Master Artists and Tradition Bearers from Southern Philippines Bring Dayaw in New York

The master artists and tradition bearers representing four communities from Southern Philippines shared their traditional knowledge and cultural ingenuity through chants, music and dance during their performance at the Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Center in New York on 5 November 2018. (New York PCG photo)

NEW YORK 10 December 2018 – A rare series of performances by nine master artists and tradition bearers from the Tausug, Maranao, Tboli, and Higaonon communities of Southern Philippines was held from 04-12 November 2018 in New York.

The Philippine Consulate General in New York, in coordination with Kinding Sindaw and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), hosted an event entitled “Renayung: Journey of the Master Artists and Tradition Bearers of Southern Philippines” on 5 November 2018 at the Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Center.

In his welcome remarks, Consul General Claro S. Cristobal of the Philippine Consulate General in New York applauded the work of the NCCA and Kinding Sindaw for bringing a rare cultural event and exposing the rich legacy of the Filipino people to the world audience.

For her part, NCCA Deputy Executive Director Marichu Tellano thanked the Filipino-American community for welcoming the master tradition bearers and giving them the opportunity to speak for themselves.

She said the visit is part of the “Dayaw: Philippine Indigenous Peoples Festival International” project of the NCCA, which is envisioned to bring together the cultural communities and indigenous groups and showcase each of their knowledge, ideas, and ingenuity through performances and exhibits abroad.

The journey to southern Philippines was presented by tradition bearers through chants, dances, and music. 

Edot Pantaon and Mayla Carcasona from the Higaonon tribe performed “Dasang” and “Dugso” while Aira Askalani Obeso and Mark Kiram Tolentino from the Tausug tribe presented “Tawi-Tawi” and “Pangalay”. Linda Weaver, Joel Genlai and Neville Grace Ski from the Tboli tribe shared “Madal” series and chants from epic “Lemlunay” while Jallaludin Casnor and Leonorah Dirampaten Grande from the Maranao tribe presented the “Bayok” chant from Derangen.

The artists also brought with them musical instruments like Tausug’s gabbang and kulintang; Tboli’s hegelong, saluray, kubing, and klintang; and Maranao’s dabakan, agong, and babandir.  An exhibit of handicrafts and products from the four tribes was also held during the event.

In cooperation with the Mindanao State University Alumni Association, Filipino Group of Woodside NY, student organization La Liga Filipina of Columbia University, Queens Central Library, and Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning, Kinding Sindaw also facilitated master classes at Queens Central Library and the Center for Arts and Learning in Jamaica, NY, San Sebastian Church in Queens, NY, Waldorf Astoria and Barnard College, and Columbia University. END

For more information, visit www.newyorkpcg.dfa.gov.ph / www.newyorkpcg.org or https://www.facebook.com/PHLinNY/

Consul General Claro S. Cristobal thanks the Philippine Consulate General partner NCCA and Kinding Sindaw led by Deputy Director General Marichu Tellado and Potri Ranka Manis, a member of Maranao tribe, respectively (left photo). Maranao master artist Leonorah Dirampaten Grande performed court dance “Pagaapirapir” (right photo). (New York PCG photo)

Ms. Aira Askalani Obeso and Mark Kiram Tolentino rendered a Madal series dance with Tausug musical instruments hegelong, saluray, kubing and kulintang. (New York PCG photo)

(L-R) Mr. Joel Genlai, Ms. Linda Weaver and Ms. Neville Grace Ski presented Tboli’s traditional music and chants with their indigenous musical instruments kubing, babandir, dabakan, kllintang and agong. (New York PCG photo)