EIGHTY-FOUR enhanced School of Living Tradition (SLT) learners of three art forms completed their five-year program during their graduation at Benguet Capitol Ben Palispis Hall.
On April 26, Friday, a mixture of the young and adult composed of 31 learners in kayabang (Benguet basket) making, 27 in tapey (rice wine) making and 26 in loom weaving were awarded during the culmination activities for finishing the second year of enhanced SLT in Benguet province.
The Enhanced SLT is a five-year program with three components of SLT training proper and transfer of knowledge along with the preservation of the skills and traditions of the community in the first three years, promotion and product development training in the fourth year and SLT product marketing on the fifth year.
Benguet Tourism Officer Elizar Carias said SLT, which started in 1995, is a community-managed centers of learning where cultural masters transfer their knowledge and skills on particular art, craft and tradition to the young members of the community for their appreciation and learning.
The province successfully implemented the first year on September 8, 2018 where they crafted the five-year enhanced SLT Master Plan.
During the first year, 109 graduates of the three art forms were recognized for the Kankana-ey Performing Arts, the Ibaloy Performing Arts and Patda Embroidery.
Renee Talavera, head of Cultural Communities and Traditional Arts section of National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), asked the cultural masters and graduates to continue sharing the knowledge to the community.
"All graduates in these art forms, you have the responsibility to spread the knowledge and for more (people) to appreciate this learning," Talavera said.
She also lauded the graduates for finishing the second year of the project and the cultural masters for continuing the challenge in channeling the knowledge to others.
NCCA continues to partner with National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, Coop Authority, Tesda and the Department of Trade and Industry to market, promote living traditions in the other parts of the country, she added.
