Every start of the year, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts releases a wall calendar promoting different aspects of Philippine culture and the arts. For 2023, the calendar, which is produced by the NCCA Public Affairs and Information Section, highlights one of its flagship programs, the School for Living Traditions or SLT.
The School for Living Traditions enables the passing down of traditional knowledge and practices to younger generations of different Philippine ethnic groups.
Established in 1995, the SLT creates mechanisms by which indigenous and traditional traditions, practices, skills, crafts, and knowledge are preserved and passed down to younger generations. It employs an experienced practitioner or culture bearer to teach the younger members of the community in a non-formal way and using different strategies. Through the years, SLTs have been conducted in many communities and for different ethnic groups.
“The SLT is one of most important and successful projects of the NCCA, and its contribution to the safeguarding of indigenous intangible cultural heritage is invaluable,” said Roel Hoang Manipon who conceptualized, co-designed, and wrote the text of the calendar. “It is a great achievement for the Philippines that the program was recognized by UNESCO.”
The SLT was inscribed in the Register of Good Safeguarding Practices of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in December 2021, a first for the Philippines.
A practitioner teaches young people on Panay Bukidnon embroidery in Iloilo.
The calendar features 13 SLTS, most of them photographed by Gerald Marcfred Dillera. The cover shows an SLT being conducted in an Ata Manobo community in the district of Paquibato in Davao City.
Also featured are the SLTS in the Kalinga community of Turod, Bulo, Tabuk, Kalinga; Itneg community of Namarabar, Peñarrubia, Abra; Balangao community of Magawod, Bantay, Paracelis, Mountain Province; Pala’wan community of Mangkonon, Armas, Brooke’s Point, Palawan; Panay Bukidnon community of Datagan, Calinog, Iloilo; Ati community of Pantad, Igcalawagan, Tobias Fornier, Antique; Higaonon Manobo community of Kiutdo, Hagpa, Impasugong, Bukidnon; Sangir community of Tinarubo in Balut Island, Sarangani, Davao Occidental; Manguangan community in Poblacion, New Corella, Davao del Norte; Subanen community of Poblacion, Lakewood, Zamboanga del Sur; Yakan community of Binuangan, Isabela City, Basilan; and T’boli community of
Lem-ehek, Poblacion, Lake Sebu, South Cotabato.
The calendar also marks dates of cultural importance such as international and national observances and celebrations related to culture and the arts. Observances related to social issues and the LGBTQ+ community are also included.