In celebration of the National Children’s Month and the National Indigenous Month, the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Cultural Exchange Department (CED) held its 6th Kutitap: Isang Piging ng Kabataang Makasining in CCP and Batangas City.
Eighty children with their adult guides representing various cultural communities all over the country gathered for a three-day celebration of arts, culture and traditions.
Kutitap aims to instill among the Filipino children and youth a deep sense of understanding, appreciation and pride for Philippine arts, indigenous culture, as well as to promote creativity and positive social values. Kutitap conducted interactive activities including mini-workshops and showcases (in dance, drama, music, rituals, visual arts, et cetera), storytelling, crafting, traditional games, film viewing, group discussions, creative collaboration, educational-exposure tours, among other events.
Since the first gathering in 2009, Kutitap has already reached over 2,492 children from 54 local communities nationwide. In 2011, the project was redesigned for the benefit of the children in Northern Luzon (Hagonoy, Calumpit, Macabebe-Pampanga, and Jaen-Nueva Ecija) which was badly affected by typhoons Pedring and Quiel.
This year’s participants included children ages seven to 12 years from the following cultural communities: Mindanao – Pulangihon (Kitaotao, Bukidnon); Chavacano (Zamboanga); Dibabawon (Davao del Norte); Samal (Zamboanga Sibugay); Visayas – Ata (Sagay, Negros Occidental); Waray-Abaknon (Northern Samar); Bisaya (Bais, Negros Oriental); Panay-Bukidnon (Jamindan, Capiz; Luzon – Iloko (Laoag, Ilocos Norte); Olongapo; Dumagat (Quezon); Batangueño; and children from various schools and communities in theNational Capital Region (NCR). Kutitap 2015 was implemented with the support and partnership of the City of Batangas, Museo Pambata, Star City, and the DepEd Instructional Materials Council Secretariat.
PHOTOS BY KIKO CABUENA AND RAUL ASIS