The indigenous peoples (IPs) in Bukidnon will benefit from a partnership with artists and state universities through a workshop on preserving and promoting its tribal music and songs.

On Thursday, 30 young IPs were chosen to join a training workshop organized by the Bukidnon State University (BukSU) with the Ben&Ben band and PhilPop, formerly Manila’s Metropop Music.

Rod Bolivar, the BukSU information focal person, said the workshop is slated for April, and one of the venues will be the Central Mindanao University (CMU) in Maramag, Bukidnon.

“CMU is also one of the partners. There are also student IPs there who will be participants,” he said in a statement.

The workshop is a joint undertaking between the band’s non-profit organization, Puhon and PhilPop, under the “Sounds Like Change” project, which aims to empower young tribal artists with talents and potential in music and is focused on bringing indigenous music towards nation-building.

Paolo and Miguel Benjamin of the Ben&Ben band visited BukSU in Malaybalay City on Wednesday to discuss the project with IP artist students under the Bukidnon Studies Center (BSC).

“The beauty of this workshop is a cross-learning experience. We’re trying our best to get brilliant participants and artists to create songs to popularize the culture embedded in music and be shared by many. Both the students and the mentors (PhilPop artists) can share learning from each other,” Miguel said.

BSC Director Loreta Sol Dinlayan said the project is a rich experience for sharing knowledge and receiving new ones.

“We are thankful because we are working hard to promote and share our culture with the world. We are finding a partnership with you through music,” she said.

The Office of the Bukidnon IP Mandatory Representative, through its focal person, Bai Melinda Saway, said the Bukidnon IP community will support the endeavor.

The project is also supported by the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP)-Bukidnon.

NCIP-Bukidnon officer-in-charge Melinda Tulba said the young generation of IPs needs to be empowered to preserve their music and at the same have the potential to promote it to the public.

The initiative began at a Fellowship of the Asian Institute of Management, where Paolo was coached by Easterluna Canoy, the executive director of the Kitanglad Integrated Non-Government Organizations. (PNA)