Sungduan: Pistahan

MEMBERS of Bibak of Northern California continue to play an active role in promoting and preserving the unique Igorot culture in California, USA.

A recent activity was their big participation in the Pistahan 25th Anniversary in San Francisco, California where they showcased the indigenous music and dance during the parade at San Francisco Bay Area and performance at the Yerba Buena stage.

Their presentation includes the Bontoc War dance, Kalinga tadok, Mountain Province Takik, Ifugao dance, and Benguet Bendian dance.

The event participated by at least 80,000 people, featured the rich history and heritage between Filipino Americans in San Francisco and the entire America.

Former Baguio resident John Dyte who now lives in Rancho Cordova, California said the participation of Bibak of Northern California in Pistahan 2018: Filipino Cultural Parade & Festival asserts and promotes diversity in Philippine culture as well as diversity in California and in the United States.

“Through its participation in the Pistahan activities, BIBAK of Northern California celebrates the Igorot culture and the intermingling of diverse cultures in a multicultural society such as this one in the Bay Area,” he said.

He added that in no other part of the world does the Igorot have the most in common with its neighboring residents than in California. It was during the American occupation of the Philippines that the various Igorot tribes were classified as native tribes along with the native Americans under the department of the interior.

He said that this is well documented in the archives of the University of California-Berkeley.

Also proud to be part of the annual event is another former Baguio resident Judy Dulay of San Jose, California and Leonard Oakes from Tabuk, Kalinga and Apayao but now resides in San Francisco.

Pistahan showcases the numerous indigenous peoples from around the world in various festivals.

Victoria Tauli-Corpuz from Besao, Mountain Province is one of those who led the effort for more than 25 years for the nations of the world including the United States through the United Nations to recognize the collective rights of Indigenous people.

Dyte said that this was an offshoot of the historical event in 2007 when the UN announced the Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. In 2009, the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand recognized the declaration.

“For the festival, it is the collective indigenous right to culture. It is the beacon for one nation, many people, many languages, many cultures,” he added.

As long as there are groups like the BIBAK of Northern California taking the cudgel of promoting and revitalizing our own unique culture and tradition, this will continue to live on for the future generations.

For comments and suggestions email alahsungduan@gmail.com

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