The initiative was made possible through the Department of History's extension project, Project Pasundayag with its partners; the City Government of Iligan through its Iligan City Tourism Office, HULMA-Iligan: Iligan Creatives Collective, and the MSU-IIT Historical Society.
The event was graced by Vice Chancellor for Public Affairs, Nancy Echavez; a representative of the City Tourism Office under Hannah Padilla; and the event's resource speaker, Steven Patrick Fernandez, DFA. Likewise, in attendance were invited students from Iligan City East National High School (ICENHS), MSU-IIT Integrated Developmental School (IDS), MSU-IIT college students, and various stakeholders.
Culture or Heritage?
If you preserve culture, you die.These were the exact words of Mr. Steven Patrick C. Fernandez, the author of 'San Miguel Fiesta Rituals of Iligan City,' when asked on how we can preserve culture. According to him, culture "transforms with orders".
"What we could preserve is the heritage so we could anchor back to other generations because no culture remains stagnant, and one example of this is the Comedia," he said.
Mr. Fernandez's insight suggests that cultures are not meant to be preserved in a frozen state. Instead, they are dynamic, responsive to societal changes, and influenced by external factors. Just like living organisms, cultures adapt to new environments and circumstances, reflecting the ever-changing nature of human societies.
Fernandez also stated their plans to go to schools every week to share their resources with the young students by conducting open forums.
Educational Spaces
Notably, the Kabilin ug Kabtangan: Diyandi and Comedia de San Miguel Cultural Performance and Exhibit was launched last September 13, 2023, at the CASS New Building Lobby. Mounting an exhibit that ranges from artistic items, ensembles, and script relevant to Diyandi and Comedia de San Miguel, is the highlight of its first run.
Dr. Jamelyn Palattao, Chairperson of the Department of History, emphasized the importance of these exhibits or what she regards as "learning tools and educational spaces" and "a social laboratory" in experiential learning, especially for high school students and history majors.
"We anticipate that this will help them [students] gain a thorough understanding and appreciation of the rich history and cultural heritage of the Philippines as a whole not only in Iligan City and Mindanao," Palattao expressed.
On Continuity
Concluding the program was a transcreated performance of the Comedia de San Miguel — filmed at the University of the Philippines in 1991, which was made available for streaming.
Afterwards, the Diyandi performers, adorned in meticulously crafted attire, become living canvases, showcasing Iligan's rich history and traditions through their vivid ensemble. Their colorful clothes have intricate designs that make every twirl and step look even more beautiful.
As they take center stage, their vibrant costumes come alive, their devotion translated into passion and energy, as radiant as their attire, drawing the audience into the celebration.
With the young generation joining the dance, Diyandi lives on, ensuring that the repositories of every 'kabilin and kabtangan' are preserved, allowing us to revisit and relive Iligan's cultural beauty and significance.
In an interview with CASSayuran, Diyandi performer, Nympha Fernandez, shared that for forty years of experience, her renewal as one of the constant performers of Diyandi was anchored on her timeless devotion to Sr. San Miguel.
"Ako naa biya jod koy trabaho pero tungod kay panata gyod nako ni ba... Bahalag ma wad-an kog trabaho basta maka perform ko kay sa usa ka tuig mao raman ni nga month na ma busy bitaw ko— ihatag nako ni kang Sr. San Miguel," she declared.
Nympha further harked back to her first performance at Iligan City National High School when she was still nine years old. Influenced by her grandmother— one of the original performers of Diyandi back then— her budding experience in the realm of dance ritual now occurred to her as a generational practice that apart from extending the legacy of the people that came before them, carries on cultural significance that transcends mere festivity and underscores identity.
On the other hand, Nick Kyle Christian Sun, an ICENHS student, extended his appreciation of the initiative, especially as a HUMSS student who found the platform as "a great opportunity" to understand culture and contribute to enriching local history.
Meanwhile, Asst. Prof. Michael Ngo, leader of Project Pasundayag, reiterated the aim of their series of extension projects: "to propagate Iligan's cultural heritage to the younger generations". More so, he expressed his vision to sustain these collaborative endeavors as an annual and regular undertaking of the Department of History.
About the Author
John Vincent M. Balustre
John Vincent Balustre is a BA Sociology major hailing from Oroquieta City. He was the former Editor-in-Chief of The Capitol, Misamis Occidental National High School's English Student Publication. During his early tenure in CASSayuran as a freshman, and as of this writing, he is concurrently serving as an Associate Editor and a News Writer. For years, his field of interest in writing has revolved around politics, community engagement, and entertainment.
About the Author
Rona Marie Julaica Alison
Rona Marie Julaica I. Alison is currently taking up BA Sociology as a Sophomore Student at Mindanao State University - Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT). She joined journalism from 2014 until 2022 where she qualified for National Schools Press Conference on Online Publishing as the News Writer. She loves reading in her free time. Currently, she is a member of CASSayuran as a News Writer.
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