Ladawan Village. Photo by Melisa Hikilan / Palawan Daily News

Feature

Ladawan Cultural Village preserves indigenous houses of Palawan

By Melissa Hikilan

March 10, 2019

Pala’wan House. Photo by Melisa Hikilang / Palawan Daily News

A new must-visit cultural tourist destination in Puerto Princesa showcasing the different tribal houses and the different culture of indigenous tribes in Palawan is the newly opened Ladawan Cultural Village.

“Ladawan” is a Cuyunon word which means a picture.

Hector Natividad, Ladawan Cultural Village In-charge, said that the cultural village started from the research done by the College of Engineering of the Holy Trinity University. The researchers found out that there are different designs of tribal houses of the 12 existing tribes in Palawan.

Cuyunon House Photo by Melisa Hikilang / Palawan Daily News

“Ang ating mga mananaliksik from the Holy Trinity University ay pumunta talaga sa mga lugar nila [ng mga katutubo] para makita ang disenyo ng mga bahay at syempre yung iba’t ibang paniniwala, at iba’t ibang kultura nila,” said by Natividad.

He also added that the researchers have seen the authentic design of every tribal house and they felt the need to build replicas of the houses to somehow preserve the cultural heritage of Palawan.

“Yung umpisa, ang plano lang nila bilang mga engineers gusto lang nilang i-preserve kung ano man ang design ng mga bahay ng mga katutubo natin, so nung sinimulan na nila pumasok na yung mga idea na [i-preserve din] ang kultura ng mga katutubo… Yung mga design ay pinag-aralang mabuti, may ginawang plano yan kung ilang metro, gaano kataas sa lupa nakarecord lahat in effect napag-aralan natin sila, nai-preserve natin ang parte ng kanilang kultura at kultura narin natin,” Natividad added.

Tagbanua House Photo by Melisa Hikilang / Palawan Daily News

When you visit Ladawan Cultural Village, there are eight tribal houses you will see and these are the Batak, Pala’wan, Jama Mapun, Molbog, Tagbanua, Ken-uy, and Cuyunon house and the ‘Balai Babailan’ or the house of ‘Babailan’.

“Kapag pumasok ka dito parang nag time travel ka from the past… Pagpasok mo makikita mo ang kultura ng Palawan,” he said.

He also sighted some of the plans for the improvement of the Cultural Village.                                             

“Sa ngayon ang plano namin ay kada buwan ay may isang tribu o katutubo na sila ang taya kung ano ang gusto nila na ipalabas, anong produkto ang kanilang ididisplay… Kapag nabuo ito [na-improve] meron tayong Demo Center, na kung saan yung mga guest pwedeng manood lalo sa mga di alam paano ginagawa ang banig, paano ba binibiak ang buto ng kasuy, plano din natin ay paano ba mag-weave, gumawa ng basket para makita ng ating mga bisita  kung ano ang ginagawa ng ating mga katutubo ,” he added.

He also said that the City Tourism had discovered the potential of the Village to be a Cultural Tourist Destination in Puerto Princesa and they want to extend their support and help to develop and improve the Ladawan Cultural Village.

It has an entrance fee of P50, and for the students and senior citizens is for only P30.

He said that the help coming from the visitors who will visit the Cultural village will be a great help for the indigenous people.

“Kabahagi ng pumapasok na biyaya dito ay ibabalik din natin sa mga katutubo, makakatulong sa kanila halimbawa may mga katutubong gustong makapag-aral [ay] ipapasok natin sa scholarship, makakatulong tayo,” said by Natividad.

They are aiming that Ladawan Cultural Village will be a center of culture and the arts in Puerto Princesa.

“Iniimbitahan ko ko kayong lahat na pumasyal dito sa ating Ladawan Cultural Village. Maliban sa makikita natin ang past [history] natin ay malaking bagay din na hindi lang sa libro natin makukuha ang kaalaman ngunit actual din natin na makikita  ang mga disenyo ng mga bahay at ang mga kultura ng ating mga katutubo,” said Mr. Natividad.

The Ladawan Cultural Village was formally opened last February 26 with the different tribes in Palawan who showcased their culture, tradition, and crafts.

Ladawan Cultural Village located at Sienatel Compound Brgy. Tiniguiban.