By Cherry Joy Garma/Philippine News Agency
NUEVA ERA, Ilocos Norte — To sustain “Oggayam”, the chanting tradition of the Tingguians, students in Nueva Era National High School are taught and made to recite the tradition in their classrooms.
The teaching of the skills to the students here is part of the schools’ curriculum to help preserve the culture of its students, who are made up of about 80 percent Tingguians, a group of indigenous people (IP) in this town.
To further develop the oral skills of the students, Geralyn Nabaysa, a research adviser from the Senior High School Department, conducted a study, together with her student, which was presented during the 1st SIMP-AAG Multidisciplinary Research Festival.
“Our study aims to develop the oral skills of the Tingguian youth, as well as revitalizing their connection into their Tingguian oral tradition through simulation trainings assisted by the local chanters in the community,” Nabaysa said in an interview.
Out of more than 150 papers submitted, their research paper titled “Effectiveness of Simulation in Developing the Students’ Skills in Chanting the Oral Tradition Oggayam of the Tingguians” was recognized as Reviewers’ Choice from the 11 qualified papers.
To make the learning more engaging and genuine, the school is bringing some elder members of the Tingguian community to personally teach the students the proper skill of chanting and reciting the “Oggayam”.
“We are very lucky to have the opportunity of creating something significant for my fellow Tingguian youth, especially our own Tingguian community. The oral tradition Oggayam is obviously fading because our elders, who are competent in the oral tradition, are getting old. This endeavor would help in the preservation of our culture since the younger generations would learn the skills in chanting,” Grade 12 student Judielle Mae Inong said.
The learning of the skill continues to pass on and students are reciting the chant during the conduct of special occasions and programs in their school.
The ‘Oggayam’ is a kind of song, which is commonly sang by leaders to celebrate certain occasions.
It originally came from the colorful culture of people from Ilocos and Kalinga. Mostly, the leaders who perform this song wear their native attire and use their very own native language.
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