Tao Foundation for Culture and Arts, Inc.

The Tao Foundation for Culture and Arts is a Philippine non-profit organization dedicated to cultural revitalization and environmental regeneration.
Founded in 1994 by Dr. Grace Nono, it is headed by an all-female Board of Trustees and advised by Indigenous Knowledge Bearers,
environmental scientists, and thought leaders in different fields.

☼ Recent Events

PEATLAND AWARENESS-RAISING ACTIVITY TO CELEBRATE THE 2025 WORLD PEATLANDS DAY

On June 2, 2025, three organizations came together to mount a multisectoral and transnational peatland awareness-raising activity:  the Tao Foundation for Culture and Arts, the DENR-Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau ERDB, and the Protected Area Management Office of the Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary. Held in two venues, the Agusan del Sur State College of Agriculture and Technology gymnasium for the morning plenary, and the Agusanon-Manobo School of Living Traditions/Alima Eco, Agri and Heritage Park for the afternoon field demonstration, presentations and discussions, the event was participated in by about a hundred local environmental officials, Agusanon-Manobo indigenous knowledge holders, cultural workers, academics, and more.

The event had several speakers, namely:
1) Joel Orella, DENR-ERDB-Forest and Wetland Research, Development and Extension Center Senior Researcher
2) Laurentiu Constantin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin Soil Scientist
3) Dr. Grace Nono, President of the Tao Foundation for Culture and Arts, Climate Action Artist and peatland dweller
4) Harold Jay Sumilhig, Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary Planning-Designate, representing Sherrilyn A. Vasquez, Protected Area Management Office Supervisor
5) Dr. Hesti Lestari Tata, National Research and Innovation Agency in Indonesia Principal Researcher
6) Robert E. A. Borje, Climate Change Commission Vice Chairperson and Executive Director
7) Jerome Montemayor, ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity Executive Director
8) Jan Peters, Succow Foundation Executive Director
9) Willie and Yvonne Saliling, University of Southern Mindanao Professors
10) Bae Manyaguyad Lucy Rico, Tribal Chieftain and Agusanon-Manobo School of Living Traditions Faculty Member
11) Becky Barrios, Panaghiusa Alang Sa Kaugalingnan Ug Kalingkawasan PASAKK former Secretary-General of and Agusanon-Manobo School of Living Traditions Faculty Member
12) Datu Kanimbaylan Remy Reyes, Tribal Sectoral Leader and Agusanon-Manobo School of Living Traditions Faculty Member
13) Jecelyn V. Lleno, Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary Resource Management Officer
14) Marites Babanto, Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary Ecotourism Guide and IP Community Representative
15) Zenevev Longaquit PENRO-LGU Agusan del Sur Officer

Several times during the event, the song “Bring the Waters Home” was played: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZjESo79H_E . “Bring the Waters Home” is dedicated to peatlands all over the world and was created as part of Climate Action Artists Residencies implemented by Cultural Vistas that was one of the supporters of the World Peatland Day activity. 


SPECIAL SCREENING OF THE DOCUMENTARY FILM IN PROGRESS: BALAAN: SACRED VOICES, SACRED LANDS AT THE NCCA’S CINEMA REHIYON FESTIVAL

Five years since its production commenced, the documentary film BALAAN: Sacred Voices, Sacred Lands is finally on the homestretch. On May 21, 2025, the work in progress was specially screened during the National Commission for Culture and Arts’ Cinema Rehiyon Festival at the Balanghai Hotel in Butuan City. The Cast of Indigenous Knowledge Bearers performed a ritual before the film was screened, then during the Q&A section, they answered questions from viewers who were mostly filmmakers, critics, relatives and friends from Butuan and beyond.

Mostly filmed in late 2019 and early 2020, with permissions worked out until September of 2024, BALAAN: Sacred Voices, Sacred Lands follows Dr. Nono as she visits her surviving mentors of chant who are also tribal chiefs, shamans, dreamers in sacred mountains, lakes and marshes.

BALAAN features Datu Migketay Victorino Saway, Bai Nanapnay Liza Saway and other members of the Talaandig Indigenous Community; Bae Angela Placido, Bae Manyaguyad Lucy Rico, Datu Kanimbaylan Remy Reyes and other members of the Agusanon-Manobo Indigenous Cultural Community; Boi Myrna Pula, Ye Mendung’s Sabal’s son Franky Sabal and other members of the T’boli Indigenous Cultural Community; and Elia Capeon, Legla Cansing, Mata Masayeg, Lalinia Tialang, Dakel Makondon, Datu Martin Magoling, Nancy Tialang and other members of the Blaan Indigenous Cultural Community.

Directed by Mindanaoan Film Director Bagane Fiola and Co-produced by the Tao Foundation for Culture and Arts, Origane Films, and Dr. Martin Cohen, BALAAN received support from Dr. Luke and Christine Negri and Dr. Martin Cohen for the Production and Permissions phases; the Film Development Council of the Philippines FDCP Create Ph for the prost-production phase; the National Commission for Culture and Arts for the Distribution phase; and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples for the Free Prior and Informed Consent process.


SUYAM CLASSES FOR AGUSANON-MANOBO WOMEN AT THE SCHOOL OF LIVING TRADITIONS IN BUNAWAN, AGUSAN DEL SUR

From February through mid-May, 2025, the Agusanon-Manobo School of Living Traditions in Bunawan, Agusan del Sur held classes on the ancestral embroidery of Suyam. The classes were taught by Cultural Master Emeluz “Bae Suyam” Espana, and attended by local Agusanon-Manobo women recommended by partner organization PASAKK. Those who finished the course were: Christine Joy Barrios, Myriam Abuso, Anna Marie Cuevas, Maria Carissa Cuevas, Maylene Manuel, Maribel Prochina, Jonela Abuso, Mabel Simproso, many of them mothers eager to learn an ancestral form knowledge that could potentially also assist them in financially supporting their families. The women are now producing a number of pieces to prepare for trade fairs later in the year organized by the Department of Trade and Industry, the National Commission on Culture and Arts and other agencies.

This round of classes were generously supported by the Tao Foundation Board of Trustees and managed by SLT Local Coordinators Mark Jay Jamboy and Rosephine Toyong.