Information about School of Living Traditions

School of Living Traditions

The School of Living Traditions (SLT) is one where a living master or community teacher teaches conventional art or craft skills and techniques. The style of instruction is generally non-formal, oral and realistic. The site could be a living master's home, a neighborhood social hall, or a purpose-built core. The living master or community teacher is called the 'culture bearer', or in layman's term, a teacher or an expert. This word refers to a person who is recognised as having the expertise and techniques to practice a specific traditional art or craft. He shall be accountable for teaching his art to a community of learners and shall ensure that his or her students master the skill.

The students that can join SLT's are only the young people from the same ethnolinguistic culture. The creation of the Schools of Living Traditions (SLTs) contributes to UNESCO 's demand for the protection of cultural heritage by maintaining it in a living way, ensuring its dissemination to the next generation while the other solution is to document it in a physical manner and to preserve it in archives.

Although there are many aspects of cultural traditions that can be passed down to the next generation, this initiative would want to concentrate primarily on the transition of aboriginal knowledge and strategies to young people. It seeks to inspire culture specialists or masters to pursue their own jobs, to evolve and broaden the scope of their practice and to educate younger people to take their position in the future.

How to get there

Once you arrive in Ilocos Norte, ride a tricycle or jeepney going to Pinili. Tell the driver to drop you off at the School of Living Traditions.

Best time to visit

This is an all-year-round destination that can be visited anytime of day.