THE nationwide tour of the 2014 Duaw Dungog Project of the Sigmahanon Foundation for Culture and the Arts (SFCAI), in partnership with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), is about to conclude.
Duaw Dungog, or “Dungog Sa Mga Tumandok nga Pamatan-on,” Project provides indigenous youths of the country a venue for consolidation and discussion of issues that consistently challenge their sector. Through its multilevel engagements, it has provided a network for indigenous youth leaders in order to advance the coordination efforts in putting the different indigenous peoples’ aspirations into collective action.
For this year, it was conducted regionally three different clusters. The Northern cluster, which catered to youth leaders from Luzon, was held from September 26 to 28 at Bambang, Nueva Vizcaya. It was participated by 38 indigenous youths who were immersed in the Bugkalot Community of the area. The Central cluster was hosted by the Ati Community at Sitio Kati-kati, Brgy. San Miguel, Jordan, Guimaras. It was participated by 39 youth leaders from October 11 to 13.
The groups that gathered in both the Northern and Central clusters were able to come up with inputs on the Indigenous Youth Cultural Agenda. They discussed the trends, challenges, environmental, social and political concerns that affect them as a group.
Immersions to proximate indigenous communities were also facilitated; traditional talents were featured in the various cultural presentations; and workshops that gear the youth towards leadership were conducted.
Duaw Dungog is a channel that empowers the IPs, especially their youth who are vital links to the continuity of Philippines indigenous traditions. True to this, an Ati youth shared, “As a youth we should preserve our culture and traditions in our tribes and the spirit of unity. We should also attend youth seminars to get better strategies on how to be an effective youth leader.”
The final regional leg of the Duaw Dungog for the Southern cluster is happening at Compostella Valley from November 7 to 9. Participants are set to to visit the Kangan Community.
Apart from the regional gatherings, the Dungog Kabataan National Conference will also happen from November 27 to 29 at Roxas City, Capiz. This will cater to IPs from all over the country in an attempt to discuss the prominent socio-cultural issues that the indigenous sector is facing on the national level.
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