New Director of Indigenous Media Exchange

The ATAYAL organization is pleased to welcome Gerald Arcilla Santos to our team as the new Director of Indigenous Media Exchange. This accomplished indigenous cultural advocate is a resident of the Bay Area of California, and he has promoted indigenous peoples and cultures of the Philippines for many years. He is knowledgable in Austronesian history and cultures of the world. He is currently on the Board of Directors of the Aeta Tribe Foundation, which empowers Aeta communities have access to clean water and other wellness programs.

Mr. Santos has been very active in different aspects of Austronesian culture, including volunteering as a Talking Dictionary Researcher for the Living Tongues Institute for Endangered Languages to help build their Bikolano Dictionary System. He studies the indigenous Indonesian folk dances and gamelan music with different Indonesian and Balinese Dance companies. Gerald practices the Arnis Martial Arts with the Senkotiros Organization, and studies Kulintang music with local Kulintang performing arts company that helps promote the indigenous music of the different tribes of southern Philippines.

Gerald A. Santos will advocate our organization's objectives by organizing cultural events and create new opportunities for discussions and awareness of the issues important to many different indigenous communities. With media being one of the most effective methods of reaching communities, he has accepted the role of Director of Indigenous Media Exchange to develop new media-related programs in California and the USA for our organization.