PIA Press Release
Saturday, January 28, 2012 NCCA sustains SLTs in preserving Benguet's cultural heritageby Susan AroLA TRINIDAD, Benguet, Jan. 28 (PIA) -– National Commission of Culture and the Arts is continuously funding School of Living Tradition (SLT) projects to transmit indigenous skills and techniques to the young and ensure its transmission to the next generations. National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) Ibaloi-Kankana-ey Coordinator Brian Camhit said two of the nine project proposals for 2011-2012 submitted to the NCCA are ready for implementation while two were already deliberated upon. The two projects for implementation are SLT on Ibaloi-Kalanguya-Karao Performing Arts to the Indigenous Peoples Organization of Bokod and the Anitap Festival of Kapangan. Both the SLT on Ibaloi Performing Arts in Poblacion, Itogon and the SLT on Kankanaey Performing Arts (Phase II) in Amgaleygey, Buguias are ongoing, the latter awaiting the release of second tranche of budget release. Completed last year were SLT on Ibaloi Performing Arts Phase II in Wangal, this town, SLT on Ibaloi Performing Arts (Phase II) in Loakan, Baguio City, SLT on Kankana-ey Performing Arts (Phase II) in Balakbak, Kapangan, Uhog Festival in Karao, Bokod, Sabdang Festival in Sablan and Alibay di Badang Festival of Buguias. According to Camhit, the NCCA embarked on SLT in response to UNESCO’s call for the preservation of cultural heritage in its living form and ensure its transmission to the future generations. A cultural master or bearer who possesses the necessary skills and techniques on traditional art or craft is responsible in teaching students of the same ethno-linguistic group, he added. The focus of the SLT performing arts in the province are native dances, chants and use of musical instruments according to Camhit. The SLT program is composed of lecture and application parts. During the lecture, indigenous knowledge and culture are explained to the students and students are expected to have outputs in the various indigenous knowledge and artworks as part of its application. (JDP/SCA-PIA CAR) | 
