LGUs attend culture preservation-anchored seminar-workshop

Lingayen --- The third edition of Balitok A Tawir, the official culture and arts festival of Pangasinan, will serve as the venue for competition of Local Government Units (LGUs) that will highlight the province’s socio-cultural heritage.

This scene developed after the provincial government led by Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. convened about 130 participants from LGUs in the province in a Balitok A Tawir seminar-workshop held at the Sison Auditorium on November 15, here.

Balitok A Tawir highlights the ingenuity of Pangasinenses in three local socio-cultural heritage -- folk dancing, choral singing and the zarzuela.

            Held in preparation for the grand finals of Balitok a Tawir on December 10, lecture-workshops were given by resource speakers Nathaniel Daroy (Zarzuela play), Giovanni Sindayen (Choral singing) and Louie Ocampo and Childe Libertad (Folk Dancing). The basics as well as intermediate skills in performing the three categories of the competition were fed to the participants.

            The activity sought to firm up the cultural preservation advocacy of Governor Espino through the reawakening of sensitivities of Pangasinenses -- with the involvement of the LGUs -- in giving honor, respect and love to the unique cultural heritage of the province, Special Events Chief Marife Acerit said.

Participating LGUs include: San Manuel, Bugallon, Mangaldan, Umingan, Basista, Bani, Alaminos, Agno, Bautista, Sto. Tomas, San Nicolas, Bayambang, Alcala, Burgos, Binmaley, Mabini, Asingan, Laoac, Sta. Barbara, Malasiqui and Dasol.

Meanwhile, Insyong Tamayo, consultant on culture-related affairs, said the primary objective of the activity is to share among the participants the technical know-how in performing zarzuela, choral singing and folk dancing.

            Citing that Governor Espino is determined to reinvigorate the unique culture of Pangasinenses, Tamayo said the participants are now partners of the provincial government in working out the cultural advocacies of the province.

“‘Kailangang bigyan ng sapat na atensyon ang paglinang, pagpapanumbalik at pag-gising sa damdamin ng mga Pangasinense na pahalagahan ang ating kultura, wika at mga sayaw -- ang mga ito na mabibigay ng dangal sa ating probinsya,” Tamayo disclosed.

The continuing commitment of the present administration under the leadership of Gov. Espino to reawaken cultural sensitivities of Pangasinenses was bolstered as evidenced by the three “Pearl Awards” in tourism and cultural preservation received by the province this year.

The set of awards: Best Tourism Events in the arts and culture category provincial level (Balitok a Tawir) 1^st runner up and (Agew na Pangasinan) 2^nd runner-up; and 2^nd runner-up in Best Tourism Practices (Provincial Tourism Month Celebration). (PIO/Mark Gerry Naval Oblanca)