Pinoy docu film 'Luminawa' captivates Swiss audience

"Luminawa," a documentary film about the Kalinga tribe's efforts to preserve their culture and traditions captivated audiences in Switzerland, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said. In a news release, the DFA said "Luminawa" was shown at Cinema Xenix in Zurich last March 10. More than 100 people attended the showing, mostly second generation Swiss-Filipinos, their families, and Swiss friends, the DFA said.  "The film addresses the second generation Filipinos' search for their identity and at the same time endeavors to bridge the cultural divide between the Philippines and Switzerland by finding a connection between the two cultures," the DFA said.   "Luminawa" features Manong Sapit Bawer, a father and a retired teacher, who dedicates his time to propagating Kalinga culture, which he believes is in danger of extinction because of globalization and the dominance of western culture.   Bawer endeavors to teach his children the value of preserving Kalinga culture through music, dances. He also teaches traditional Kalinga industry to the young generation of Kalingas.   The showing of "Luminawa" was organized by Noi-P, a network of second-generation Filipinos in Switzerland, in cooperation with:

• the film's director, Thomas Luchinger-De Clerq, an Arts Professor in Zug in central Switzerland, and
• Luminawa.ch, a foundation established by a Swiss couple to help fund the education of Kalinga children and the preservation of their cultural heritage.

The DFA said Luchinger was inspired to make the film when he first heard the sound of the Kalinga gong and found similarities of its sound to the cowbells used in Switzerland.   Second generation Swiss-Filipino singer-songwriter Stella Cruz, who performed three of her original compositions about the Philippines and the Kalinga culture, was also featured at the event.   "This event is a very opportune one as it echoes the Ambassador's call on second generation Filipinos to reconnect with the Philippines and be involved in nation-building. Reconnecting requires familiarity with one's roots. And what better way is there than to have exposure on Philippine cultural traditions," said First Secretary and Consul Tess Lazaro, who represented the Embassy.   "Our cultural traditions are our windows to our past and the building blocks with which we shape our future and our identity as a nation. I hope that through this film, second generation Filipinos will have a better appreciation of their cultural heritage and partially help them in their search for identity," she added. - VVP, GMA News     #