A celebration of cultural diversity

The 7th Katutubo Exchange delegation headed by Dr. Antonio with the Teduray community in the town of Upi, Maguindanao during the IP Selimud-limud celebration and closing ceremony.

In celebration of the National Indigenous People’s Month in October and the year 2019 as International Year of the Indigenous Languages as declared by the United Nations, Katutubo Exchange Philippines, a volunteer cultural organization founded and headed by Dr. Edwin Antonio held its seventh annual program Katutubo Exchange in the province of Maguindanao from 10 to 13 October as supported by Mindanao’s academic institutions & local government units and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts through its outreach program.

It carried this year’s theme “Preservation of Indigenous Culture and Languages Towards Sustainable Cultural Development,” where it showcased indigenous performance arts that includes dances, songs and chants. It also conducted a cultural education campaign where it focused on indigenous languages. The delegation shared some indigenous words with the locals of Maguindanao and highlighting the surat, ambahan and pasangay of the Mangyan and the excerpts from both the Unesco intangible heritage of humanity oral masterpieces hudhud of the Ifugao and the darangen of the Meranaw.

Participating communities and individuals that shared their indigenous culture and traditions and contributed success to this year’s Katutubo Exchange were: Margarita Balansi and Allen Gumaad of the Ga’dang community of Mountain Province; Rosita Montajes and Jhay Ar Mararac of Mangyan Buhid of Occidental Mindoro; Dareen Grace Bogbog and Dim Murille Lunag of the Ifugao of Ifugao; Glen Andreigh Senio of the Ibaloy community of Benguet; Husnie Abdul Malik of the Meranaw group of Lanao Del Sur; Abdulfarid Guinomla of the Maguindanaoan of Maguindanao; George Kimboy of the Iranun community of Maguindanao; and Maricel Salinda-Kasaligan and Kemuel Kasaligan of the Blaan tribe of Sarangani Province.

7th KX delegation with founder Dr. Antonio (center) at the Grand Mosque in Cotabato City.

Dr. Antonio related, “It’s the second time of Katutubo Exchange in Mindanao but this time around the local folks were truly amazed and appreciative to see in person the indigenous peoples wearing loincloth or bahag that they only see on books and the Internet. Despite some fears of the delegates, they saw that it was very safe and enjoyable to explore Maguindanao. They also observed that the tri-people, namely, Lumads, Moros and Christians, co-exist in harmony.”

A forum on Lumad and Moro culture entitled “Kambityala” was conducted as an opening program hosted by the City Government of Cotabato. The Teduray community and Maguindanaoan attended to share their culture with this year’s delegates. They, too, were in turn surprised to learn the culture of the IP from Luzon.

The delegation had the opportunity to visit for the first time the Grand Mosque as well as the Pink Mosque in Datu Saudi. They also paid a courtesy call at the Municipal Hall of Datu Odin Sinsuat where they had tasted some local delicacies such as tinumis, komokonsi and bulibid.

Ibaloy youth delegate Glen Andreigh Senio teaches the Teduray people the Ibaloy traditional dance tayaw.

“Kalimudan,” an interactive seminar and a showcase of Philippine indigenous performances, was conducted at the Mindanao State University in the same town. Various Maguindanaoan dances were shown to the delegation. A similar activity was conducted at the Cotabato City State Polytechnic College where the students had a great time dancing with the Luzon delegates.

Celebrating National Museums & Galleries Month, the delegates had the chance to see and visit the Bangsamoro Museum managed by the Bureau of Cultural Heritage where local musical instruments, traditional attires and other artefacts were exhibited.

Concluding the cultural exchange program, a closing ceremony entitled “Selimud-limud,” a community celebration of indigenous culture with the Teduray community, was hosted by the Municipality of Upi headed by Mayor Ramon Piang. The delegates were welcomed at the municipal gymnasium with a walk through a stretch of handwoven mat with pillows at the venue site, a Teduray tradition symbolizing the open arms and hearts of the local people for their guests. Traditional dances, musical instruments, chants and songs were presented and capped by a sumptuous lunch.