bursting beer belly

Friday, 10 December 2010 31st Conference on National and Local History By Bryan Noel Lazaro The Philippine National Historical Society, the oldest voluntary professional organization on the study and research in Philippine history, held its 31st National Conference on Local and National History, from October 21 to 23 at the Family Country Hotel, General Santos City. This year’s theme, “Towards a National History: Mindanao and Sulu Local History in the context of National History,” sought to look at the researches and writings about Mindanao, Sulu and other regions; situate these studies in the context of national history; identify gaps that can be addressed by future or further researches; and encourage systematic studies on local and national history. The participants consisted of elementary and secondary teachers/administrators, college professors, history major students and even high school students. Papers in the three-day conference included the following: Conference sessions bega...

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Friday, August 28, 2009 The Tagbanua rhythms By Bryan Lazaro To ensure that their traditional songs, dances, and rituals will continue to live on in their children, the Cabigaan Tribal Council of Cabigaan, Aborlan, Palawan, spearheaded a School of Living Traditions (SLT) project in their village in cooperation with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts. The Cabigaan SLT focused on the teaching of traditional Tagbanua musical instruments, songs and dances to the young children in the village through cultural masters Rosalinda Nangnang, Gloria Imag, and Dalupe Masudlot and Tribal Chieftain Virgilio Nangnang. Through the SLT, the students learned to play various traditional melodies like the sagayon, suriano, sarungkay (welcome music), taming, mangalay and tugatak (pagdidiwata) using their indigenous musical instruments: the gimbal (drum), babandil (small gongs), and agung (wide-rimmed gong). The students also learned dance rituals performed by a babaylan: tarek, a dance ritu...

Friday, August 14, 2009 ‘Pandan’ weaving among young Jama Mapuns By Bryan Lazaro The Jama Mapuns, one of the ethnolinguistic groups in Palawan, are known for their pandan mats. A tradition that can be traced back to Tawi-tawi, pandan weaving is among their most valued cultural heritage. In order to promote the tradition of pandan weaving, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) has funded the creation of a school of living traditions (SLT) specifically on Jama Mapun mat weaving in Isumbo, Sofronio Española, Palawan. Fifteen female students, ages 9 to 22 years old, participated in the three-month training workshop conducted by cultural masters Janeth Hanapi and Tulsina Sabtal (59 years old). The students learned the different steps of pandan weaving, from preparation of leaves, to dying to creating designs and patterns. The students learned six basic designs: tupak sato (random/ordinary style), maligoy (miniature house design), katam (crab design), orang-orang (shrimp ...