Piolo Pascual is the new NCCA Ambassador for Culture

Piolo Pascual is now the country's ambassador for culture.

The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), the prime government arm dedicated to the promotion and development of Philippine arts and culture, has named the popular actor, singer, television personality, and film producer as the country's face and voice in promoting the rich and diverse cultures the Philippines has to offer.

Pascual, who will work with the NCCA in various ways through his participation in major programs of the commission, was selected from among the various personalities in the entertainment industry because of his mass appeal to the public; his positive image which can inspire and influence people of all ages; his love for culture and the arts; and his outstanding achievements as a young Filipino who can reach to all Filipinos around the globe.

Specifically, Pascual did an infomercial highlighting respect and love for the indigenous peoples of the Philippines, also in line with the celebration of the National Indigenous People's Month this October.

Titled as Dayaw: Indigenous Peoples Festival 2011, the leaders and representative of more than 100 indigenous people from all across the country will converge together from October 6 to 10 at Tagum City, Davao to showcase the rituals, performing arts, cuisines, games and crafts in the festival.

Under the auspices of the NCCA's Subcommission on Cultural Communities and Traditional Arts and Mindanawon Foundation, in partnership with local governments, government agencies and the private sector, Dayaw 2011 will spotlight the country's indigenous peoples in celebrating their arts and ways of life, discussing important issues and making more people aware of the richness and importance of indigenous cultures.

They will be joined by delegates from Southeast Asian countries in simultaneous exchange and interactive activities such as performances, exhibitions, forums, lecture-demonstrations, workshops on traditional crafts and cuisines and indigenous games.

This year, Dayaw aims to celebrate the cultures of the Filipino people as well as those of the visiting foreign delegates by "understanding the commonalities of the various indigenous peoples." It also aims to "strengthen/broaden the awareness, appreciation and pride of all Filipinos for our own traditional culture in the context of cross-cultural interactions in a global society.

With the theme "Paghabi ng Ating Pagkakatulad Tungo sa Kapayapaan" (Interweaving Our Commonalities Towards Peace), the festival features many components such as Tanghalang Makulay (a ritual and performing arts festival), Salu-salong Sarap (a food festival), Mga Habi ng Panaginip (an arts and crafts exhibit, focusing on basketry, textile and mat weaving), Sama-sama sa Tuwa (games/sports), and Usapang Dangal at Likhang Paghayag (forum and creative workshop on peace and unity).

The celebration is in consonance with Presidential Proclamation 1906, declaring October as National Indigenous Peoples' Month. The NCCA has been holding major festivals for several years now in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. In 2007, Kalimudan: Panaghi-usa sa Mindanao (Mindanao Indigenous Peoples' Gathering) held in Davao City in November, featured Mindanao's ethnic groups. The following year, Timpuyog: Indigenous Peoples' Month Celebration in Luzon was held in Santiago City, Isabela, focusing on Luzon ethnic groups and featuring performances, arts and crafts workshops, cultural awareness lectures, forums, tours, and a theme-park exhibition featuring the traditional houses, cultural resources, practices/rituals, chants, music, songs and dances, stories, traditional arts and crafts, indigenous games. In 2009, the Indigenous Peoples' Festival was held in the Visayas, particularly in Roxas City, Capiz, called Dungog, with similar activities and aims. Last year, Dayaw 2010 was held in Metro Manila.

This festival aims to provide venue for indigenous peoples to celebrate the richness of their cultures; allow cultural exchanges that will foster deeper cultural understanding to sustain a culture of peace; provide opportunity to discuss IP rights; give students and other people a chance to deepen their awareness and appreciation of indigenous cultures; recognize the expertise and contributions of indigenous communities; and advocate for the preservation as well as integration of traditional culture into the national cultural mainstream.

Dayaw 2011 is held in cooperation with local governments of Tagum and Davao as well as other LGU's nearby, the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, Department of Education, Department of Tourism, Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Foreign Affairs, Commission on Higher Education, Philippine Information Agency, Department of Trade and Industry, the National Commission for Muslim Filipino, SM City Davao, as well as non-governmental, socio-civic and peoples' organizations.

For more details, contact Ms. Marichu Tellano, Chief of the NCCA Planning, Policy Formulation and Programming Division, at 527-2214; or Rene Napenas, Head of the NCCA Public Affairs and Information Office at 527-5529 or 0928-5081056. E-mail us at ncca.paio@gmail.com or visit our Web site at www.ncca.gov.ph.