Tadian, Mt. Province revives indigenous games, receives over P.2M funding

Tadian, Mountain Province – The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) provided P220, 000 in funds for the vibrant cultural immersion held at the Tadian School of Arts and Trades (TSAT) on August 23, 2025, aiming to revive indigenous games and deepen youth appreciation for their heritage.

In an interview with GURU Press Cordillera, TADSCHG Founder, Ellamae Dennen Membrere said that the fund they received from the NCCA was 100,000 pesos, while their counterpart received 120,000 pesos to pay for the accommodation, meals and transportation of participants.

“It actually took a year for our program to be funded. We were given 100,000 pesos while the counterpart was 120,000 to provide for the needs, accommodations, meals and transportation,” Membrere shared.

With the theme “Sayangdan and Indigenous Sports Gala: Revitalizing Heritage Games,” the Tadian Sayangdan Cultural Heritage Guild (TADSCHG) held said cultural immersion gathering children and young adults to compete in traditional games.

Among the games played during the cultural immersion included “kalumato” race, “kadang-kadang”, “salamangka”, “bawwet”, “palsoot”, “tiyakad”, arm and leg wrestling, “pakpakaok”, “galgal-o”, “gakgaki”, and “baka-baka.”

The founder recounted that the organization was established way back during the peak of the pandemic in 2021. Membrere, seeing the effects of the pandemic, created activities that would help preserve the culture and pass on the legacy to the youth, at the same time involving them in a healthier and more active lifestyle.

Membrebe added that there were more than 40 young people from elementary and high school who joined. There were also 15 were adults who participated.

“There were two groups who joined - one group was the performers and participants during the games-, and the other group was the one who made the materials. We also urged the group to join the participants so that they can see if the materials made were working,” Membrere added.

Membrere explained that the events offered more than just fun and games but also a deeper connection to one’s heritage, emphasizing that the ancestors played those games before to boost their physical health, promote sportsmanship, and strengthen their camaraderie.

Amid growing concerns that traditional games are being forgotten by the youth, Membrere conveyed that we should not forget our cultural identity and should pass on the legacy that we have to future generations.