Legarda hosts docu on indigenous culture

MANILA, Philippines - In celebration of October as National Indigenous Peoples’ Month, Sen. Loren Legarda presents a six-part documentary series on indigenous peoples (IPs) and culture titled Dayaw, which will be shown Thursdays, starting Oct. 1 at 6 p.m. on ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC).

Dayaw is a project of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and ANC, supported by the Office of Sen. Legarda.

“The promotion of our indigenous culture is an advocacy close to my heart. We have to learn and relearn our traditions and love our heritage. Through this documentary series, I hope that Filipinos will appreciate our indigenous communities and embrace our unique culture and tradition,” said Legarda.

“This series is important in nation building as it provides better understanding of our identity and we get to explore our different communities. It focuses on the commonalities that bind us,” she added.

Dayaw aims to educate and inspire Filipinos on the protection and preservation of the cultural and artistic treasures of the Philippines.

In each episode, Legarda explores the facets that bind Filipino indigenous peoples, whether be it for their respect for nature, the inspiration they draw from it, the survival methods that they have learned and how these have eventually enhanced and enriched their lives.

For the premiere episode, the docu will show how indigenous peoples, particularly of Palawan and Ifugao, value the forest and the environment, and how this respect for the environment has led to the judicious use of natural resources.

The second episode delves into how our IPs look at their land as a source of myth and storytelling. It will feature the Hudhud chants of Ifugao, the Darangen of the Maranao people and the Basal ensemble of Palawan.

Episode three will show how our IPs use practical arts in their day-to-day lives, such as boat building, terracing and metal-casting; while episode four is about our women weavers and the art of weaving.

 Episode five will show how IP knowledge on architecture is vital in the restoration and rebuilding of heritage structures, including those that were damaged during the 7.2 magnitude earthquake in Bohol in 2013.

The final episode is a roundtable discussion honoring the Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan awardees (GAMABA) and their descendants who will continue the traditions for the next generation.

“I look forward to sharing the work we have done. I invite everyone to watch Dayaw, our knowledge, our pride. I hope, through this show, more Filipinos can be inspired by the ways and means of our indigenous communities,” Legarda concluded.