PH Consulate General in Toronto Presents Webinar on Philippine Indigenous Culture
Consul General Orontes V. Castro (left) introduced Ambassador Rodolfo D. Robles (right) who welcomed the viewers to the Kultura at Wika webinar conducted by Katutubo Exchange Philippines via Zoom on Friday, 27 August 2021 from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm. (Toronto PCG photo)
TORONTO 28 August 2021 – The Sentro Rizal of the Philippine Consulate General in Toronto, in partnership with the Katutubo Exchange Philippines, presented “Kultura at Wika: A Webinar on Philippine Indigenous Culture” on 27 August 2021 via Zoom.
The Consulate General organized the event to celebrate three landmark observances in the month of August, namely, Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa (National Language Month), Buwan ng Kasaysayan (National History Month), and the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples. The webinar was formally opened by Consul General Orontes V. Castro, while Philippine Ambassador to Canada Rodolfo D. Robles graced the event with his welcome remarks.
The webinar featured three resource speakers, namely, Dr. Edwin V. Antonio, Ms. Anastacia B. Viola, and Mr. Rogelio Icdang Batongmalaki. Dr. Antonio conducted a workshop on Baybayin, and gave a presentation on national living treasures, indigenous games, textiles and attires. Mr. Batongmalaki lectured on the indigenous culture of the Obo Manobo of Cotabato. Ms. Viola, the last speaker, made a presentation on the Ivatan culture of Batanes.
The webinar also featured a pre-recorded presentation on the Inabel fabric, one of the many prides of the Ilocos Region, by Magdalena Gamayo, a National Living Treasure awardee. A 10-minute music video entitled, “Filipino Ako, Filipino Tayo” of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), and a tourism video from the Department of Tourism were also presented during the event. An open forum followed after the lectures of the three speakers. END
Katutubo Exchange Philippines Founder Dr. Edwin V. Antonio (top left photo) lectured on Baybayin and the various Philippine indigenous culture and traditional arts and games (second row). He mentioned the famous quote of former Secretary of Foreign Affairs Carlos P. Romulo in his autobiographical book, “I Walked with Heroes” which says that we should teach our people to be proud that they are Filipinos (top right photo).National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) 2021 Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan Awardee, Magdalena Gamayo (third row, right photo, photo by Ilocos Norte Government) who just recently turned 97 years old was the featured National Living Treasure at the webinar.
Mr. Rogelio Icdang Batongmalaki (top left photo) lectured on the colorful and exciting indigenous culture and traditions of the Obo Manobo of Cotabato.
Ms. Anastacia B. Viola (Top left photo) presented a video on the indigenous cultures of the Ivatans of Batanes. She demonstrated the way of life of the Ivatans who have developed numerous successful ways to protect their food supply and way of life due to the typhoons and drought that the province faces every year.
For more information, visit https://www.torontopcg.dfa.gov.ph, https://www.philcongen-toronto.com, or https://www.facebook.com/PHinToronto/.