Lemuhen articles by Jose Ricardo Bondoc, San Francisco Bay Area - Chief Editor at SFNewsfeed.us. Click each topic for details.
1. Lemuhen Cultural Dance Troupe Set to Dazzle World with Dance
KIAMBA, PHILIPPINES (7/30)- In the village of Kiamba, a small dance company is aiming to make a major impression on the world through song and dance. According to Lyn Lambago,"Lemuhen Cultural Dance Troupe was organized in 2007 by Lyn Lambago. Lyn was originally from Santa Cruz
Mission, Lake Sebu, South Cotabato. She is married to Wilson Mapangal Lambago of Barangay Badtasan, Kiamba, Sarangani Province and calls this place as her new home. After two years of staying in Badtasan, Lyn observed that the Tboli culture in their community is slowly diminishing and that the younger generations tend to shy away from their culture. Racial discrimination and
common stereotypes also played significant roles in changing their lifestyle. This scenario challenged Lyn that something needs to change and it must start from the local Tboli people to educate the younger generation about their own culture, appreciate their own identity and share unto others the beauty of the Tboli culture..."
According to Lambago,"Forming a unique Tboli cultural performing arts group coming from the town of Kiamba, Sarangani Province was also inspired by former Mayor Rommel. Lyn was later introduced to Mr. Allan de Lima that also extended support and technical assistance. The group started with only five (5) members. Each year the membership increases and now we have a total of 16 members composed of young performers as well as musicians from ages 10 to 14...."
With regards to the dances performed by the troupe,"The dance we do is more on traditional Tboli lifestyle presented with a story line (example: courtship, family life, tribal celebration, thanksgiving) using indigenous materials and musical instruments...." This reporter had a few minutes with Lyn Lombango to discuss the group.
JRB: What do you hope
people about T'boli culture after watching a performance?
LL: First, we hope that our fellow Tboli folks especially the younger generation that tends to shy away from their tribal identity will appreciate more our own culture. Second, we would love to share our Tboli culture to non-tribal people so that they too will understand us the more, respect us and hopefully eradicate discrimination as well as stereotypes against us. We wanted to do a presentation not just for entertainment but most of all for educational awareness.
JRB: What do you see for the future of the group?
LL: We are dreamers and have big aspiration as a group. The young members of the group will be the
future cultural teachers of our desired Tboli Cultural Training Center. We wanted our culture flourish and nurtured so that we will not become a diminishing tribe. We believe that nothing is impossible with our faith in God and that we can also share our Tboli culture not just in the Philippines but even abroad where we can get invited.
JRB: Finally, what message would you liketo send out to possible viewers?
LL: We are of the Tboli tribe in Sarangani Province, Philippines and we are proud of our cultural heritage. We wanted to preserve our culture through performing arts presentation showcasing our innate artistry, our musical talents and our integrity as a cultural dance troupe. You can help us achieve our dream of sharing our culture beyond the shores of the Philippines.
- Jose Ricardo G. Bondoc
2. We Are Dreamers
KIAMBA, PHILIPPINES (8/12)- Lemuhen Cultural Dance Troupe was organized in 2007 by Lyn Lambago. Lyn was originally from Santa Cruz Mission, Lake Sebu, South Cotabato. She is married to Wilson Mapangal Lambago of Barangay Badtasan, Kiamba, Sarangani Province, Philippines
and calls this place as her new home. After two years of staying in Badtasan, Lyn observed that the Tboli culture in their community is slowly diminishing and that the younger generations tend to shy away from their culture. Racial discrimination and common stereotypes also played significant roles in changing their lifestyle. This scenario challenged Lyn that something needs to change and it must start from the local Tboli people to educate the younger generation about their own culture, appreciate their own identity and share unto others the beauty of the Tboli culture.
Forming a unique Tboli cultural performing arts group coming from the town of Kiamba, Sarangani Province was inspired by former Mayor Rommel Falgui. Lyn was later introduced to Mr. Allan de Lima that also extended support and technical assistance. The group started with only five (5) members. Each year the membership increases and now we have a total of 16 members composed of young performers as well as musicians from ages 10 to 14.
According to Lyn Lambago,"Our current training center looks like a small nipa hut made up of light materials. The space is donated by the Lambago family and the nipa hut was constructed thru Bayanihan by community members. The space inside is actually not enough to accommodate all group members. This nipa hut serves as the gathering place for the Lemuhen members where we do most of our performance rehearsals especially when not raining. The roof is now dilapidated and needs replacement."
Having a nice Tboli house designed culturual training center in the future will help us achieve the following objectives:
1. to have a decent place to accommodate all Lemuhen Culltural Dance Troupe members
2. to have a permanent storage for our musical instruments, costumes and other cultural properties
3. to serve as our training center for the skills transfer of traditional Tboli performing arts thru dance, drama, songs and even folklores
4. to preserve cultural documentation of the Tboli tribe in Sarangani Province.
When asked what is the community center currently working on? Lyn Lambago stated,"The current community center is serving as our meeting place as of the moment but when it rains, we do our rehearsals in a nearby church..."
When asked,"What does the community center need in order to succed?", Lyn Lambago responded,"You can help us achieve our objectives. To make this future Tboli Cultural Training Center a reality, we need partners to help us in the following areas:
1. Donation (financial or in-kind) for construction materials of our Tboli designed cultural training center
2. Volunteer your time to help us construct the building along with our community members
3. Tboli performing arts experts to provide technical assistance in trainings for cultural empowerment of the members
4. Technical support from the National Commission for the Culture and the Arts (NCCA),
National Commission for the Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), Indigenous Peoples Development Program (IPDP) Sarangani, and other cultural support agencies for any form of grant(s) to sustain the training needs as well as participation and exposure to other cultural performances in the Philippines or even abroad when given the opportunity.
- Jose Ricardo G. Bondoc
1. Lemuhen Cultural Dance Troupe Set to Dazzle World with Dance
KIAMBA, PHILIPPINES (7/30)- In the village of Kiamba, a small dance company is aiming to make a major impression on the world through song and dance. According to Lyn Lambago,"Lemuhen Cultural Dance Troupe was organized in 2007 by Lyn Lambago. Lyn was originally from Santa Cruz
Mission, Lake Sebu, South Cotabato. She is married to Wilson Mapangal Lambago of Barangay Badtasan, Kiamba, Sarangani Province and calls this place as her new home. After two years of staying in Badtasan, Lyn observed that the Tboli culture in their community is slowly diminishing and that the younger generations tend to shy away from their culture. Racial discrimination and
common stereotypes also played significant roles in changing their lifestyle. This scenario challenged Lyn that something needs to change and it must start from the local Tboli people to educate the younger generation about their own culture, appreciate their own identity and share unto others the beauty of the Tboli culture..."
According to Lambago,"Forming a unique Tboli cultural performing arts group coming from the town of Kiamba, Sarangani Province was also inspired by former Mayor Rommel. Lyn was later introduced to Mr. Allan de Lima that also extended support and technical assistance. The group started with only five (5) members. Each year the membership increases and now we have a total of 16 members composed of young performers as well as musicians from ages 10 to 14...."
With regards to the dances performed by the troupe,"The dance we do is more on traditional Tboli lifestyle presented with a story line (example: courtship, family life, tribal celebration, thanksgiving) using indigenous materials and musical instruments...." This reporter had a few minutes with Lyn Lombango to discuss the group.
JRB: What do you hope
people about T'boli culture after watching a performance?
LL: First, we hope that our fellow Tboli folks especially the younger generation that tends to shy away from their tribal identity will appreciate more our own culture. Second, we would love to share our Tboli culture to non-tribal people so that they too will understand us the more, respect us and hopefully eradicate discrimination as well as stereotypes against us. We wanted to do a presentation not just for entertainment but most of all for educational awareness.
JRB: What do you see for the future of the group?
LL: We are dreamers and have big aspiration as a group. The young members of the group will be the
future cultural teachers of our desired Tboli Cultural Training Center. We wanted our culture flourish and nurtured so that we will not become a diminishing tribe. We believe that nothing is impossible with our faith in God and that we can also share our Tboli culture not just in the Philippines but even abroad where we can get invited.
JRB: Finally, what message would you liketo send out to possible viewers?
LL: We are of the Tboli tribe in Sarangani Province, Philippines and we are proud of our cultural heritage. We wanted to preserve our culture through performing arts presentation showcasing our innate artistry, our musical talents and our integrity as a cultural dance troupe. You can help us achieve our dream of sharing our culture beyond the shores of the Philippines.
- Jose Ricardo G. Bondoc
2. We Are Dreamers
KIAMBA, PHILIPPINES (8/12)- Lemuhen Cultural Dance Troupe was organized in 2007 by Lyn Lambago. Lyn was originally from Santa Cruz Mission, Lake Sebu, South Cotabato. She is married to Wilson Mapangal Lambago of Barangay Badtasan, Kiamba, Sarangani Province, Philippines
and calls this place as her new home. After two years of staying in Badtasan, Lyn observed that the Tboli culture in their community is slowly diminishing and that the younger generations tend to shy away from their culture. Racial discrimination and common stereotypes also played significant roles in changing their lifestyle. This scenario challenged Lyn that something needs to change and it must start from the local Tboli people to educate the younger generation about their own culture, appreciate their own identity and share unto others the beauty of the Tboli culture.
Forming a unique Tboli cultural performing arts group coming from the town of Kiamba, Sarangani Province was inspired by former Mayor Rommel Falgui. Lyn was later introduced to Mr. Allan de Lima that also extended support and technical assistance. The group started with only five (5) members. Each year the membership increases and now we have a total of 16 members composed of young performers as well as musicians from ages 10 to 14.
According to Lyn Lambago,"Our current training center looks like a small nipa hut made up of light materials. The space is donated by the Lambago family and the nipa hut was constructed thru Bayanihan by community members. The space inside is actually not enough to accommodate all group members. This nipa hut serves as the gathering place for the Lemuhen members where we do most of our performance rehearsals especially when not raining. The roof is now dilapidated and needs replacement."
Having a nice Tboli house designed culturual training center in the future will help us achieve the following objectives:
1. to have a decent place to accommodate all Lemuhen Culltural Dance Troupe members
2. to have a permanent storage for our musical instruments, costumes and other cultural properties
3. to serve as our training center for the skills transfer of traditional Tboli performing arts thru dance, drama, songs and even folklores
4. to preserve cultural documentation of the Tboli tribe in Sarangani Province.
When asked what is the community center currently working on? Lyn Lambago stated,"The current community center is serving as our meeting place as of the moment but when it rains, we do our rehearsals in a nearby church..."
When asked,"What does the community center need in order to succed?", Lyn Lambago responded,"You can help us achieve our objectives. To make this future Tboli Cultural Training Center a reality, we need partners to help us in the following areas:
1. Donation (financial or in-kind) for construction materials of our Tboli designed cultural training center
2. Volunteer your time to help us construct the building along with our community members
3. Tboli performing arts experts to provide technical assistance in trainings for cultural empowerment of the members
4. Technical support from the National Commission for the Culture and the Arts (NCCA),
National Commission for the Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), Indigenous Peoples Development Program (IPDP) Sarangani, and other cultural support agencies for any form of grant(s) to sustain the training needs as well as participation and exposure to other cultural performances in the Philippines or even abroad when given the opportunity.
- Jose Ricardo G. Bondoc