Community Treasures
OKKIL ART as Cultural Asset
On February 25-26, 2006, the Camiguin Polytechnic State College AB-Tourism and BS Education students together with the Enigmata Creative Circle Inc. in cooperation with the Department of Education and Department of Science and Technology with the support of Metropolitan Museum and National Commission for Culture and the Arts organized a consultative forum about the rich cultural heritage of the province called “Kapihan sa Karaang Balay Okkil”.
The consultative forum was just an in initial assessment to identify this important cultural heritage of the island and will give an attention to the people in conservation of this culture. The objectives of the forum was the following; first, to increase participant awareness of this cultural heritage, second is to explore opportunities for conservation programs and lastly, to encourage stockholders to participate in promotion and preservation of the cultural heritages.
The guests were the CPSC’s college president, Pres. Venus Lammawin, and the Governor of the province, Hon. Pedro P. Romualdo. Pres. Venus Lammawin sited the college’s vision, which is to build an eco-tourism program as a center for excellence. And also in the other hand, Hon. Governor also gave his words; he tackled about the brief history of the province of Camiguin through the change of time. He emphasizes the importance of preserving cultural heritages and maintaining peace and order of the province. The provincial government of Camiguin continues to give efforts in preserving the ancestral remains. The local government has issued an Executive Order declaring all the ancestral houses in the province a historical landmark; it will be the factor in boosting our tourism industry.
One of the participants of the forum was the head of the Department of Science Technology Ms. Miriam dela Plaza. She introduces the participants of the activity. She stated that their department also supports efforts such as cultural heritage preservation and conservation. DOST have role in extending technological support to such undertakings, including purity of research.
Next guest speaker was Mr. Mozart Pastrano; he gave Culture and Development preservation’s definition. Culture is a people’s way of life – their communal values, beliefs, tradition and practices including how they deal with their environment. The concept of culture-based development is in existing local cultures and rich cultural heritage, it is important that any development initiative in the area should consider the local people and their cultural and historical heritage. This is with respect to the past and existing identity of the people.
Okkil Art expert Prof. Al-Nezzar Ali said that, okkil means to carve; it is also means carving of any design of woodwork. Mostly found in Moro houses, it was adopted by the Filipinos dating back to pre-Hispanic times. In the beginning, okkil art was associated with the nobility especially during the Majapahit and Srivijayan empires. Originally used in grave makers, the art was also place in a boat, especially the serpent motif. Later adapted on the houses believed also to drive away evil spirits and used as house ventilation.
After the lunch break Mr. Librado Abesamis shared his commentary and gave a brief history of the island and after was Mr. Edwin Boborol the Municipal Planning Development Coordinator of Mambajao also gave his commentary about the forum.
The principle of conservation is that “It is better to preserve than to restore, to restore than to reconstruct, to reconstruct than to do nothing at all”. This principle means that in conserving cultural heritages, it must be a minimum intervention will be required. Remodeling is nit a part of conservation. Arch. German Torero discussed about the cultural heritages conservation, he also featured the rich cultural heritage of his province which is Bohol. They have restored old churches, towers, stone bridges and houses. In the restoration process, documentation must be included. Drafting gave emphasis on measures, proportions and pictures as well.
Atty. Trixie Angeles discussed on the legal mandates for the culture and the arts. She said that heritage means legacy. Heritage is part of our collective memory, and it makes us not forget. Heritage precedes creation of national identity. National identity is the idea that we are in one nation. Having one goal and one direction. Heritage plays a role to national identity-it is evidence that we’ve been there and we could don it again. Heritage is keeping the faith. For instance the “the balanghay”in the 9th – 12th century is the proof that we are crossing the pacific long before the Vikings were crossing the Atlantic.
Heritage should be a part of our everyday lives, so we should not destroy it. To protect it, the Philippine Constitution recognizes historical treasures and they may be restricted in the use and disposition. The state can police historical landmarks, for example, protection of heritage for general welfare.
In organizing ancestral and okkil art house owners in Camiguin. There must be an existing cooperatives or any kind of association, it will be good to start with. The criteria for eligibility for a collaborative conservation would simple be how significant the houses are to the community, aesthetics would have its own merit as well.
In case of destruction or defacing of cultural landmarks, the first step in the legal procedure to apprehend is to get a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO), or report to the Environment Management Bureau (EMB) of the DENR for an administrative suit. Under the Cultural Treasurers Act. With a fine of PHP 10,000 while under the Philippine Environment Law, the fine is Php 50,000 per day. The NCCA provides technical assistance to heritage conservation efforts through various funding windows and services from lawyers, engineers, and more.
Mr. Cris Rollo talked on Creative Linkaging, Networking, Fund Sourcing and Sustainability. Mr. Rollo shared with the audience the education programs of the Metropolitan Museum. T hey encourages people in enhancement of traditions, rituals, and crafts in communities and how these could capitalize to improve the economy. There is also youth education wherein participants are encouraged and the youth acquire a high level of awareness on culture.
After these guest speakers from different agencies related to cultural preservation was the short presentation of the local composers. The day 2 was the Cultural Tour to selected okkil art houses in Camiguin. A visit to selected ancestral and okkil art houses in Camiguin was conducted, participated in by the students and resource persons from the forum. The houses visited were belonging to the families Corrales, Chan, Neri, Francisco, and Paderanga. Informal discussion was conducted together with the house owners, resource persons and students. The discussions ranged from history to significance of rooms and fixtures in the houses visited from the 19th-20th century Philippine society.
Consultative forum on the ancestral and okkil art houses Resource Personnel:
1.Atty. Trixie Angeles – Head speaker of NCCA.
2.Mr. Cris Rollo – Deputy Director of Metropolitan Museum of Manila, Chairman on the Committee on Visual Arts, NCCA.
3.Prof. Al-Nezzar Ali – Maguindanao Okkil expert.
4.Arch. German Torero – NCCA Executive Committee Member, Committee on Monuments and Sites, Prof. of Architecture and Fine Arts Department of University of Bohol.
5.Mr. Mozart Pastrano – Member of Dramatics Guild, Sub-committee NCCA.
(written by one of the ecotour students as part of the documentation of the activity)
On February 25-26, 2006, the Camiguin Polytechnic State College AB-Tourism and BS Education students together with the Enigmata Creative Circle Inc. in cooperation with the Department of Education and Department of Science and Technology with the support of Metropolitan Museum and National Commission for Culture and the Arts organized a consultative forum about the rich cultural heritage of the province called “Kapihan sa Karaang Balay Okkil”.
The consultative forum was just an in initial assessment to identify this important cultural heritage of the island and will give an attention to the people in conservation of this culture. The objectives of the forum was the following; first, to increase participant awareness of this cultural heritage, second is to explore opportunities for conservation programs and lastly, to encourage stockholders to participate in promotion and preservation of the cultural heritages.
The guests were the CPSC’s college president, Pres. Venus Lammawin, and the Governor of the province, Hon. Pedro P. Romualdo. Pres. Venus Lammawin sited the college’s vision, which is to build an eco-tourism program as a center for excellence. And also in the other hand, Hon. Governor also gave his words; he tackled about the brief history of the province of Camiguin through the change of time. He emphasizes the importance of preserving cultural heritages and maintaining peace and order of the province. The provincial government of Camiguin continues to give efforts in preserving the ancestral remains. The local government has issued an Executive Order declaring all the ancestral houses in the province a historical landmark; it will be the factor in boosting our tourism industry.
One of the participants of the forum was the head of the Department of Science Technology Ms. Miriam dela Plaza. She introduces the participants of the activity. She stated that their department also supports efforts such as cultural heritage preservation and conservation. DOST have role in extending technological support to such undertakings, including purity of research.
Next guest speaker was Mr. Mozart Pastrano; he gave Culture and Development preservation’s definition. Culture is a people’s way of life – their communal values, beliefs, tradition and practices including how they deal with their environment. The concept of culture-based development is in existing local cultures and rich cultural heritage, it is important that any development initiative in the area should consider the local people and their cultural and historical heritage. This is with respect to the past and existing identity of the people.
Okkil Art expert Prof. Al-Nezzar Ali said that, okkil means to carve; it is also means carving of any design of woodwork. Mostly found in Moro houses, it was adopted by the Filipinos dating back to pre-Hispanic times. In the beginning, okkil art was associated with the nobility especially during the Majapahit and Srivijayan empires. Originally used in grave makers, the art was also place in a boat, especially the serpent motif. Later adapted on the houses believed also to drive away evil spirits and used as house ventilation.
After the lunch break Mr. Librado Abesamis shared his commentary and gave a brief history of the island and after was Mr. Edwin Boborol the Municipal Planning Development Coordinator of Mambajao also gave his commentary about the forum.
The principle of conservation is that “It is better to preserve than to restore, to restore than to reconstruct, to reconstruct than to do nothing at all”. This principle means that in conserving cultural heritages, it must be a minimum intervention will be required. Remodeling is nit a part of conservation. Arch. German Torero discussed about the cultural heritages conservation, he also featured the rich cultural heritage of his province which is Bohol. They have restored old churches, towers, stone bridges and houses. In the restoration process, documentation must be included. Drafting gave emphasis on measures, proportions and pictures as well.
Atty. Trixie Angeles discussed on the legal mandates for the culture and the arts. She said that heritage means legacy. Heritage is part of our collective memory, and it makes us not forget. Heritage precedes creation of national identity. National identity is the idea that we are in one nation. Having one goal and one direction. Heritage plays a role to national identity-it is evidence that we’ve been there and we could don it again. Heritage is keeping the faith. For instance the “the balanghay”in the 9th – 12th century is the proof that we are crossing the pacific long before the Vikings were crossing the Atlantic.
Heritage should be a part of our everyday lives, so we should not destroy it. To protect it, the Philippine Constitution recognizes historical treasures and they may be restricted in the use and disposition. The state can police historical landmarks, for example, protection of heritage for general welfare.
In organizing ancestral and okkil art house owners in Camiguin. There must be an existing cooperatives or any kind of association, it will be good to start with. The criteria for eligibility for a collaborative conservation would simple be how significant the houses are to the community, aesthetics would have its own merit as well.
In case of destruction or defacing of cultural landmarks, the first step in the legal procedure to apprehend is to get a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO), or report to the Environment Management Bureau (EMB) of the DENR for an administrative suit. Under the Cultural Treasurers Act. With a fine of PHP 10,000 while under the Philippine Environment Law, the fine is Php 50,000 per day. The NCCA provides technical assistance to heritage conservation efforts through various funding windows and services from lawyers, engineers, and more.
Mr. Cris Rollo talked on Creative Linkaging, Networking, Fund Sourcing and Sustainability. Mr. Rollo shared with the audience the education programs of the Metropolitan Museum. T hey encourages people in enhancement of traditions, rituals, and crafts in communities and how these could capitalize to improve the economy. There is also youth education wherein participants are encouraged and the youth acquire a high level of awareness on culture.
After these guest speakers from different agencies related to cultural preservation was the short presentation of the local composers. The day 2 was the Cultural Tour to selected okkil art houses in Camiguin. A visit to selected ancestral and okkil art houses in Camiguin was conducted, participated in by the students and resource persons from the forum. The houses visited were belonging to the families Corrales, Chan, Neri, Francisco, and Paderanga. Informal discussion was conducted together with the house owners, resource persons and students. The discussions ranged from history to significance of rooms and fixtures in the houses visited from the 19th-20th century Philippine society.
Consultative forum on the ancestral and okkil art houses Resource Personnel:
1.Atty. Trixie Angeles – Head speaker of NCCA.
2.Mr. Cris Rollo – Deputy Director of Metropolitan Museum of Manila, Chairman on the Committee on Visual Arts, NCCA.
3.Prof. Al-Nezzar Ali – Maguindanao Okkil expert.
4.Arch. German Torero – NCCA Executive Committee Member, Committee on Monuments and Sites, Prof. of Architecture and Fine Arts Department of University of Bohol.
5.Mr. Mozart Pastrano – Member of Dramatics Guild, Sub-committee NCCA.
(written by one of the ecotour students as part of the documentation of the activity)
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