BAGUIO CITY – More than 100media practitioners from the traditional and social media from all over Luzon and educators from Baguio and Benguet gained deeper understanding of culture and the indigenous people in a cultural sensitivity training workshop.
Cordillera News Agency in tandem with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and in partnership with the Philippine Information Agency – Cordillera and the Philippine Press Institute conducted the First Luzon Cultural Sensitivity Training on Covering Indigenous Peoples and Culture for Journalists, Social Media Bloggers and Educators last July 3-4 here.
CNA Vice President Domci Cimatu said the two-day seminar workshop was aimed to put into proper perspective how indigenous groups should be reported on, the manner of reporting and teaching which highlights the role of arts, culture and heritage in the entire island cluster of Luzon.
It was also intended to orient media practitioners (print and broadcast), social bloggers and educators on the importance of being culturally sensitive to the needs of IPs in the Philippines.
CNA Executive Director Sonia Daoas said the CNA plans to craft the first manual for coverage, producing a refined list of cultural protocols and “Do’s & Don’ts” in covering and writing about IPs for print and broadcast media, social media and for educators.
She said educators are included in this project since they have the power to influence and impart knowledge to their students on the indigenous people and culture, which should start inside the classrooms.
Seven indigenous peoples groups covering the entire Luzon -the Bago tribe of Ilocos in Region I, the Ibanag of Cagayan Valley in Region 2, the Aeta of Mt. Pinatubo area in Region 3, the Ilongot of the Aurora Province in Region 3, the Mangyan of Mindoro in Region 4b, the Tagbanua of Palawan in Region 4B as well as the group in the Cordillera Administrative Region- were immersed for this project.
PPI Executive Director Ariel Sebelino called on his fellow journalists to be responsible by being respectful and being cultural sensitive in reporting. PIA Regional Director Helen Tibaldo also urged media practitioners particularly from the government sector and those in the provinces to take the lead in making sure that they are culturally sensitive with their reports since they are more knowledgeable of their own cultural communities.
The seminar workshop was made more meaningful with the opening and closing rituals conducted by the Philippine Art Educators Association highlighting the rituals from the cultural communities of the T’boli, Yakan and Matigsalog. /JDP/RMC & UP Baguio Interns