responsive Local Governance. The citation, given in partnership with the United Nations Children's Fund, is awarded to local government units (LGUs) demonstrating exemplary initiatives that respond to child rights concerns.
In 2006, Galing Pook conferred Maitum, together with nine other LGUs nationwide, the Special Citation on Local Capacity Innovations for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The winning LGUs were selected from previous recipients of the Gawad Galing Pook that demonstrated positive innovative approaches towards achieving any of the eight MDGs.
The Gantimpalang Panglingkod Pook or Gawad Galing Pook was launched in October 21, 1993 as the pioneering awards program on innovation and excellence in local governance.
It was a joint initiative of the Department of Interior and Local Government through its Local Government Academy, the Ford Foundation, and other individual local governance advocates from the academe, civil society, and government.
The winners of the Gawad Galing Pook are chosen every year from a national search of local governance programs sifted through a multi-level rigorous screening process based on the criteria of positive socio-economic and environmental impact, promotion of people's empowerment, transferability and sustainability, efficiency of program service delivery, and creative use of powers provided by the Local Government Code and other decentralization and local autonomy policies. (SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)
Note: Details about the Galing Pook Foundation Gawa Galing 2007 Awardees at http://www.galingpook.org/2007finalists.htm
Awarding ceremonies are scheduled in Malacañang on February 28 with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
One of the finalists is Lamlunay Research and Learning Center (LRLC) of Maitum, a 108-hectare facility that maintains nurseries of fruit trees and other crops and distributes seedlings to barangays.
LRLC demo farms use sloping agricultural land technology. Diversified farming systems are also maintained in the center. Through LRLC, a brainchild of the late Mayor George Yabes, the average family income in barangay Upo has continuously increased from P4,000 in 2004 to P7,000 in 2005, and to P10,000 in 2006.
The other finalist is Gov. Migs Dominguez' Indigenous Peoples Development Program (IPDP). The program worked for the acquisition of IP tenurial instruments in ancestral domains, restoration of the cultural heritage and identity of Sarangani IPs.
The program increased participation of IPs in development, and the provision of socio-economic and environmental services in IP communities.
LRLC and IPDP were picked as among the 19 finalists that were evaluated last year.
It is the municipality of Maitum's third straight year in the Gawad Galing Pook.
In 2005, the municipality of Maitum received from Galing Pook the Special Citation on Child Rights Responsive Local Governance. The citation, given in partnership with the United Nations Children's Fund, is awarded to local government units (LGUs) demonstrating exemplary initiatives that respond to child rights concerns.
In 2006, Galing Pook conferred Maitum, together with nine other LGUs nationwide, the Special Citation on Local Capacity Innovations for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The winning LGUs were selected from previous recipients of the Gawad Galing Pook that demonstrated positive innovative approaches towards achieving any of the eight MDGs.
The Gantimpalang Panglingkod Pook or Gawad Galing Pook was launched in October 21, 1993 as the pioneering awards program on innovation and excellence in local governance.
It was a joint initiative of the Department of Interior and Local Government through its Local Government Academy, the Ford Foundation, and other individual local governance advocates from the academe, civil society, and government.
The winners of the Gawad Galing Pook are chosen every year from a national search of local governance programs sifted through a multi-level rigorous screening process based on the criteria of positive socio-economic and environmental impact, promotion of people's empowerment, transferability and sustainability, efficiency of program service delivery, and creative use of powers provided by the Local Government Code and other decentralization and local autonomy policies. (SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)
Note: Details about the Galing Pook Foundation Gawa Galing 2007 Awardees at http://www.galingpook.org/2007finalists.htm
Monday, February 11, 2008
Tboli Artist
KIAMBA, Sarangani (February 10, 2008) - Ronald Tamfalan, 31, presents his 5'x6' painting entitled "Panibagong Buhay" on exhibit at the lobby of Kiamba town hall. Tamfalan, a Tboli artist born and raised in sitio Falel, barangay Tamadang in Kiamba was visiting his hometown for a visual arts exhibition Sunday, February 10. Other paintings of Tamfalan are at the Metropolitan Museum. (Photo by SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/CAS)