National Contributions

CULTURAL PRESERVATION

• He has made significant cultural contributions to the preservation of Kalinga culture through dances, music, and traditions. Saclag was named a Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan Awardee (National Living Treasure) by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) in 2000. He continued to advocate for culture after receiving the award.

• Educational engagement by establishing a school for children and teaching them the importance of wearing traditional Kalinga clothing and performing Kalinga folk songs.

 

ADVOCACY

• He was a strong advocate for the recognition and protection of indigenous cultural practices, along with the preservation of intellectual property rights associated with Kalinga culture.

• Alonzo Saclag also founded the Kalinga Budong Dance Troupe in order to introduce Kalinga dance to a wider audience. He made it his mission to raise Kalinga cultural awareness and appreciation among the Kalinga people and beyond. On July 7, 1982, the Kalinga Budong Dance Troupe took part in Manila's National Folk Festival Contest at the Cultural Center and Folk Arts Theater, where they won eight out of eleven awards, including first place.

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AWICHON VILLAGE 

• Alonso Saclag established Awichon in 2016, The Village is considered as the cultural center of Kalinga..

• It is a  place to learn about the Kalinga's traditional ways of life. It is one of the province's top attractions, and visitors can spend the night in authentic Kalinga houses. Visitors are also treated to cultural performances that highlight the region's rich culture.

• Located inLubuagan where it is 50 kilometers from Tabuk City and 460 kilometers North of Manila.

• In 2018 it was recognized as a National Living Treasure of the Performing Arts.

 

KALINGA CLOTHING

• Men in Kalinga wear ba-ag (loincloths), while women wear saya (a colorful garment that covers the waist down to the feet). The women are also tattooed up to their shoulders and wear colorful ornaments such as bracelets, earrings, and necklaces, especially on festival days.

• He is responsible for the practice of children wearing traditional Kalinga clothing to important school events, as well as the teaching of Kalinga folk songs in schools. He also advocated for traditional Kalinga music to be broadcast alongside contemporary music on their local radio station.