ILOILO City – Indigenous People’s (IPs) Day – celebrated for the first time by the Panay Bukidnon in Barangay Panuran, Lambunao, Iloilo – served as a venue to showcase their customs, rituals and traditions.
“Panuran is a 100 percent IP barangay. They decided to stage their first IP Day showcasing the culture and tradition of the Panay Bukidnon since they are also the first to organize the School of Living Tradition (SLT),” said Jennifer Osorio, municipal tourism officer of Lambunao.
On Monday, Nov. 7, participants witnessed panguyang, a thanksgiving ritual of the IPs for plentiful harvest; they offered unique native cuisines.
Also presented were the dramatization of the batak-dungan usually done to children to strengthen their soul or willpower; harana or serenade; pamalaye or the traditional custom of asking the girl’s hand in marriage; and himpit or the act of marriage.
Osorio said the IP Day was significant for the barangay with over a thousand population since it raised the awareness, especially of the younger generation, on the need to preserve their tradition.
She is also hoping for Panuran National High School to teach binanog, the traditional dance of the Panay Bukidnon inspired by the bird known as banog or hawk.
May this endeavor inspire other IP barangays to also establish their own SLT so their cultures will be preserved, the tourism officer added.
Other IP communities are in barangays Cabatangan, Jayobo, Caguisanan, Walang, Agsirab and Bagongbong.
“Hopefully our IP Museum, which is the first in Western Visayas, will be completed since a space has been provided for the SLT,” she said.
Meantime, she said the local government of Lambunao has devoted a “Semana sang mga Bukidnon” every Binanog Festival.
Aside from the showcase of IP houses, the participants coming from the town’s seven IP barangays also display their indigenous food. (PNA)/PN
