14 March 2012- "Luminawa", a documentary film about the Kalinga tribe and their continuing efforts to preserve their cultural traditions, was shown at Cinema Xenix in Zurich last March 10.

The film 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 with the advent of globalization and dominance of western culture. He endeavors to teach his children the value of preserving Kalinga culture through music, dances and the teaching of traditional Kalinga industry to the young generation of Kalingas.

The event 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 dedicated to helping fund the education of Kalinga children and the preservation of their cultural heritage.

Berne_Luminawa_2Second 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.

In her remarks, First Secretary and Consul Tess Lazaro, who represented the Embassy, said, "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."

"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," added First Secretary and Consul Lazaro.

Director 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.

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.

More than 100 people attended the event, mostly second generation Swiss-Filipinos, their families, and Swiss friends.