ROXAS CITY – The Dungog Indigenous Peoples (IP) Festival slated in Capiz October 2-6 this year will showcase at least 15 IP’s traditional houses the replicas of which are now under construction inside the Villareal Stadium here.

The festival, dubbed “Dungog,” will gather 110 ethno-linguistic groups nationwide to celebrate the richness and diversity of customs and traditions of cultural communities as well as foster deeper cultural understanding on the role of IP/cultural communities in eco-tourism and cultural education.
"Dungog" is a Hiligaynon term for dignity.

The vernacular architecture will include indigenous structures in highland forest, mid-land IP settlements and coastal areas.

"In each house, there will be interactive demonstrations which will give guests the chance to see IP’s way of life in their homes and to ask relevant questions in order to better understand and cultivate deeper appreciation of the different aspects of living as experienced by the IP’s in the past and in the present," said a festival briefer.

An adjacent venue will showcase indigenous food, crafts and traditional healing rituals during the five-day duration of the festival.

The festival will kick off with an opening rites that include solidarity parade, a program and ritual and introduction of guests and participants to the IP traditional houses.

A series of fora on eco-cultural tourism and heritage preservation, cultural education and livelihood, and cultural diversity will handled by resource speakers from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), national government agencies and local government units.

The celebration will also present cultural performances that will demonstrate diverse indigenous expressions through songs, chants, movements, dances and storytelling performances by IP representatives nationwide.

An exhibition of traditional games, cooking demonstration on traditional cuisines, interactive workshops on crafts/performing arts, showcase of Visayan performing arts, and a Solidarity Night, are added attraction of the festival.

The festival will include with artistic performances, rituals and a symbolic turnover rite that will announce the host of the IP Festival for 2010. (DUNGOG: Publicity & Promotions Committee)