Preserving customs, reliving Subanon dances
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(Delegates from different municipalities of Zamboanga Peninsula perform the Gigal Nog Konontuan, a social dance for both males and females. Through dancing, the cultural heritage and practices of the Subanons are relived and preserved.
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The IPRA Anniversary kicked off with a Gigal Subanon contest where delegates from the different municipalities of Zamboanga Peninsula perform the tribe’s traditional dances. At the end of the day, female students of Canatuan National High School were hailed 1st place. Delegates from Baliguian, Zamboanga del Norte got 2nd place while male students from the same high school emerged 3rd place.
“It’s my 2nd time to perform the Subanon traditional dance in front of many people. My first time was when I was in kindergarten. This time, dancing it is an honour for we, (the youth) must also do our part in preserving the culture of our tribe,” Jean Lumabi, a 3rd year high school student of Canatuan National High School shared.
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Passing on the culture to the young generation. (top) Female students of Canatuan National High School (CNHS) and (middle) male students of the same school show off what they learned from the School of Living Tradition. (bottom) Hailed 1st place during the Gigal Subanon contest, Jean Lumabi, representing the female group of CNHS, is flanked by (left) Bernardino Anoy, OIC of Pigbogolalan and Datu Eddie Alvarez of Labason, Zamboanga del Norte.
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Jean’s chance of performing gigal nog konontuan, a social dance for both males and females, was through the establishment of The School of Living Tradition (SLT) as a response to UNESCO’s call for the preservation of cultural heritage by preserving it in a living form, ensuring its transmission to the next generations. Jane Manaog, IEC officer of Community Relations and Development Office (CReDO) together with Annabelle Combi, president of Siocon Subanon Women’s Association, Inc (SSWAI) initiated the implementation of this program to the schools of Canatuan.
Most of the delegates performed the gigal nogluyag, a thanksgiving dance which symbolizes happiness and prosperity. The Subanons have been enjoying their IP rights and opportunities for 14 years already.
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(left) Wearing glogdoy molotok, a female Subanon traditional garb, Annabelle Combi,(in white top) president of SSWAI, and Lydia Dandana, assist in the implementation of School of Living Tradition in high schools. (right) Subanons danced to the sound of the kulintang and gagong that were continuously pounded by the indigenous percussion ensemble, mostly by elderly members of the tribe.
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Besides thanksgiving dance, Subanons also pass on to the younger generations dances of prayer or gigal sog mog diakin to honour their gods and guiding spirits. During Ginang Bonua, one of the most important celebrations of the Subanons performed every end of the year as a cleansing and purification ritual to prevent contamination of the living from bad elements, Subanons render a ritual dance called gigal sog ginang. A more specific dancestep of this is called moklatok or moglukoy wherein the dancer holds leaves throughout the dancing.
One representative from the invited municipalities demonstrated a sample of a war dance or moglawan. Traditionally, anybody outside the tribe who dances this without asking consent from their gods may be punished by the resident spirits around.
Other dances of the Subanons include gandingan, a dance by a Bolyan (spiritual leader) to drive away anitos; ponampot, to dance asking for a good harvest; kawing or a wedding dance; and diwata-bata for baptism of a child.
“Through dances and music, we are able to teach and pass the culture of the Subanons to the young generation. This is one way of strengthening the IPs’ culture through times,” Jane shared.
“We make sure we give worth and equal opportunities and rights to quality education to all Filipino youth and IPs. They are also Filipino citizens who have the willingness to learn, so we provided them with assistance,” Araceli Tomboc, DepEd Siocon District Supervisor expressed.
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(left) Jane Manaog, IEC officer of CReDO. (right) Araceli Tomboc, DepEd Siocon District Supervisor. “Through dances and music, we are able to teach and pass the culture of the Subanons to the young generation. This is one way of strengthening the IPs’ culture through times.”
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The IPRA Law or Republic Act 8371 respects all cultures, practices and customs of different tribes all over the Philippines. It recognizes and promotes the rights of IPs within the framework of national unity and development. (Rianne Miranda)