Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Philippines

After the establishment of the 2003 Convention, all entries to the Proclamation of Masterpieces were incorporated in the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity[6] in 2008.

[10] The Philippine inventory is currently being updated as a measure to safeguard more intangible cultural heritage elements in the country.

The updating began in 2013 and results may be released in 5–10 years after the scientific process finishes the second batch of element documentations.

[15] In April 2018, the buklog of the Subanen people was nominated by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts in the list for urgent safeguarding.

These are four elements inscribed in the Representative List: the Darangen epic of the Maranao people of Lake Lanao, Hudhud chants of the Ifugao, Tugging rituals and games –shared with Cambodia, South Korea, and Vietnam–, and Aklan piña handloom weaving.

Numerous elements are being proposed for nomination by the Philippines for inclusion in the intangible cultural heritage lists within the coming few years.

[36][37][16] On February 20, 2018, the government and the stakeholders of Aklan met for the preparation of the dossier of the Kalibo piña weaving intangible cultural heritage.

[38] Additionally, on April 9, 2018, the NCCA nominated the buklog rituals of the Subanen people to the list in need for urgent safeguarding.

According to UNESCO, intangible cultural heritage has five domains, namely: oral traditions and expressions, including language as a vehicle of the intangible cultural heritage; performing arts; social practices, rituals and festive events; knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe; and traditional craftsmanship.

They are the descendants of the original Austronesian inhabitants of the Philippines, that settled in the islands thousands of years ago, and in the process have retained their Indigenous customs and traditions.

The folk arts of these groups were, in a sense, the last remnants of Indigenous traditions that flourished throughout the Philippines before the Islamic and Spanish contacts.

Rather, hundreds of schools of dayawism pertaining to an ethno-linguistic tribe is a better supplement to the current religious landscape in the Philippines.