Born in Agusan del Norte and raised in Agusan del Sur—long before Agusan was split into two provinces—Grace S. Nono is the Founding President as well as a Trustee of the Tao Foundation for Culture and Arts. She is an ethnomusicologist and scholar of Philippine shamanism, a music-performing artist, and a cultural worker. Grace received her bachelor's in Humanities and master's in Philippine Studies from the University of the Philippines-Diliman, a second master’s in Religious and Gender Studies from Yale Divinity School, and her doctorate in Ethnomusicology from New York University. Grace has published two books (with accompanying recordings): The Shared Voice: Chanted and Spoken Narratives from the Philippines (ANVIL Publishing and Fundacion Santiago, 2008), winner in the 2009 Book Awards; and Song of the Babaylan: Living Voices, Medicines, Spiritualities of Philippine Ritualist-Oralist-Healers (Institute of Spirituality in Asia, 2013), winner in the 2014 Gintong Aklat Awards, and the 2014 Catholic Book Awards. Grace has also taught courses at the the University of the Philippines-Diliman, Miriam College, and Harvard Divinity School.
As a music performing artist, Grace specializes in the contemporary performance of Philippine sung oral traditions taught to her by elders from different parts of the Philippines. She has been featured in concerts and presentations in over sixty cities and venues in over twenty countries in Asia, Europe, and North America. Related to this, she has published six award-winning solo albums and has contributed tracks to around fifteen recording compilations. She has further co-produced five recordings of Philippine oral traditions.
In 1994, Grace founded the Tao Foundation for Culture and Arts, a Philippine non-profit organization engaged in cultural regeneration initiatives. She has also headed the Artists Welfare Project, Inc., a national non-profit organization that seeks to advance artists' rights and the improvement of artists' conditions.
Grace has received fellowships and further training through the Harvard Women’s Studies in Religion Program in Cambridge, the Asian Cultural Council in New York, the Asia-Pacific Performance Exchange program in Los Angeles, the Global Research Initiative in Florence, the Asia-Pacific Cultural Center for UNESCO in Kyoto, and the Asian Institute of Management's Managing the Arts Program in Manila.
To date, Grace has won over 40 awards for her artistic and cultural contributions. For further information, please visit http://gracenono.com/
Rhodora P. Toyong is retired schoolteacher from the Agusan del Sur State College of Agriculture and Technology in Bunawan, Agusan del Sur. Originally from Agusan del Norte—long before Agusan was split into northern and southern parts—Dr. Toyong or Nang Diding to many had been based in Bunawan, Agusan del Sur for over forty years. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Education from the Cebu School of Arts and Trades; a master's degree from Cebu Normal College; and a doctorate from the Mindanao University of Science and Technology. She serves as Tao Foundation Trustee and Head Administrator for the Agusan del Sur – School of Living Traditions, and Balay Agusan (Tao Foundation’s center in Agusan) as a whole. She has further served as Co-Coordinator for PAMATI 2015.
Luciana P. Rico or Bae Lucy to many is an Indigenous Agusan-Manobo woman leader who comes from a long line of panguyo (indigenous leaders) and baylan (ritualists). She is a community leader, a teghusadan or settler of conflicts, and a peace negotiator/advocate. Bae Lucy holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education degree from Fr. Saturnino Urios University in Butuan City. She has worked with the Tribal Filipino Apostolate, as well as with Mindanaoan as head of scholarships, as community organizer, and as researcher. Bae Lucy is often invited as resource person for customary law, the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act, and gender by institutions like the Urios Law School, the Department of Education, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, and the Mindanao Women’s Commission. She is also a Tri-People Representative in the Mindanao-Sulu Pastoral Catholic Commission. At the Tao Foundation, Bae Lucy serves as Trustee and as Head of Programs for the Agusan del Sur – School of Living Traditions.
Erlinda K. Natocyad or Arlene to many is a Professor and Senior Researcher at the Asian Social Institute in Manila. She is also a healer in the footsteps of her Indigenous elders in Kadaclan, Eastern Mountain Province. Arlene received her Bachelor’s in Education from Saint Louis University, her master’s in Religious Education from Mother of Life, a second master’s in Pastoral Sociology from the Asian Social Institute, and her doctorate in Applied Cosmic Anthropology also from the Asian Social Institute. She has also taught at the De la Salle University, Sta. Isabelle College, and Poveda. At the Tao Foundation, Arlene serves as Trustee, Treasurer, and Co-Coordinator for PAMATI.
Christine C. Guiao or Amadeo to many is an Organizational Development Consultant and Leadership Development Coach both in the United States and in the Philippines with over twenty years of experience supporting leaders, community-led organizations, and philanthropic foundations to effect transformative social change. She specializes in culturally appropriate and heart-centered facilitation, leadership development, and organizational development strategies. Amadeo received her master’s in Business Administration (M.B.A.) focused in Nonprofit Management, and master’s in Sustainable International Development from the Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University in Cambridge where she and her group conducted an in-depth study of the Tao Foundation where she now serves as Trustee.
With Visayan roots, Nerisa del Carmen Guevara is Palanca Award-winning poet who is also an Associate Professor for Literature at the University of Sto. Tomas. Nerisa received her master’s in English Studies from University of the Philippines, Diliman. She is currently working on her Ph.D. in Creative Writing from the same university. In addition to her literary vocation, Nerisa is a performance artist who has presented her work at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, the Grace Exhibition Space in New York, the Theatre Academy of the University of the Arts Helsinki, the Jogja Biennale in Indonesia, and other spaces. She has won a Silver Cup for Dance Solo in the April Spring Festival in Pyongyang, and a Catholic Mass Media Award. It was in her capacity as performer that Nerisa first worked with Grace Nono in the late 90s. In 2015, Nerisa attended PAMATI in Balay Agusan. In 2020, Nerisa came on board the Tao Foundation as Trustee.
Also with Visayan roots, Rose Marie Yenko is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist who is the Chairman Emeritus of the Carl Jung Circle Center. Trained in Clinical Psychology (Ph.D. units) and Social-Industrial Psychology (M.A.) from the Ateneo de Manila University, with attendance in programs at the Jung Institute in Kusnacht, Switzerland, and the Pacifica Graduate Institute in Santa Barbara, California, Rose has taught Jungian Psychology at the Ateneo de Manila Graduate School, and has authored “A Hero’s Journey: The Mt. Everest/Balangay Team” and “The Filipino Psyche: Gifts and Shadow.” In addition to her work as psychologist, Rose is an Organization Development Consultant who edited the Evelio B. Javier Foundation Readings for Local Executives. Rose has served as Trustee to the Green Releaf Foundation, Unang Hakbang Foundation, Spirit of EDSA Foundation, Sacred Land of Asia Foundation, Inc., Evelio Javier Foundation, and starting in 2020, the Tao Foundation for Culture and the Arts. Rose’s involvement with the Tao Foundation began in 2017 when the Carl Jung Circle Center co-convened PAMATI, after which, Rose became a strong supporter of the Tao Foundation’s mission.
Maria Julieta R. San Luis or Yeyette to many is a Certified Public Accountant as well as a sound healer. She has participated in Tao Foundation’s program PAMATI 2015 and 2017 and served as Tao Foundation’s Corporate Secretary from 2017 to 2019.
Reinalyn R. Abad, also a Certified Public Accountant, began to serve as Tao Foundation’s accountant and Corporate Secretary in 2020. A native of Bulacan, Reinalyn received her bachelor’s in Accountancy from Far Eastern University.
Rosephine P. Toyong or Kiken to many is a Medical Technologist at the Bunawan District Hospital. Born and raised in Bunawan, Agusan del Sur, she received her bachelor’s in Medical Technology from Silliman University, and her master’s in Public Health from the University of Cebu. Kiken’s involvement with the Tao Foundation began with her volunteer work for PAMATI 2015 followed by her service as regular Staff of the Agusan del Sur – School of Living Traditions.
Mark J. C. Jamboy or Saddam to many is a Senior High School Instructor at the Kapatungan National High School. Born and raised in Bunawan, Agusan del Sur, Saddam received his bachelor’s in Hotel and Restaurant Management from the University in Southern Mindanao and his teaching credits from the Agusan del Sur State College of Agriculture and Technology. Saddam first served as volunteer for PAMATI 2015 and has since served as regular Staff of the Agusan del Sur – School of Living Traditions.
John Paul A. Camino or JP to many is an Instructor at the Agusan del Sur State College of Agriculture and Technology. Born and raised in Bunawan, Agusan del Sur, he received his bachelor’s in Biology from the Ateneo de Davao University, and his master’s in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology from the University of the Philippines-Diliman. JP’s two brothers served as volunteers for PAMATI 2015, encouraging him to be part of the regular Staff of the Agusan del Sur – School of Living Traditions.
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