Bagobo dancers

A young Bagobo tribe member cheerfully imitates her elders as they perform a ritual dance. This is one traditional way of transferring knowledge from one generation to the next. The different Indigenous Peoples’ groups attended the “DAYAW FESTIVAL 2010: Buwan ng Katutubong Pilipino” which is yearly celebrated in the month of October. The beautiful girl symbolizes the preservation of cultural traditions and yet ensuring all opportunities for a bright future in mainstream society for all indigenous peoples. The event jumpstarted at the Concert at the Park with a parade around Rizal Park in Manila City followed by different cultural performances in different venues like malls and television stations on October 20-23, 2010. As Director Malou Jacob promised, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, extended extra effort to make the indigenous peoples’ stay in the city enjoyable and memorable. Previous celebrations of “Indigenous Peoples’ Month” were held in Davao, Isabela in Cagayan Valley province and Capiz. (Photo: Marvin Alcaraz, NCCA-PAIO Cultural Awareness / Text: Noli S. Dumlao)