NCCA ok’s 7 project proposals of Cordillera gov’t private orgs

Bayyo healing practices included 

By Roger Sacyaten

BONTOC, Mountain Province -- The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) has approved the proposal of the Lang-ay Festival Organization for the “Documentation of the oral traditional healing practices of Barangay Bayyo” of this town along with six others in the Cordillera.

A memorandum of agreement was signed Feb. 23 at Paragon Hotel in Baguio City, with the grantees which included the LFO, Chanum Foundation, Inc., the local government unit of Mankayan, Benguet, Atok National High School, Cordillera News Agency, Inc., Gov. Bado Dangwa Industrial School, and the University of Baguio Alumni Foundation.

Bayyo is one of the barangays of Bontoc located in the northeastern part of the municipality and province in the boundary with the province of Ifugao.

“The healing practices remain in existence now such as the first aids during injuries, at after childbirth, and sicknesses. These practices need cultural attention first rather than requiring medical assistances given at hospitals and clinics,” said the proposal submitted to the NCCA.

These oral traditions are being practiced by elders but being relegated by the younger generations due to factors such as migration, employment, and modernization.

The LFO said these could be forgotten someday.

“There is, therefore, a need to document the oral traditions and practices of the community of Bayyo for the sake of posterity. The documentation involves the chants, the “purga” or indigenous prayers, and the rituals in the events or as need arises,” proponents said.

In a letter dated Dec. 19, 2018 from the NCCA noted by Rico Pableo, executive director, Bernan Joseph Corpuz of chief, policy/plan and programming division, said the proposal was approved by the NCCA Board of Commissioners through Board Resolution No. 2019 -199 on Nov. 20, 2018.

Paulino Tumapang, Jr. said approval of the proposal is the start of a series of proposal to be submitted to the NCCA to further one of the goals of the organization which is cultural integrity.

Other proposals for environmental protection and preservation are being explored to be submitted to proper agencies such as the DENR, NEDA, and those environmental bodies concerned with environmental conservation.