LAGAWE, IFUGAO – – The Lagawe-based Ifugao Cultural, Educational, Scientific and Community Development Center, Inc. (ICESCDCI) as well as Poblacion North Barangay Council officials conducted recently a skills transfer training program on Ifugao gong-beating and native dancing, joining the mounting clamor to promote traditional ways of life in the province.
ICESCDCI, a nongovernment organization (NGO) with a longstanding reputation of showcasing the distinctive cultural heritage of this upland Cordillera province, trained 42 youngsters for five days at the Poblacion North Barangay Hall.
The trainees included pupils of Ifugao SPED Center and Lagawe Central School.
At the end of the day, the first-ever skills transfer training program easily proved to be a “gamechanger” for the activity’s beneficiaries.
“I’m so heartened by this reality in which the young trainees from our barangay and adjacent ones learned a lot on the proper way of carrying and beating the gongs,” Kagawad Ericson Inhumang told the ZigZag Weekly.
In an exclusive interview with the ZigZag Weekly, Inhumang stressed that gongs and other implements are “essential tools in rituals.”
“When taught and subsequently performed well, gong beating performances can provide good insights on the way of living in the past, of our ancestors,” Inhumang asserted.
Although he is recognized for his compassion to extend a helping hand to the poor in the village, Inhumang also distinguished himself in Ifugao arts and culture promotion. Inhumang is one of the most dedicated barangay government officials in the province.
From the technical point of view, this development is a very good head start, but this is only the beginning of the tedious task of focusing on the grassroots level.
This is certainly so in Ifugao, where gong-beating presentations have been a major fixture of cultural programs.
All told, the gong-beatings and presentation of native attires and dances display a profound affection toward ethnic culture in this part of the country.
Simply put, the ICESCDCI provided the trainees the rare opportunity to know their roots through increased knowledge of customs and traditions.
ICESCDCI must-read information materials served as good starters for the trainees. Laminated, written in a language easily understandable by readers- old and young alike, and supplemented with photographs, illustrations and drawings, these materials were displayed at the venue room. This has resulted to a multi-platform learning classroom or laboratory.
Under the innovative ICESCDCI system, the main strategy of instruction is to provide a venue of interaction between the trainers and trainees. Apart from lectures, a trainee may have an interest in raising a question or two, and holding and beating the gong right in front of a trainer who earlier demonstrated the act itself. Each trainee enjoys the use of the gong with all other trainees. At times, the form and sound of the beating vary, but the positive mood pervades.
In other words, this guarantees an interactive endeavor. There, the trainee brings the past to the present.
Fortunately, the trainees were guided, motivated and inspired by the men and women aptly called “culture bearers.” They include Florentina Dulnuan, Herminia Hoggang, Roberto Kimayong, Julian Manglib and Jose Namingit.
For one, it was observed that the trainees have no difficulty learning the art of gong-beating.
What about the other aspects of native dancing? Like proper attire and accessories, correct posture, timing, steps and body movements, worth pondering. The culture bearers were on hand to answer the query. They espouse deep retrospection of ones’ self in order to attain a positive presence while dancing. This all took place during the hands-on training of the ever-curious kids.
Everyone looks at a gong differently: some are looking for value, some for different sounds and while others seek that peculiar blending of an individual and the instrument.
Why play the gong? This round-shaped instrument is worth the nod, leaves one with noticeably amazed feeling.
It really is stunning an eight-year old girl holding a gong and eagerly beating its center with a stick called “po’log.”
One gets nostalgic for a moment while watching another charming young girl is playing the gong. Her beautiful hand-woven attire adds to the traditional yet contemporary atmosphere of the venue.
After the culture bearers were pulled back from the center stage on the final day, it was time for the “young” gong-beating performers to shine. Four groups in the youth level showed their skills and talents in the cultural presentation. The “young ones” were warmly applauded. Just like the “young once” group of men and women who presented a number. Nine gongs were used.
During the said portion, the trainees indeed showed that they are now enjoying the rewards born by four days of study and hard work. This time, some of them were seen tapping the gongs harmoniously with their hands.
Led by Punong Barangay Norma Abuan, barangay council officials here fervently hope for a stronger partnership between them and NGOs as the ICESCDCI and people’s organizations (POs) in the coming years.
Aside from Punong Barangay Abuan and Kagawad Inhumang, Kagawads Deodato Mauro Cacayuran, Rhoderick Casticimo, Lorenza Sanchez and Bernadeth Vicente also took part in the activity.
Everyone is feeling positive about the skills transfer training program and for most of the trainees it’s hard for them to believe that there is no more Day Six.
“We feel truly privileged to be here,” said Don Paul Cumti, a pupil of Ifugao SPED Center and one of the trainees. “Our heartfelt gratitude to the ICESCDCI!” he added.
On the other hand, Sophia Dumapi lauded the ICESCDCI for its intense advocacy on propagating cultural practices to encourage the young to join gong-beating presentations. She is a teacher.
A passionate and respected civic leader, former Lagawe Councilor Jun Tuguinay also shared his insights during the program. Peter Calinayan also spoke at the well-attended graduation rites.
The just-concluded skills transfer training program has the widest collection of the most well-knowledgeable trainers in Ifugao. In the long run, it is good for the young children.
ICESCDCI founder and head Mariflor Capuyan gave the certificates to the trainees.
“We continue not just to support national and provincial government programs on economic field for the benefit of the people, but draw up plans of raising their awareness and consciousness on issues on the social sphere,” Capuyan said.
Previously, the ICESCDCI ran a highly-successful campaign on strap-on cotton weaving and beklay (rice cake)-making production, both in Asipulo towns. It has been hailed several times for advancing a strong pro-people agenda and pushes for the development of marginalized communities.
Historically, among the decades of experience reviewing the record of efforts to promote ethnic culture here, no one has ever seen concrete actions like this.
Other NGOs and groups pointed out that Ifugao had achieved much under the stewardship of the ICESCDCI.
ICESCDCI partnered with Poblacion North Barangay Council to implement this program that champions the cause of advancing cultural promotion. The full involvement of the barangay council, without a doubt, truly warms the heart. How to do this? Well, a good head way is by telling each one that the youth sector stands to benefit a lot from the undertaking. It was a fruitful partnership because they agreed that the stakes are high. No less, the well-being of the young- present and future generations.
By recognizing good faith beyond the unlimited linkages between the ICESCDCI and the Poblacion North Barangay Council enunciated in this project, there is now a clear cut direction for future cooperation.
As Ifugao looks forward to its annual Gotad festivity, ICESCDCI continues to give honor to all who have made the lives of others better in their own little ways in the province. Now, one of the important things about determining its effectiveness is an assessment to see if it yielded positive results and benefited a large part of the population. Much later, it is a matter of sustaining the skills transfer training program. Thus, nurturing and enriching the young’s literacy about the impact of preserving cultural structures. **By Anthony A. Araos
