BUYAGAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DRUM AND LYRE

La Trinidad, Benguet – Grade School students in their colorful strawberry attire performed a folk dance during the street dancing drum and lyre competition.

 The Street performance description is the musical version of Soyosoy di Dagem, it reminds us that life is made up of millions of sourness and sweetness, of different textures of pain and healing. And as life happens, the monotonous pitter patter of the feet sends us to slumber, eventually awakened by the beat of the drums reminding us of the cheerful smiles and childhood wonder we have in ourselves. (“Drum pattern Nanlayad Ethnic Pattern”) The sound of “Nanlayad nan Likatan” embodies man’s sorrows in face of pain and his eventual decision to let go. In the pain we encounter, the body moves, and the crowd dances to celebrate the ebbs and flows of the encapsulated by the energetic beats of “Girl in the Mirror”.

Lastly, listening to the melodies of “Jopay” the words of the greats, come to mind as we celebrate the strawberry festival we grow because we struggle, learn and overcome. Held at the Km. 5, La Trinidad, Benguet on March 18, 2023, and the theme for this year “A festival for Recovery: Building a Brighter Future from Adversities”  Photos by: Mario Oclaman // FNS