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By ALMA SINUMLAG
www.nordis.net

ABATAN, BUGUIAS, Benguet — Three Schools of Living Traditions (SLT) funded by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) were launched here on August 4 at the Buguias Municipal Hall.

Dontog, Poblacion Buguias, Benguet launched the phase 2 of their SLT on Kaka-iw Binubudan with 30 students. Aside from the financial assistance from the NCCA, the SLT was also sponsored by Dontog Neighborhood Association, Barangay Poblacion and the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Buguias.

Kaka-iw Binubudan is a traditional food of the Kankana-ey in Benguet which is made from cassava or what they call kaka-iw that is fermented through the use of bubod. According to Mr. Joel Bayacsan, the project coordinator, they want to pass on this kind of traditional knowledge to the next generations that is why they are teaching their young people the material culture and technology.

Balili, Sedang, Buguias also launched the phase 2 of their SLT on Kankana-ey Tapey Making sponsored by Balili, Sebang Cultural Association, Inc., Barangay Sebang and also the Buguias LGU.

Buguias Mayor Melchor Diclas in his opening remarks said “…napintas na ay programa nan gobyerno ta adi tako malinglingan nan kultura tako. Mabalin tako pay ay pangbiyagan tay mabalin tako ay ilako,” (…this is a good program of the government so we will not forget our culture. This can also become a source of livelihood because we can sell the output of the training).

Amgaleygey, Buguias launched their newly approved SLT on Kankana-ey Performing Arts with 15 students. This is sponsored by the Amgaleygey Federation of PTCA, Barangay Amgaleygey and also the Buguias LGU.

Leonardo Calabias, the project coordinator said the students will perform in community gatherings later after their training.

Clarita Prudencio, Ibaloi-Kankana-ey representative to NCCA and the Supervising Tourism officer of Benguet said “aside from the infrastracture development that is being rendered by the government, we from the NCCA are also providing services for social development and these include cultural development and traditional arts preservation”.

These SLTs according to her are the breakthrough of Benguet to preserve and promote their traditional food and dances. “Nu shy tayo nga kinanayon, saan nga agshine ti Benguet,” she added. She expects that the SLTs will be a continuing program of the community even if the NCCA assistance will end.

Cony Dangpa-Subagan, the over-all project coordinator of the three SLTs said development of a community starts in social development. SLT is one way of developing our society culturally. Infrastracture development and others will eventually follow, she added. She is hopeful that all the three SLT will reach the final phase which is phase 4.

Training outputs of the phase one of the Kaka-iw binubudan and Kankana-ey tapey making were presented after the program and was tasted by the community for free. # nordis.net