BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya—While the school year has ended for most schoolers, it starts the annual cultural and traditional learning among children belonging to the indigenous peoples in the province.
The IP Summer Workshop, now on its fourth year, has been teaching IP children here on the proper native dances, songs and other traditional practices of various tribes.
The annual program is supported by the Department of Education, National Commission on Indigenous Peoples and tribal chieftains of Gaddang, Isinai, Bugkalot, Kalanguya, Ifugao, Iwak, Kankanaey and Ibaloi tribes, among others.
The IP Summer Workshop started in 2014 when then governor Ruth Padilla noticed that most tribal shows and intermissions of programs are being performed only by IP adults.
“I have noticed the absence of IP children in those occasions who should inherit these cultural and traditional practices by practicing and performing them in public events,” she said.
Padilla then consulted various tribal chieftains of the province, the NCIP and the DepEd, leading to the introduction of the program for IP children.
The IP Summer Workshop seeks to teach IP children on the proper rudiments and movements of native songs and dances.
“This program serves as a bridge between the gap of young and adult tribal folks concerning the transfer of their rich cultural and traditional practices. This will ensure the passage of cultural traditions from generation to generation,” Padilla added.
At present, more than 1,000 IP children have been covered by the IP Summer Workshop which also offers opportunities for them to perform their best entries during competitions sponsored by the provincial government.
The children also perform during the Indigenous People’s Day, one of the highlights of the Grand ‘Ammungan’(Gathering) Festival of Nueva Vizcaya from May 19 to 24.
Padilla said this will be expanded to reach out to other IPs in the province to ensure cultural preservation of its various ethnic tribes.