Project Report - La Trobe University

Appendix 5. Ateneo de Manila University website article
ACED volunteers help indigenize education in Kalinga public school
By Misael Francia
Posted on the Ateneo de Manila University on August 4, 2009
(http://www.ateneo.edu/index.php?p=120&type=2&sec=29&aid=7092)
ACED volunteer Maria Cameron initiated
a partnership with Dananao Elementary
School in Kalinga by applying the
strategies of ACED in developing public
schools, beginning with school profiling
last December 2008. Soon after the
profiling, Maria and her husband
Edwin Wise pursued the partnership by
starting a project that involved the
development and publication of
indigenized educational materials. ACED
has helped Dananao Elementary
School in the production of indigenous
instructional materials for the students
with the help of a Php 275,000.00 grant
from the Australian Government's Direct
Aid Program.
Twenty one colourfully illustrated
Ichananaw story books were produced
which re-tell some of the Ichananaw
people's legends, fables and history. The
books were written in Chinananaw (the
Ichananaw’s indigenous language),
English and Filipino. Each story was told
orally by Ichananaw old folks, translated
to English by Maria Cameron and
translated to Filipino by ACED volunteers
from the Ateneo de Manila. The books
were illustrated by Ang Ilustrador ng
Kabataan (Ang INK) artists pro bono,
members of the tribe and Maria and
Edwin.
Other materials that were produced
include the following:
Ichananaw Knowledge Bank that
consists of nine hardbound
Indigenizing Education in a Kalinga Public School | 40
volumes of secondary materials
gathered during the visit
Annaja Ukali Ta-u (Here is our
Culture) that contains some
accounts of Ichananaw beliefs,
practices and customs along with a
collection of 34 songs composed
by an Ichananaw
Ichananaw Songs and Stories
which is a compilation of over 60
Ichananaw songs and stories.
A coffee table book entitled
“Namamfaru gway imis ru-atana
na achu gway bendisyon” (A warm
smile opens the door to many
blessings) comprising different
photographs of the tribe’s current
way of life
Chinananaw-English-Ilocano-
Tagalog Dictionary comprising
almost 2,000 words and phrases
documented during the five
months visit of Maria and Edwin.
These materials were launched and
presented to the public last July 10, 2009
at the Australian Embassy during the
National Aborigines and Islanders Day
Observance Committee (NAIDOC) Week
2009. Maria and Edwin were supported
on this project by the Philippines
Australia Studies Centre of La Trobe
University, Australia and the AusAIDfunded
VIDA volunteer program.