MAKANAYON
NPF’s MakaNayon Cultural Leadership Course, Perfect Course for Tourism Officers and Guides Roberto P. Alabado III, Undersecretary, Tourism Regulation, Coordination & Resource Generation was the keynote speaker in Nayong Pilipino Foundation (NPF) Cultural Leadership Institute (CLI) MakaNayon Cultural Leadership Course closing ceremonies held on July 20, 2021. He was joined by Assistant Secretary Rica C. Bueno, also from DOT OIMD, and both have expressed intention to participate in the next session of NPF’s MakaNayon Cultural Leadership Course. This year’s batch of MakaNayon graduates consisted of 32 tourism officers and tour guides who proudly completed the enriching 5-week training from June 14 to July 16, 2021. The successful pilot tie-up between NPF Cultural Leadership Institute (CLI) and the Department of Tourism (DOT) - Office of Industry Manpower Development (OIMD) is a testament of NPF’s relevant programs and humble contributions to the DOT family. The NPF Cultural Leadership Institute, an interdisciplinary team composed of cultural workers, theatre practitioners, seasoned educators and researchers developed the MakaNayon training in 2020 to advance capacity-building for NPF employees as part of the organisation’s pandemic response. It is a series of cultural formation and heritage interpretation leadership training which explores the meaning and practice of a cultural leader in the Philippines. It consists of five (5) modules MakaTao, MakaKalikasan, MakaBayan, MaPanagutan, and MakaDiwa. ASEC Bueno stated that these themes complement the DOT’s Filipino Brand of Service Excellence. Through the lesons and activities, MakaNayon’s aim is to build a community of cultural leaders that will have the ability to act in favor of the nayon. The training program is NPF’s contribution to the Department of Tourism’s efforts for sustainable development. USEC Alabado who encouraged the tourism officers and guides to always put the Filipino lens on when telling OUR story shared that the commencement of MakaNayon course is just the start of more exciting learnings from the NPF experts and the Department of Tourism.
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MakaNayon’s vision to “create cultural workers that think, act, and live in favor of their community and country” was heartwarmingly resonated in the participants’ testimonials. Claudio Ramos, a tourism officer from Isabela de Basilan shared, “Certainly, this program has cultivated a deeper sense of meaning for some, re-awaken the spirit of nation building for others, and definitely instilled new reasons to be better leaders in our respective circles. MakaNayon will truly be one of the emblems of a strong foundation in my journey to advance culture, arts, and tourism in my city.” Adrian Fernandez, a tour guide from the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) expressed how the MakaNayon experience has empowered him in his practice, “Mabiyaya ang mga diskurso at sobrang nakatulong ang module na ito para mas mapayabong, mas malinang, mapabuti at mapagtibay po ang aming kaalaman tungkol sa cultural leadership at cultural tourism. Ganoon na rin ang mga paguusap-usap ng mga tour guides at tourism officers sa buong PIlipinas patungkol sa mga sustainability practices on tourism. Sa MakaDiwa module, kami ay nagkaroon ng kakayanan na isalin ang mga mithiin ng sektor ng kultura tungo sa wasto at epektibong pagkilos para sa ating nayon, para sa ating bansang Pilipinas.” In response to the participants’ testimonials, ASEC Bueno affirmed, “It’s a perfect course for tourism officers and tour guides. It’s the best course for a tourism officer and tour guide to undergo as a specialized, deeper journey into having a better understanding and knowledge of our culture.” ASEC Bueno has committed to spreading good word about MakaNayon and recommending it to OIMD to make it a part of its continuing education courses. She reiterates, “We envision this course offered in all of our tourism courses.” The NPF Cultural Leaders Institute brings together creative talents from the Philippine Educational Theatre Association (PETA) and AnthroWatch, and is headed by Program Director, Heritage Interpretations Specialist Natasha Kintanar.
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