Tinig ng Babaylan featuring Grace Nono and Baylan Undin

On January 19, 2013,from 9:00AM until 4:00PM at the 3rd Floor, Bulwagang Tandang Sora of the College of Social Work & Community Development (CSWCD) in the University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City will be the gathering of students, academe and Babaylans.

What is a Babaylan?

They are more than the ladies and priestesses we saw in colorful attires showcased during one of Prime Time TV Telenovelas nor the name of the Lesbian and Gay Community from a university. They are the pre-historic term for our leaders since time immemorial.

Babaylan is a Visayan term which refers to an archetypal Filipino community leader which may include the datu and pandays. They are the ones who function as the community’s religious leader, ritual expert, healer, culture-bearer or one having extensive theoretical and practical knowledge of nature and people. Historically, while the Babaylan is often a woman, the role and functions are are open to both males and females.

Is Grace Nono a Babaylan?
More than an icon in the Pinoy music scene, little did we know that being a UP alumna, she researched on our Culture and Oral History thus making her complete one extensive travel and meet the so called oralists around Philippines. Now that she is back in Manila for this gathering , Grace admits, "I will share about the Babaylan and other Philippine popular religion functionaries whom I have mingled with in the Philippines these past few years. I will particularly focus on their use of voice…”

GRACE has been specializing both in the performance of Philippine oral chants here and around the world these past fifteen years doing a documentation of oral traditions for educational purposes. A graduate of the University of the Philippines-Diliman where she received her bachelor in Humanities and masters in Philippine Studies, and a PhD candidate in Ethnomusicology at New York University, she is author of The Shared Voice: Chanted and Spoken Narratives from the Philippines (ANVIL and Fundacion Santiago, 2008), and Song of the Babaylan: Living Voices, Medicines, Spiritualities of Philippine Ritualist-Oralist-Healers (Institute of Spirituality in Asia, “in press”). She is also the founding head to the Tao Foundation for Culture and Arts, a Philippine non-government organization engaged in cultural regeneration projects in Agusan, her birthplace, and in other parts of the Philippines. To date, Grace has been granted over forty awards including The Outstanding Women in the Nation’s Service (TOWNS), Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM), Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of the Philippines, National Book Award (for The Shared Voice), numerous Katha, Awit and Catholic Mass Media awards, for her music and cultural contributions.


Baylan Undin is a Babaylan
On the other hand, Baylan Undin is a Babaylan Elder from Mindanao who will do the Panawagtawag in which she will ask permission from her spirit helpers to participate in the Buhay Babaylan event.


Lordina “UNDIN” Potenciano is a Manobo Baylan based in La Paz, Agusan del Sur. She came to “baylanhood” after she was called and consecrated by spirits, led by her late grandmother. She had since been tasked to officiate during rituals where spirits chant and dance through her,to heal the sick and to help those in need, on a full-time basis. Undin is one of Grace Nono's chant teachers. She is also in Grace's book Song of the Babaylan.

Baylan Undin will be in with us on this event with her interpreter and niece Robilyn Coguit Canto. Robilyn is a Manobo youth leader originally from La Paz, Agusan del Sur. She has participated in national youth festivals where she asserted the indigenous voice. She is also a master of traditional embroidery and beadwork, and has led her people through arts and crafts revitalization projects. Robilyn has been a member of the Tao Foundation for Culture and Arts which Grace Nono founded for many years now.

The tickets are priced at P500 although there is student and group discounts. This is a limited seat first come first served basis engagement and the TICKETS are available at:
*Handog Gift Shop, U.P. Diliman Shopping Center, U.P. Diliman, Quezon City
*Popular Bookstore, 305 Tomas Morato Street, Quezon City
*Kanto, 7274 Malugay Street, Makati City
*Bahay Nakpil-Bautista, 432 A. Bautista Street, Quiapo

You may also contact the organizers at their mobile numbers;
0915 2952826 (Ishilta), 0933 9257861 (Tessie), 0927 5633376 (Raymond),
09285545824 (Minifred) 09278742421 (Diyaki) and 09265046595 (Karen)
Visit www.facebook.com/buhaybabaylan / www.buhaybabaylan.blogspot.com or Email: buhaybabaylan@gmail.com if you wish to set up a booth.