Cultural Workshop: Cordillera Native Wears and Tapestries

The “Cordillera Native Wears and Tapestries Workshop” was held at Concordia Zaal in Tongeren, Belgium on April 26, 2024. The sponsor was Stylish Cordilleralux with Amy Balbawang as proprietress. The workshop focused on how to beat the gongs and how to dance to the rhythm of the gongs. 

There were 18 participants, who came from Belgium, Luxembourg, The Netherlands and the United Kingdom.

There were three photographers from Belgium, Germany and The Netherlands 

Mark Sapaen Watan, a member of Igorot UK, was the workshop resource person. In his introduction, he said that when Igorots dance, it is to the timing of rhythm of the gongs. There are no choreographed steps. There is spacing. Beating of the gongs is a call and response. 

Mindfulness is important. Mark also said that dancing and beating the gongs are extensions of prayer. When the gongs are played, it is a send out, an invitation and a call out. Dancing is not only about performance. 

Mark chose Ballangbang as the dance that the participants would learn. This included beating the gongs and dancing. He started with clapping of hands in different rhythms and by groups. Afterwards, clapping was accompanied with  sounds. When the participants mastered the clapping of hands, they used the gongs to beat and create a rhythm. While the men were taught how to play the gongs, the ladies learned to dance. Penelope Pooten Watan led the ladies in dancing. 

The participants' evaluation were: I liked it. Playing the gong was systematic and easy to follow. I learned a lot about holding the gong. It was productive. It was my first time to play the gong. I was allowed to connect with everything. I learned more on how to play the gong. I learned the Ifugao dance. I liked all the information you gave. I enjoyed it because it was my first time. Thank you for the wonderful lessons. You made learning easy. It was very educational. It was my first time to play the gong. It was eye-opening. I learned how to play the gong; I feel comfortable now. I learn a lot each time. Your method was good -- from the basic, to the secondary and tertiary. In other words, from the simple to the complicated. Many said “Thank you.

Mark also gave his input during the evaluation. He said that even if you are experienced, you have to keep your mind open.

The participants gave a one word evaluation too: Happy (3 times),  tired, excited, confused, difficult, connected, energized, empowered, inspired, fun, encouraged, challenging, delighted. 

Averil “Wendy” Pooten-Watan ended the evaluation when she said she is more connected in how she feels.  

The participants were given a certificate for joining the workshop.

Of the 18 participants, 10 were from MABIKAs Foundation-The Netherlands including 10 year old Alexander Zymelka. There were also three small girls, who were in the group and joined in the dancing.

Susan Kilakil and Karen Palangchao of Cordi-Bel provided the dinner, which consisted of fried chicken, boiled vegetables, vegetable salad and pinikpikan.