ILOILO – The University of San Agustin Center for Heritage and Indigenous Cultures (USA-CHIC) continues to bring promising projects to the locale.
“The USA-CHIC serves to preserve and enrich the Filipino cultural heritage and indigenous identity through quality research, community engagements, and awareness programs,” it said in a statement.
One of its projects entitled “Binalaybay sang Ati: Mga Istorya sang Kabuhi sa Tunga sang Kalamidad kag COVID-19” was funded by the Department of Science and Technology-National Research Council of the Philippines.
It envisions the documentation of Philippine indigenous knowledge, culture and heritage and production of creative works and policy recommendations.
“Binalaybay sang Ati” targets to document the indigenous knowledge, practices and lived-experiences of Ati people in Panay and Western Visayas during natural calamities brought about by climate change and the coronavirus pandemic. It will be expressed in the form of binalaybay.
“This is premised on the idea that this piece of work may shed light in understanding the Ati people’s current social conditions amidst the pressing environmental risks,” the statement added.
The gathered responses during conversations with Ati communities will then serve as basis for recommendation to local government units in creating policies that will “further improve the socio-economic well-being, health condition, and recognition of the identities and way of life of Ati communities in the region.”
Another USA-CHIC funded project is the Hiligaynon Art Song (HAS), a workshop in writing songs using the Hiligaynon language as text.
“HAS workshop has allowed composers to realize this potential of the Hiligaynon language. It is expressive and lends itself naturally to music color. HAS workshop is not only a platform for developing and showcasing musical talents, it is an affirmation of Hiligaynon language as part of any artistic endeavor, beyond the art song genre,” it said in a release.
“It also serves as an impetus for Filipino composers to embrace local culture and heritage and it contributes to the growing Hiligaynon song literature as a whole,” it furthered. HAS workshop is funded by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts through their 2020 Competitive Grants Program./PN
