Southern Leyte State U, DepEd ink partnership to revive PH culture through folk dances

The Southern Leyte State University has partnered with the Southern Leyte Division of the Department of Education (DepEd) for an extension project called Strengthening Awareness Yearning towards Acculturation of Wholistic Kinesthetic and the Arts (SAYAWKA): Folk Dances in the Rural Areas.

Through Tomas Oppus Campus, facilitated by the office of Research, Innovation, and Extension Services (RIES), Southern Leyte State U and DepEd Southern Leyte Division signed a Memorandum of Agreement on June 6, 2022 to appreciate and keep the culture alive by implementing folk dances in rural areas for young students, teachers, and the community.

The collboration seeks to help the participants stay connected to their ancestry by strengthening their awareness and knowledge about folk dances to further preserve and passed them on to the next generation.

The extension project includes a five-day trainers' training for Music, Arts, Physical Education, and Health (MAPEH) teachers from the selected secondary schools in Southern Leyte Division, and a cultural show where the participants will showcase what they have learned during the training.

The initiative seeks to produce trainers on folk dances in rural areas, showcase talent, organize a cultural group in respective schools, and establish a culture and gender-sensitive circle of dancers through an open acceptance of its members regardless of cultural background and gender preferences.

This initiative is in line with the University’s goal which is to increase the number of industry collaboration in the implementation of extension projects and strengthen internal and external partnerships with target organizations for sustainable student program and services.

More photos of the activity here: