NPT writer is NCAA north Luzon chief

The National Commission for Culture and the Arts for Northern Cultural Communities elected its new set officers at the NCCA office here in Intramuros, Manila on July 19.

The NCC is composed of 29 different tribes in the Cordillera Administrative Region, regions 1, 2 and 3 and clustered into 15 based on location and similarity of culture.

Elected were Francis Degay, contributing writer of the Northern Philippine Times as head, Antonio Cayyog-vice head and secretaries-Anastacia Viola and Edwin Antonio.
Degay represented Applai, Bontok and Balangao cluster while Cayyog was of the Gaddang/Isinay group.

Viola was from the Ivatan/Itbayat cluster and Antonio from the Iloko/Bago tribes.
Other cluster heads were the following: Ellennora Alliguyon,Kalanguya/Ifugao; Napoleon Baltazar,Ibanag/Yogad/Itawit/ Malaweg; Conrado Bunagan-Tinguian/Itneg; Brian Camhit-Ibaloy/Kankanaey; Maximo Garming-Kalinga; Edward Osingat-Bugkalot; Rosalie Joy Reyeas-Ayta of Tarlac, Pampanga, Bataan and Zambales; Nerie Roxas-Kasiguran, Corazon Claveria-Isnag, Josefina Alonso-Kapampangan/Tagalog/Sambal and Elnora Dudang-Bolinao/Pangasinense.

The committee was tasked to be channels of communication to the communities they are representing and give feedback to NCCA.

It was also tasked to facilitate implementation of NCCA programs, expand membership and select executive members to represent their sector.

The NCCA’s board of trustees shall confirm the elected officers before they will discharge their duties.

The election was facilitated by Marichu Tellano, chief of the plan, policy, formulation and programming division of NCCA.

Meanwhile, after the election of official representatives for Mountain Province, Abra and Apayao was held July 7 at the Veniz Hotel in Baguio City.

Representatives of Mountain Province selected Mary Dumanhi as vice official representative for Mountain Province, Garry Dong-gayao as secretary, Elamae Membrere as sub-secretary, Roy Camiding, Julia Puyongan and Jimmy Charaychay as coordinators for Applai, Bontok and Balangao tribes respectively.

The NCCA was created by virtue of Republic Act 7356 in 1992. The bill creating it was authored by Sen. Edgardo Angara, former senators Heherson Alvarez, Leticia Shahani and congressman Carlos Padilla.

Its programs include a grants program for culture and development, promotion of culture and the arts, artistic excellence, culture and education, conservation of cultural heritage, culture and diplomacy and culture and peace,
I also serves as institute for cultural and arts management and school of living traditions.

It gives awards to national artists, national living treasures and alab ng haraya for achievement in the performing arts, arts management, library and services program, theater production, cultural journalism and documentation and other fields.