The main event of Dayaw will be held in Manila from November 22 to 24, 2016. #Dayaw2016 

“Education, peace and development, and cultural understanding highlighting the Philippine cultural and socioeconomic landscape” will be the heart and theme of  Dayaw 2016: The Indigenous Peoples Festival, organized by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), headed by its chairman Felipe M. de Leon Jr. and OIC-executive director Marichu G. Tellano.

Spearheaded by the NCCA’s Subcommission on Cultural Communities and Traditional Arts (SCCTA), headed by Dr. Al-Anwar Anzar, the biggest gathering of Philippine indigenous peoples (IPs) will be held this October and November in Metro Manila.

This year’s theme highlights traditional and local knowledge on environment protection and advocacy for peace. All activities will aim to be cultural exchanges to cultivate a much deeper understanding of culture in order to sustain a culture of peace. Dayaw will also be a venue where IP rights and concerns will be discussed.

The prelude of this year’s festival will be held in Quezon City on October 28 and will include a photo exhibit, an exhibit of traditional crafts, demonstrations of traditional cuisine and crafts, display of traditional houses and vernacular architecture, a trade fair and different workshops on baybayin writing and henna tattoo, beads accessory making, ethnic pattern printing and pabalat making.  

The event will be highlighted by showcases of dances, songs and chants from invited ethnic groups including the Gaddang, the Ibaloi, Ifugao, Romblomanon, Panay Bukidnon, Ati of Negros, Tausug, Tboli and Subanen.

The IP Pride Night will be graced by Sec. Leoncio B. Evasco, Jr. of the Office of the President; Aiza Seguerra, Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of the National Youth Commission; Atty. Leonor T. Oralde-Quintayo, chairperson of National Commission on Indigenous Peoples; Herbert M. Bautista, mayor of Quezon City; and Glenn B. Santos, OIC-administrator of the Philippine Coconut Authority.

The main event of Dayaw will be held in Manila from November 22 to 24.  

Dayaw is annually held in celebration of National Indigenous Peoples’ Month, which is observed every October and showcases the different indigenous groups of the country, and an enriching and interesting array of activities including performances, rituals, forums, traditional cuisine demos, traditional games, arts and crafts exhibit and cultural exchanges among others. Dayaw aims to highlight the importance and richness of indigenous cultures, to discuss issues indigenous peoples face today and facilitate interactions with other indigenous peoples. It also aims to mine traditional knowledge as well as draw inspiration and insight from indigenous ways of life to find solutions for modern problems.

Since the signing of Presidential Proclamation 1906, declaring October as National Indigenous Peoples’ Month, the NCCA has been annually celebrating the occasion in different parts of the country through Dayaw. In 2007, Kalimudan: Panaghi-usa sa Mindanao (Mindanao Indigenous Peoples’ Gathering) was held in Davao City in November, featuring Mindanao’s ethnic groups. The following year, Timpuyog: Indigenous Peoples’ Month Celebration in Luzon was held in Santiago City, Isabela, focusing on Luzon ethnic groups and featuring performances, arts and crafts workshops, cultural awareness lectures, forums, tours, and a theme-park exhibition featuring the traditional houses, cultural resources, practices/rituals, chants, music, songs and dances, stories, traditional arts and crafts, and indigenous games.

In 2009, the Indigenous Peoples’ Festival was held in the Visayas, particularly in Roxas City, Capiz, called Dungog, with similar activities and aims. Dayaw 2010 was held in Metro Manila, and in 2011, it was held in Tagum City, Davao del Norte. In 2012, Dayaw graced the province of Bulacan. In 2013, Dayaw was slated to be held in Tacloban City but super typhoon Yolanda hit the region. It was reprogrammed into psychosocial and arts for healing activities in Leyte, Bohol, Aklan and Cebu. In 2015, Dayaw was held in the three island clusters—Baguio City in Luzon; Bacolod City in the Visayas; Zamboanga City in Mindanao. Last year, Dayaw was in Pampanga.

The SCCTA is composed of the National Committee on Southern Cultural Communities headed by Dr. Al-Anwar Anzar, National Committee on Northern Cultural Communities headed by Dr. Edwin V. Antonio, the National Committee on Central Cultural Communities headed by Alphonsus Tesoro, with Renee Talavera as SCCTA section head of the NCCA secretariat.

For more information on this press release, please contact Mr. Rene Napeñas, head of the Public Affairs and Information Office, through 0928-5081057, 527-2192 loc 208 or through email address ncca.paio@gmail.com.