4th Tam–awan International Arts Festival set on May 15 to 19

Cordillera heritage, culture and traditions will once again be on center stage as the Chanum Foundation, in partnership with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), hold the 4th Tam-Awan International Arts Festival (TIAF) this May 15 to 19.

The festival with its theme, “Jewels of the Cordillera”, will feature Cordillera heirloom jewelries, accessories and traditional tattoo artistry.This is in line with the celebration of National Heritage Month this May.

The TIAF will open on May 15-16 with workshops for Cordilleran bead making, traditional and modern tattoo, and Tam-awan village artist’s workshop.

The official opening ceremonies are set on May 17, Friday with a traditional canao to be followed by a press conference with South African Ambassador Agnes Nyamande-Pitso, former Ambassador Delia Domingo Albert and NCCA executive director Emelita Almosara, Department of Tourism-Cordillera regional Director Pura Molintas, TIAF Festival Director Chit Asignacion, Chanum Foundation President Jordan Mangosan, among others.

Set at the Tam-Awan Village, a well-known art haven in Baguio, the festival will feature inspirational talks by:

Ambasador Pitso on African Jewelry;

University of Baguio Professor Ikin Salvador on Reinventing Traditional Tattoos of the Cordilleras;

Philippine Ambassador Delia Albert, on “Mountains of Gold: Mining in Baguio-Benguet a Historical Perspective” which will give light on the rich mineral industry of the highlands paving the way for the surge in creation of fine jewelry.

Kalinga elder Naty Sugguiyao talks on “re-interpreting beauty” the Kalinga tattooed women and the Aliwadog – Kalinga heirloom beads with Mary Grace Pocais; Sonia Daoas on Traditional Cordilleran Accessories and Designs with a Fashion Show of Cordilleran Accessories and Native wear.

NCCA legal counsel Trixie Angeles will likewise empower artists with her talk - Art and Copyright laws and Kenneth Esguerra of the Ayala Museum will be giving a talk on Understanding Philippine Pre-Hispanic Gold: A Look into the Ayala Museum Collection.

Target participants for the festivals are students, especially those into programs of arts, out-of-school youths and teachers.Women and children’s group are also invited to participate.

Art Groups from all over the Philippines will also be joining the five -day festival including contingents from Tabuk, Kalinga, Abra Province, Romblon, Binangonan Artists, Pampanga Arts Guild, Grupo Biag (Vigan Artists), Bacolod, Laguna, Dumaguete, Batanes, Philippine Art Educators Association and GSIS Team, Pangasinan, University of the East Students and the University of Iloilo.

Among the festival’s objectives are to encourage the youth to be part of the art and open their senses to the seven fields of artistic expression and to educate not only the youth but the community on the history and impact of Cordillera jewelry, accessories and tattoo art. (Carlito C. Dar/Jane Florendo/PIA)