04/03/2026
GAHCL ARCHIVE
About
Gintong Ani Highlands Cultural Legacy is a community initiative founded by Christian Jann Lagadan aka Jannjann Lagadan and friends at ISPSC - Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur. The group was formerly known as GAUCDO — Gintong Ani Uplands Cultural Dance Organization.
Our Purpose
Gintong Ani is a student-led group organization for Indigenous people studying at the ISPSC Sta. Maria campus. Our mission is to showcase the talents, cultural beliefs, and living knowledge about indigenous dances. We preserve and share movement, song, costume, and the community stories that accompany them.
History & Evolution
When the group first started (as GAUCDO — Gintong Ani Uplands Cultural Dance Organization), we explored a variety of dance forms including modern styles. Over time our focus shifted intentionally to prioritise traditional Igorot dances.
On November 4, 2022, the organization was officially accredited and recognized by ISPSC - Sta. Maria Campus as a legitimate student organization. This accreditation marked a major milestone — affirming our purpose to preserve and promote Igorot cultural heritage within the academic community. We would like to extend our deepest gratitude to our adviser, Sir Richard Dela Cruz, for his invaluable guidance and support in helping our organization achieve this milestone and continue our mission
In September, 2024, the organization officially adopted a new name: Gintong Ani Highlands Cultural Legacy (GAHCL). This change reflected our broader cultural vision — expanding from dance performance to include education, documentation, and the preservation of Highlands traditions across the six Igorot provinces.
Today, the preservation and transmission of indigenous Highlands dance traditions remain our primary purpose:
Documenting steps, songs, and costume elements with elders and community consent
Teaching through practices
Presenting community performances and participating in cultural festivals
Cultural Reach — The Six Provinces
We learn and share traditions drawn from the six principal Igorot provinces:
Abra
Apayao
Benguet
Ifugao
Kalinga
Mountain Province
