Budayaw: Celebrating Cultural Diversity

Budayaw: Celebrating Cultural Diversity

The first BIMP-EAGA Colloquium

            It’s a new experience I’ve undergone when I attend a colloquium on BIMP-EAGA Cultures and History together with my classmates and scholars from different parts of Mindanao as well as foreign visitors from Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei, it is my very first time to attend such gathering and I enjoyed a lot. The first day of the colloquium was held in KCC Convention Center, I noticed the preparation were remarkably awesome, I felt I’m in an international venue. Participants wear their best outfit and they all look like a member of scholarly elite. We’ve saw ourselves VIPs, everyone seems excited to be flabbergasted.

            Together with my classmates we sit down in front. I felt the breeze that come in to my epidermis, which added to my excitement. The ambiance were elegant, and all were looked accommodating. I’m ready!

            I was occupied with too much learning. The speakers were really clever. They enunciated with great authority and the handover of knowledge were set in a full blast. I take note some of the information in order not to forget important particle of knowledge, since this was a momentous occurrence. As I recalled the Consul General of Indonesia, H.E. Berlian Napitupulu, presented a short opening remarks that stirred the participants to learn the culture and the vast history of BIMP-EAGA. Since this is the first BUDAYAW Festival, the thorough understanding among the four member state of BIMP-EAGA; Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Philippines, should be strengthen to its fullest in order to attain the vision and the realizable goals. Ms.Eamarie Gilayo gave overview about BIMP-EAGA, she showed a clearer picture of what is BIMP-EAGA. Ms.Gilayo heightened our understanding on the subject of history, the strategies and its pillars, as well its recent developments.

            Ms. Adel Suemith, Chairperson BIMP-EAGA Socio-Cultural and Education, superbly spoken about the Socio-cultural Programs of BIMP-EAGA. Her brief but constant presentation marked up the climax of the first day of the colloquium. The first speaker was Mr. Azhar Bin Othman, an economist and businessman from Malaysia. He explain the importance of connectivity among the BIMP-EAGA, he also talked about the exchange student program, a big step for regional cooperation and intellectual exchanges. The second speaker was Felipe M. de Leon, Jr., a professor of Art Studies from the University of the Philippines and a former commissioner of NCCA. He expounded the great creative diversity and richness of Archipelagic South East Asia in his presentation entitled “Embracing Cultural Diversity in the Context of Nusantao”. Nusantao was the Filipino counterpart of Malay word “Nusantara.”  Prof. de Leon and Mr. Bin Othman were only the first two speaker.

            In the following day and the same venue, another intellectual discussion was much awaited, new faces were added in the herd. The theme for Day 2 Colloquium was “Safeguarding Cultural Diversity.” The convention center were once again became a silkroad of ideas and a new batch of speaker were lined up. First was Dr. Domingo Non, a retired Professor of History from Mindanao State University-General Santos City and he talked about the past. His presentation entitled “Population Movement in Pre-Historic BIMP-EAGA: It’s Impact”, with this he tackled the motivations of population movement and the sources to prove the once upon a time a united South East Asian, a peace-loving people before the colonial era. Dr. Non talked about the tarsila as a primary source, a gateway to unlock the past. The second speaker was Prof. Abhoud Syed M. Lingga, a Filipino Islamic Scholar from Institute of Bangsamoro Studies. Prof. Lingga talked about the importance of the business sector as one the traditional guardians of culture in BIMP-EAGA in his presentation entitled “Engaging the Business Sector in Safeguarding Cultural Diversity and Unity”. He also added the purpose of it as one of the aspect of corporate social responsibilities that will bring more money, indeed an appropriate approaches to safeguard and promote the cultural diversity and Unity in BIMP-EAGA.

            The third speaker was Mr. Haji Mohd Abdoh bin Haji Awang Damit from Brunei Darussalam. He presented the history of his homeland, Brunei Darussalam. He virtually shown us the beauty and prestige of Brunei, he led us to imagine its magnificent history as well there marvellous culture. The fourth and the last speaker was Dr.Retno Raswaty, an Indonesian scholar.

            In the third day, the venue was in SM City Gensan, the theme of the Day 3 Budayaw Colloquium was “Cultural Exchange, Country Policy and Practice.” The first speaker was Ms. Joyce Toh, a prominent curator of an Art Museum in Singapore. She undertook the inborn artistic prowess of the Filipino artists. The next speaker was Atty. Ishak V. Mastura, a Filipino jurist and ARMM official. He talked about the ARMM potentials in various aspects associated with socio-cultural and economic relevance particularly in rebuilding the city of Marawi. Third speaker was Dr.Retno Raswaty and again she talked about the Republic of Indonesia’s country policy and practice regarding on cultural preservation. It was followed by comments and reactions from the panellist: Atty.Elpidio Peria and Prof.Romeo Narvaez from the Philippines and Mr. Haji Mohd Abdoh bin Haji Awang Damit from Brunei Darussalam. Then, it was followed by an open forum. Ms. Fe Remotigue, a Filipino scholar, ended the colloquium with her synthesis that summed up the whole Budayaw Colloquium from Day 1 to Day 3.

            We received our certificate, authenticating our presence for once in lifetime event. This colloquium was benevolent to me, aside from delightful snacks and prodigious venue, the event really supplemented various learning to our eternal quest for knowledge. As a student of history, it is an overwhelming opportunity to a part of an historical phenomenon, a first of a kind that will last infinitely. Hoping to be a part of this event again.