Report by: Lynxter Gybriel Leaño, Ian Paolo Villacencio
After the adjustments were made to the school calendar, which will end this coming May, the organizers of Pamanang Mindanao conveyed their struggles in hosting the university-wide event since they decided to start the celebration on April 24.
“Konti lang kasi kami na organizers and mabigat yung responsibility lalo na't university-wide event ang National Heritage Month. We had troubles also with the schedule kasi nagsabay siya with Buwan ng Panitikan and Pentakasi, and I feel bad for students na kailangang hatiin ‘yung time nila to participate sa lahat ng events,” Grace Llamelo, one of the organizers, said.
In accordance with Presidential Proclamation No. 439, s. of 2003, declaring May as the National Heritage Month in the Philippines, the History Department organized the said event with the theme “Championing Heritage: Capacity Building to Transform Communities” from April 24 to May 3.
“Cultural appreciation talaga for me ang pinaka-essence ng celebration ng National Heritage Month. Sa MinSuPala kasi, we are taught to appreciate the diverse cultures of the Tri-People, what makes each ethnic group unique, and kung paano tayo nagkaroon ng distinct identity natin as Mindanaoans gamit yung uniqueness ng bawat isa. Parang threads gud ng malong na iba-iba ang colors na kapag pinagsama-sama ay nakakagawa ng pattern,” Llamero emphasized the importance of conducting this event.
Moreover, she noted that Heritage Month is one way for the students to discover the legacy of several ethnic groups that should be preserved and continued by the younger generations.
Valued Cultures through Competitions
Showcasing the colorful and different tapestries of each culture, all students having a history subject took part in “Alab ng Kultura Halina’t Iparada” from CSSH Road to the MSU Alumni Park, in which, after the parade, they raised cultural diversity among tribes through the Pasundayag sa Mindanao, April 24.
Furthermore, every group displayed their artistry and poetic accents in Tula para sa Mindanao while they served dishes by personally cooking the traditional foods of different cultures in the Lasang Mindanao contest.
Each group also competed in Larong Mindanao, exhibiting their unity and competitiveness in winning different Filipino games.
Participants’ Views
In her perspective, Kathy Rose Roquero, a second-year student, emphasized that the purpose of the event was to display the different cultures of different ethnic groups, yet there are also similarities.
Meanwhile, Ernest Baran, a student from CSSH, described the event as a way to inform students about cultural diversity.
"I think ang cultural diversity leads to getting to know other cultures and kung unsa ang cultural sensitivity since cultural diversity is composed of many ethnic groups," Baran said.
He also expected a sense of unity, solidarity, and belongingness by joining the aforementioned events.
Currently, all groups are preparing for Lantaw: Pamanang Mindanao Film Festival to highlight the cultural practices of the Tri People and Tiyanggian sa Mindanao, a bazaar to promote the diverse cultural heritage of different tribes, which will open on April 29.
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