ARTS FESTIVAL DAY 1 : Tam-Awan partial photo-documentation 17th May 2017
I was born and raised in Baguio City and my intrinsic mental mapper voice got me to the venue early in the morning. This gave me the opportunity whilst at the arts festival site to do a photo documentation of the place. Ahead of time is an autonomic habit that I've developed whilst working for around 10 years with the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry following US Eastern Standard Time. I was able to take uncluttered images of locations (e.g., landscapes, venues, etc.,) without tourists/people in plain view.
I started with the Bululs which is top of my predisposed choices. The indigenous cultures of the Cordillera Administrative Region are highly predisposed to the belief in animism. Women who touch any of the fertility wooden/stone idols at the site increases the chances of having an increased conception.
Above are just two of unique fertility bululs watching my move. In my case, it's more of protection. My grandparents and parents highly believe in animism even in the present era of science and technology. I've experienced and seen my late grandfather with his bare hands only using greasy coconut oil, hot grilled "toasted and burnt" unpeeled aromatic ginger then bandaged the sprained arms, hands, leg, which were sort of meta-physically healed.
Tam-awan (in local dialect simply means a vantage point). It's a hill where one can enjoy dramatic sunset views at Tam-awan. Tam-awan Village is located in Pinsao Proper, Baguio City, Cordillera Administrative Region, Philippines.
The Tam-awan village dubbed as "Garden in the Sky" is a tourist destination area with strategically laid out cluster of Cordillera indigenous huts which facilitates the confluence of city visitors/tourists who are unable to visit the other Cordillera Administrative Regions (specifically Mountain Province and Ifugao and the rest) and to have them experience these indigenous-rich cultural places in Baguio City. To immerse oneself in the village cluster saves time, effort, resources especially to a short stay tourists and maximize acculturation.

Chanum Foundation Inc., who manages the daily operations of Tam-awan transported from Bangaan, Ifugao - three (03) units of knocked down indigenous huts. (click this link and see in my blog post travels images of Bangaan Rice Terraces). By the way, you may refer to the schematic architectural rendition of an Ifugao indigenous hut displayed above.
Locally organic plant-based materials were used which are composed of grass cogon to build the roof of the huts. In addition, various Tam-awan artisans disassembled the huts as the strictly followed the traditional Cordillera indigenous Village architecture/design.At present, Tam-awan village has seven Ifugao huts and two Kalinga houses which are open for occupancy to backpackers/tourists.

Though deceptively simple, an Ifugao house is compact in its bearing and carries with it a touch of community home-grown sophistication which is a result of expert mortise makers ingenuity (without the use of modern age household nails or hardware materials.)
The four sturdy hand-hewn pillars as shown in the image above are made of hardwood all of which are shoulder height which holds a strong and mighty Ifugao hut. In addition, the circular "halpans" of the hardwood pillars prevent rodents, snakes, etc., from entering the main living space of the Ifugao hut.
Overall, this Cordilleran Ifugao hut requires a periodic schedule in terms of its roof upkeep and once fully set up, the hut/house lasts several generations.
A Kalinga house is more spacious and is made with the same hand-hewn pine needles. The binayon is a traditional octagonal house of Southern Kalinga Province and Tam-awan Village with pure pride present hosts one the three remaining of houses in the Philippines/world today.
The huts in Tam-awan Village are named after the areas where they come from. From Ifugao, we have the Bangaan Hut, Anaba Hut, Batad Hut, Dukligan Hut, Kinakin Hut, and Nagor Hut. Tam-awan Village Kalinga huts are from Luccong and Bugnay except that for Bugnay Hut, which serves as one of the village’s galleries, lodgers are accepted the aforementioned huts.
Keeping up with the times as the image above is one of Tam-awan artist galleries which was timely to photo-shoot due to the absence of human presence which can be accomplished by being early at the set (usually set a business appointment).
ARTS FESTIVAL DAY 1 : Solar Painting Photo-documentation
My photography friend named Gio and I immediately registered. For my blog, I removed the word MEDIA printed on the I.D. since, in my personal opinion, labels just bring an ephemeral placebo effect to the wearer. The heart of the matter is to photo-document properly the different festival activities.
Pyrography workshop participants after registration wait for the program to start.
The guy in red with the cowboy hat is Jordan Mang-Osan, a Philippine based Tam-awan Village pioneer artist who harnesses the power of the sun to create amazing pyrography masterpieces. The image above shows Jordan asking youth workshop participants who would like to be first to create his/her first solar painting.
A female youth participant volunteered as Jordan instructs her what to do.
Another male youth workshop participant followed suit. Jordan is turning them into the next generation of pyrography enthusiasts.
Jordan Mang-Osan guiding again one of the workshop participants do pyrography.
The rest of the youth workshop participants enjoying their hands-on solar painting session.
Here the youngest would be pyrographer draws her layout/ design.
Upon entering Tam-awan Village this is the ticketing booth.
Just follow the sign which will lead to Dap-ay, Luccong, Sketching Cafe, Bugnay Gallery, Craft Shop, Village Gallery, and Restrooms.
This was last year's festival mural wall by Dagupan-based artists.
I will be featuring more of Tam-awan as the festival moves on until May 21, 2017.
8th Tam-awan International Arts Festival
Baguio City
Cordillera Administrative Region
Philippines
Theme: ""Keeping the Stones Rolling: Cordilleran architecture, landscape, construction techniques, and materials"
May 17 to 21, 2017
Baguio City
Cordillera Administrative Region
Philippines
For inquiries: Call +6309175108196
Chanum foundation, Inc.,
Tam-awan Village 366-C Pinsao Proper, Baguio City 2600, Philippines
Tel +63744462949
Telefax +63744425553
email: [email protected]
URL: www.tam-awanvillage.com
(This is not a paid endorsement.)
Post Comment
Post a Comment