04/12/2025
Reposted from BCPCH Lanao del Sur Commissioner Robert Maulana Marohombsar Alonto:
This set of simple mini Panolongs - one, burnished dark and the other in typical M’ranaw colors - was produced by each of the 15 learners in the 5-day School of Living Traditions (SLT) Skills Training on Okir Carving conducted by the Bangsamoro Commission for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage-Lanao del Sur Province (BCPCH-LDS) in Tugaya, Lanao del Sur. The learners were mentored by Cultural Okir Master, Lantong Pangcoga, right in his workshop. BCPCH-LDS provided all the tools, machines and materials to the learners.
The set of ornately ‘okired’mini Panolongs crafted by each of the 15 learners was a requirement for ‘graduaation’ from the introductory skills training course .The products (seen in the pics below) are a testament to the learners’ determination to learn Okir carving while, on the other hand, they demonstrate the exemplary mentorship of the Cultural Master, Lantong Psncoga, who has been nominated by BCPCH for the Gawad Manlilikha ng Bayan Award (GAMABA) given by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) to artisans and artists.,
Parenthetically, at present no M’ranaw artisan, weaver or artist has been awarded the GAMABA, which-is ironical given the fact that it is the tangible M’ranaw cultural performing arts and traditional products that are invariably presented as the face of Philippine culture. Cultural artists and artisans from Maguindanao, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi and Basilan had been recipients of GAMABA award - and they do deserve it - yet it is our M’ranaw singkil, our M’ranaw Okir, our M’ranaw Darangen, our M’ranaw brasswares, our M’ranaw landap malong, our M’ranaw panolong architectural design, among others, that are optically displayed even in countries abroad as Philippine culture.
Hmmmm…
The ‘okired ‘ Panolong is culturally M’ranaw and this is contributory to the M’ranaw identity.
