San Nicolas schools to Integrate Indigenous performance arts
INDIGENOUS songs, dances, and traditional musical instruments will be integrated into the Araling Panlipunan and MAPEH (Music, Arts, Physical Education, and Health) subjects for students in both public and private elementary and high schools in the municipality of San Nicolas as part of initiatives on cultural preservation.
The town’s municipal ordinance on the program was recently reviewed and approved by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.
The ordinance highlights indigenous songs, dances, and instruments that form an integral part of the customs and traditions of the Indigenous Peoples (IP) in San Nicolas, including the I-owak/Iwak, Kalanguya, and Ibaloy tribes.
Authored by IP Municipal Councilor Felixfrey Lorenzo, the ordinance will address a concerning trend where schools, particularly those in remote mountain areas, have neglected the teaching and preservation of Indigenous cultural practices, without immediate intervention, there is a risk that vital elements of the IP’s cultural heritage — such as Bakliw (songs), Tayaw (dances), and traditional instruments like the solibaw (drums), ganza (gongs), bamboo (bolo), and wooden sticks — could be forgotten, threatening the community’s cultural identity.
A competition celebrating these traditions will be held annually during the Indigenous People’s Thanksgiving Day, with prizes and rewards offered to participants.
The municipality also committed to assist in the procurement of indigenous musical instruments, subject to available funding. Also, local barangays and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) are encouraged to support efforts to provide these instruments. (Eva Visperas)
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