Therese Grail Chulsi-Lawagann

Local Researcher for Kalinga

Therese Grail Chulsi- Lawagan (Local Researcher for Kalinga) is a licensed professional teacher and a Doctor of Philosophy graduate. She is the former coordinator of the Cultural Heritage Research Center of St. Louis College of Bulanao and currently the Dean of Academic Affairs of SLCB, AVT Schools System. She is a member of WEAct, a national network of women peace advocates which closely coordinates with the government in the formulation of the National Action Plan on Women, Peace & Development. She spoke in behalf of the Kalinga women during the 12th anniversary of UN Women held in Manhattan, New York City. She actively participated in relevant international trainings such as the “Use of CEDAW in Conflict Prevention” in Jakarta, Indonesia; “Advancing Women, Peace & Security in ASEAN Region” at the University of Queensland, Australia; “Implementing Peace & Development in One’s Job” held in Canberra, Australia, and “Coordinating Response to VAWC” in Sydney. 

Along with her academic responsibilities in SLCB, she had been a lecturer, resource person/trainer and or facilitator in various parts of the country on topics not only on women, peace, Gender and Development, VAWC, CEDAW, Conflict Resolution & Mediation, but also about IPRA Law; Environmental Protection, Cultural Sensitivity, the indigenous justice system and other indigenous knowledge systems and practices of the Kalinga people. 

Grail is not only an academic but also a Cultural Master in Kalinga traditional dances and chants. She was one among five representatives of the Cordillera Region cultural masters sent to San Francisco, California for the Hinabi Project of the National Commission on Culture & the Arts in October 4, 2018 – performing the Kalinga dance and Kalinga Chants such as Iwwayat & Ading at the Asian Arts Museum in San Francisco and the International Cultural Center in Oakland. She was also requested for a demo teaching on Kalinga traditional dance and chants for the teachers and students at the City College of San Francisco, California.