AS THE Fourth Tam-Awan International Arts Festival came to a close Sunday, the country’s summer capital once again became the hotbed of culture and the arts.
Through the years, Tam-Awan Village of the Chanum Foundation has kept alive the promotion of Cordillera’s rich tradition, which has brought tourism from all over the world to the summer capital year in and year out.
Dubbed as “Jewels of the Cordillera,” the 4th TIAF focused on heirloom jewelry, accessories, and traditional art.
The event is in tandem with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) in celebration of the National Heritage Month highlighted in May, Baguio City has been chosen as a venue to highlight traditional, culture and heritage along with Apayao, Batanes, Cebu, Dapitan, Manila and Sarangani.
TIAF 4 is aimed to encourage us, to appreciate, nurture and take action in preserving our gift of heritage and history where several Art Groups from all over the Philippines joined the five-day festival with contingents from Tabuk, Kalinga, Abra Province, Romblon, Binangonan Artists, Pampanga Arts Guild, Grupo Biag (Vigan Artists), Bacolod, Laguna, Dumaguete, Batanes, PAEA and GSIS Team, Pangasinan, University of the East Students and University of Iloilo.
South African Ambassador Agnes Nyamande-Pitso, former Foreign Affairs Secretary Della Albert, National Commission on Culture and the Arts Executive Director Emelita Almosara, and Tourism Regional Director Purificacion Molintas where all at hand to grace the opening occasion.
Tam-Awan’s legacy of promoting arts and culture in the region is one significant move by a private entity taking the lead in what the government has failed to do.
The dying culture indeed needs a quick remedy so the next generation would remember how the region boast of vast practices that keep tourists from the country and foreigners alike to keep coming back to the City which has been a melting pot of culture.