Southern PH master artists, tradition bearers bring Dayaw to New York

Aira Askalani Obeso and Mark Kiram Tolentino rendered a Madal series dance with Tausug musical instruments hegelong, saluray, kubing and kulintang. CONTRIBUTED

NEW YORK – A rare series of performances were held by nine master artists and tradition bearers from Tausug, Maranao, Tboli and Higaonon communities in the Southern Philippines from Nov. 4-12 at the Philippine Center here.

Kinding Sindaw, the Philippine Consulate and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), hosted “Renayung: Journey of the Master Artists and Tradition Bearers of Southern Philippines” at the Center’s Kalayaan Hall.

Consul General Claro S. Cristobal applauded NCCA and Kinding Sindaw for bringing a rare cultural event and exposing the rich legacy of the Filipino people to a world audience.

Joel Genlai, Linda Weaver and Neville Grace Ski presented Tboli’s traditional music and chants with their indigenous musical instruments kubing, babandir, dabakan, kllintang and agong. CONTRIBUTED

NCCA Deputy Executive Director Tellano said the visit was part of the Dayaw: Philippine Indigenous Peoples Festival International project of NCCA aimed at bringing together cultural communities and indigenous groups and showcase knowledge, ideas and ingenuity through performances and exhibits abroad.

The journey to the 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 musical instruments like Tausug’s gabbang and kulintang; Tboli’s hegelong, saluray, kubing, and kilintang; and Maranao’s dabakan, agong, and babandir. An exhibit of handicrafts and products from the four communities were also exhibited during the event.

Kinding Sindaw — in cooperation with Mindano 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 — 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, Columbia University in Broadway, New York.