84 graduate from Benguet 'School of Living Tradition'

By Krystelle Luken Pangpangdeo

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet-- At least 84 additional young people in Benguet province graduated recently from the School of Living Tradition (SLT), where three traditional skills were taught as part of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts' (NCAA) effort to pass these on to the next generation.

On the second year of the five-year Enhanced SLT Master plan, which started in 2018, 31 learners finished the courses for Kayabang (native basket) making, 27 learners for Tapuey (rice wine) making, and 26 for loom weaving.

“All of you graduates, has the responsibility to impart and share what you've learned, your knowledge to the youths,” said Renee Talavera, NCCA head of cultural community and traditional art section, during the graduation rites at the Benguet capitol.

One of the cultural masters for Kayabang-making, Pelin Contales, discussed the importance of teaching the young people about the cultural practices that remain a part of the lives of the Benguet people.

“Kayabang has always been with us for how many years. It is what our elders use in transporting products such as sweet potatoes, as a support for water gallons, and sometimes we use it for loading our washed clothes before. It is a multi-purpose tool of Benguet” Contales said.

Kayabang is a native basket made of bamboo and originally used by women in Benguet. It is strapped at the back to carry root crops, vegetables and fruits harvested from the farms. Kayabang symbolizes abundance in the Benguet culture and is displayed in Benguet homes.

 Costales said teaching the youth how to make the basket will instill in them a part of Benguet people's identity .

Denton Kelly, a graduate of tapuey-making, said the program has enhanced his knowledge on making the native rice wine.

A half Benguet and half Vizcayan, Kelly has learned to make tapuey based on what he learned from word of mouth of people from different provinces of the Cordillera as a young teen studying in Benguet. Growing up in Kapangan town, he used to make tapuey for special occasions and gatherings.

Tapuey is made with rice yeast or what is locally known as “bubod”, which is mixed with cooked glutinous rice, and placed in a jar to ferment.

Meanwhile, Benguet Tourism Office (BTO) officer-in-charge Eleazar Carias, who taught loom weaving, said that in the olden times, Benguet used to import the products from other provinces, which the elders adopted and practiced and later embraced as part of their culture.

He said the program aims to train, transfer, and preserve the skills and knowledge of the traditions of the community in the first three years. The fourth year is devoted to the promotion and product development training while the fifth year will be for product marketing..

In the first year of the program, three art forms were also taught, such as the Kankanaey performing arts, the Ibaloy performing arts and the Patda embroidery where a total of 198 participants graduated on Sept. 8, 2018.

He said they are now preparing for the next three years of the program, looking at the availability of materials and the cultural masters who will teach the participants.

The cultural masters for kayabang-making are Minda Ciano and Pelin Contales of Banayakeo, Poblacion, Atok while for the tapuey-making, the NCCA has tapped Lucia Sacyat and Lydia Fernandez of Bakun; and Maxencia Pili and Fe Paday from Kabayan for the loom-weaving. -- PNA