By Corazon J. Villena
Alejo M. Pacalso Memorial National High School (AMPMNHS)
Pursuant to DepEd Order No. 32 series 2015, the Alejo M. Pacalso Memorial National High School (AMPMNHS) through the principal partnered with Non-Government Organizations (NGO) to facilitate the publication of a reference book on the indigenous knowledge, skills and practices (IKSP) in the Cordillera.
DO 32 entitled “Adopting the Indigenous Peoples Education Curriculum Framework” aims to enhance basic education through contextualization of IKSP.
The activity is in collaboration with the project “Keeping Alive the Wisdom of the Cordillera Indigenous Peoples” of the Philippine Task Force for Indigenous Peoples’ Rights (TFIP) and Partners for Indigenous Knowledge Philippines (PIKP) with support from VOICE.
With this, Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the school principal Pablo A. Khayog Jr. and Jill Cariño, TFIP Executive Director.
The book will contain short stories reflecting the IKSP of the different ICCs where the learners belong.
It was conceptualized to respond to the need for documented and printed materials for contextualization and localization of teachers in the school.
The MOU includes the printing of 200 books for the school, training of teachers and students on research and documentation, validation of written stories with the community elders and book launching on February 2019.
Preliminary training of teachers on Research and Documentation was conducted by the project team last April 25-27, 2018 at the AMPMNHS School Library.
Discussed during the workshop are “The wisdom of the Cordillera IPs,” research techniques, best practices on IK research, story writing and photo documentation; speakers are Judy Carino, Maria Elena Regpala from PIKP, LA Piluden, Saint Mary’s School of Sagada, Luchie Maranan,Baguio Writers Guild and Anna Karla Himmiwat respectively.
It was participated by the Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative (IPMR) of Itogon, Hon Romeo Pocding, Tuding IPMR-Kagawad Ricardo Alcido, Mr Santos Godio from the NCIP-Benguet and Community Elder- Kagawad Danilo Palangdan.
Teachers of Alejo M. Pacalso Memorial National Highschool (AMPMNHS) receive certificates for their active participation in the Training on Research and Documentation of Indigenous Knowledge, facilitated by PIKP and TFIP on April 27-28, 2018 at Bua, Tuding, Itogon, Benguet.