16/10/2026
WATCH: Panay Bukidnon Culture and Heritage Featured in Israel for Indigenous Peoples Month
The Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv is celebrating National Indigenous Peoples Month with “Voices from the Panay Highlands,” an exhibition showcasing the living heritage of the Panay Bukidnon, an indigenous people of Panay Island in Western Visayas.
The exhibition features photographs, traditional attire, and video presentations highlighting the Panay Bukidnon’s Sugidanon epic-chanting tradition, binukot cultural practice, panubok embroidery, and binanog dance. Three authentic panubok dresses purchased directly from the community are also on display, highlighting the artistry of Panay Bukidnon embroidery.
It also honors Federico “Tuohan” Caballero, a recipient of the Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan (GAMABA), for his role in performing, documenting, and preserving the Sugidanon epics. His work exemplifies the vital role of cultural bearers in transmitting Indigenous knowledge and oral traditions to future generations.
The Embassy thanks Mr. Bryan Madera for generously sharing the featured photos, Assistant Professor Jose Taton Jr. of the University of the Philippines Visayas, for providing cultural guidance, and Ms. Rolinda “Ombil” Gilbaliga a culture bearer from the Panay Bukidnon community, for sharing her videos of traditional binanog performances.
Through the exhibition, the Embassy seeks to deepen appreciation among Filipino and Israeli audiences for the Philippines’ diverse indigenous cultures and the importance of safeguarding living heritage. It highlights indigenous peoples as living communities whose traditions, creativity, and cultural identities continue to thrive.
Our kababayan and Israeli friends are warmly invited to visit “Voices from the Panay Highlands” at the Embassy’s Patio Mabini, 18 Bnei Dan, Tel Aviv. The exhibition will run until the end of October 2026.
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