The University of Northern Philippines’ College of Teacher Education (UNP-CTE) hosted “Daliasat: Developing Awareness on the Life and Language of Ilokanos among SEA Teachers” on November 15, offering foreign pre-service teachers an immersive introduction to Ilokano language and culture.
Held at the UNP-CTE Building, the orientation featured collaborative learning sessions and culturally grounded activities designed to enhance participants’ intercultural competence as they progress through their teaching immersion in the Philippines.
The program opened with an invocation and the singing of the ASEAN Hymn, a symbolic gesture reaffirming the region’s shared identity and solidarity. In her opening message, Dr. Ma. Teresa Susan L. Manzano stressed the significance of the activity in the ongoing Daliasat journey of the SEA teachers. She emphasized that the program serves as a vital platform for deepening cultural understanding, noting that learning about the life and language of others enables educators “to understand people more profoundly and to teach with greater sensitivity and respect.”
Dr. Santiago Reolalas, faculty member of CTE, enriched the program with an in-depth lecture on essential Ilokano vocabulary and expressions, including pangsandi a saludsod, directional terms, and other commonly used phrases. His session offered not only foundational language skills but also cultural context, sparking engaging discussions and reinforcing participants’ understanding of Ilokano communication.
Students from different majors under the Graduate Studies program then took the lead in a dynamic series of language and cultural presentations. MAT-English students facilitated a one-on-one Ilokano conversation exercise, guiding foreign pre-service teachers as they applied the basic phrases and expressions they had learned throughout the session. The participants later showcased their newly acquired Ilokano skills through short conversational presentations.
Adding a cultural flourish to the event, the program highlighted the Ilokano tradition of salo-salo, featuring well-loved Ilocano delicacies or kakanin served during the break. The immersive experience continued with interactive lectures led by MAT-Filipino students, who introduced Filipino greetings and expressions through a lively round of charades, followed by a creative exploration of Filipino adjectives via the popular game Pinoy Henyo in the session titled “Describe Me if You Can: Exploring Filipino Adjectives through Faces and Flavors.”
Rounding out the cultural immersion, MAT-Physical Education students presented an engaging discussion on traditional Filipino games before inviting participants to try classics such as the sack race and tumbang preso. Both graduate students and foreign pre-service teachers eagerly joined the activity, fostering camaraderie through play and shared learning.
The program closed on an uplifting note, with participants expressing renewed enthusiasm and optimism that similar initiatives will continue to strengthen cultural exchange and enrich ASEAN academic collaboration.
Article by Adelaida Arellano
