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The Agusan Del Sur – School Of Living Traditions

Mark Conde Jamboy

The dream of preserving, safeguarding, revitalizing, and further developing the living cultural heritage of the Agusan-Manobos and Agusanons in general found fulfilment with the opening of the Agusan del Sur - School of Living Traditions (ASLT) in August 2017. Located in Balay Agusan, Purok 7, Barangay San Teodoro, municipality of Bunawan, province of Agusan del Sur, the ASLT was realized through the joint efforts of the National Commission for Culture and Arts, the Tao Foundation for Culture and Arts, and the various Agusan-Manobo Cultural Masters and their communities. As of 2019, two batches of Agusan-Manobo and Agusanon students from different Agusan del Sur municipalities have graduated from the ASLT following direct instruction by Cultural Masters (also from different Agusan del Sur municipalities and neighboring sites) in the fields of Agusan-Manobo language, suyam (embroidery), musical-instruments-making, dance, traditional house-building, environmental protection, customary law, rituals, medicine, and cuisine.

During the opening of the Agusan-SLT’s second year, Dr. Rhodora Toyong, Administrator and Head of the Local Coordinating Team said during her opening remarks that “the participation of more Cultural Practitioners is indicative of several things. One is their desire to show the world their creations made the traditional way, using organic materials and/or age-old techniques.”

Her observations support the insights of Datu Malinoglinog Hilario Bebero from the municipality of Loreto, who, during the consultations prior to the ASLT’s opening, said: “Since culture is our concern, let us return to analyzing the state of our traditions. If you hide them, sooner or later they will become rusty. Second, they will be eaten by mice, and third, they will disappear. So why do I say that it is a good thing for our Cultural Masters to help each other at the School of Living Traditions? It is so they can promote our flickering Indigenous languages, knowledge of embroidery (and other forms of Indigenous knowledge). Let us teach all the knowledge we have so these will be developed, and (our culture) appreciated. If it were a candle, let our knowledges blaze again.”

Bae Lucy Rico, Cultural Master and Head of Programs from the municipality of Esperanza emphasized ASLT’s pedagogy: “While most schools impart knowledge, the ASLT transmits Indigenous Knowledge, Systems, and Practices or IKSP. In other words, we don’t just teach skills but also their historical contexts, values, in addition to the actual practices,” Bae Lucy added.

ASLT students have, themselves, spoken about their ASLT experiences. Gemma Grace Gonzalez from the municipality of La Paz said that “Through the ASLT, we have been able to take pride in our very own culture and craft like the suyam (embroidery).” Another ASLT student, Lucky Alexis Rico, from Esperanza, expressed his gratitude to Bae Suyam Emeluz Espana for teaching him suyam (embroidery). He is confident that he can later pass on his knowledge to the future generations so that they too will “continue our practices and nothing will be lost.” Junely Ayala, ASLT student from the municipality of Bunawan added: “I persevered here (at the ASLT) because as a (young) parent, I want to be able teach my three children the Manobo culture that I did not grow up with. In our home, Manobo language was not spoken. I don’t know why my father did not teach us this language, so we grew up not knowing it. Second, as a schoolteacher who handles Grades 5 and 6 classes, I want to impart what we learn from the ASLT to my students who have also lost our Manobo ways like rituals because they have adopted the ways of the city, of the outside world. I want to help them recover who they are and develop themselves while carrying their tribe and culture. (I want to help them) stand up to people and the world and not be ashamed.”

Reflecting on the impact of the ASLT on the young Agusan-Manobo and Agusanon students, Bae Lucy said: “I observed that our students are now proud of who they are and their identity. I used to worry that I am always the one to talk. I have heard the same sentiment from other Manobo elders. Because of the ASLT, however, there are many now who can speak, having gained confidence and knowledge. Now they stand up, make reports, tell stories. This makes me happy. Many more are interested to study at the ASLT. Even those who have graduated want to come back. They have become encouraged by what they have learned here.”

Dr. Grace Nono, Founder of the Tao Foundation for Culture and Arts that hosts and supports the ASLT said: “The Agusan del Sur – School of Living Traditions has been a resounding success, thanks to the resolve of Agusan del Sur’s Cultural Masters to transmit their Indigenous Knowledge, Systems, and Practices to the new generations, coupled by the committed support of the National Commission for Culture and Arts and its partners, and the competent leadership of Dr. Rhodora Toyong and Bae Luciana Rico with the assistance of Kiken Toyong, Saddam Jamboy, and JP Camino. This collaborative effort has been so important, considering the minimal support for culture and the arts that Agusan del Sur has received compared to other provinces and regions. But there are many more Cultural Masters and students to benefit from the ASLT to ensure that we help build a whole new generation of empowered Agusan-Manobo and Agusanon who will be the next line of Cultural Masters to lead their communities in transmitting centuries-old living traditions to the next generations. We invite the National Commission for Culture and Arts and its partners as well as other institutions to continue their important support to help us carry forth the ASLT into the future.”


Suyam (Agusan-Manobo embroidery) lessons with Cultural Master Bae Suyam Emeluz Espana (topmost center) and ASLT Administrator Dr. Rhodora Toyong (topmost right)
Agusan-Manobo cuisine lessons with Cultural Masters led by Datu Makalipay Eric Rico
Cultural Master for herbal medicines Rodel Dongiapon (center) demonstrating to the students the process of making of dulaw (turmeric) tea
Batch 1 graduates with each student wearing his/her sinuyaman (embroidered) garment
Bae Lucy Rico introducing the Cultural Masters and courses offered for Year 2
The ASLT Staff orienting students on the house rules of Balay Agusan

For more information,
please email us at
taofoundationforcultureandarts@gmail.com



Tao Foundation for Culture and Arts, 2019. All rights reserved.