Despite the pandemic, the cultural show must go on

WHILE the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may have shrunk many people’s world’s down to the walls of their homes, the award-winning documentary series Dayaw continues to work on expanding its viewers appreciation of the Philippines with its11^th season on ANC, the ABS-CBN News Channel.

The ongoing season delves on Filipino games, martial arts, feats of strength, and dance. Previously aired shows can be seen on the ANC Facebook page.

A production of ANC and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), the show has been documenting the lifeways, traditions, practices, and culture of the different Indigenous Peoples groups since 2015.

“Dayaw goes beyond documentation. It revives culture. It protects and conserves our tangible and intangible and we provide government assistance from the various programs of culture-based livelihood,” said program host Loren Legarda at an online press conference on Aug. 25 via Zoom. Ms. Legarda, who is also the House deputy speaker and Antique representative, conceptualized the program.

“We see that [the show] is actually appreciated by many of the young, because these are segments of our culture that perhaps they did not grow up with, or they’re only seeing now,” Ms. Legarda added.

The season’s first episode focused on traditional Filipino children’s games such as patintero, sipa, and luksong tinik. The second and third tackled the Punnuk, a show of physical strength that ends the Ifugao harvest season. Filipino martial arts such as arnis, silat, and eskrima are covered in its next two episodes. The season will wrap on Sept. 3 with “Sayawang Pinoy,” an episode highlighting how the grace and fluidity of movements of dance express energy, discipline, and joy.

Work on Dayaw was able to continue despite the pandemic, and season 12 is already in the works. Themed “Kaka-ibang Sigla: Our Vital Energy Part 2,” season 12 will explore love, courtship, marriage, and the cycles of life featuring the Gaddang, Tboli, and Sama Dilaut.

“We are fortunate to have shot a treasure trove of material before the pandemic began. This has enabled us to go on with our mission of telling the stories of our indigenous peoples so that future generations may still be able to appreciate and continue their legacy,” said Nadia Trinidad, ANC chief operating officer, in a statement.