Northern Kinsfolk

photo taken by me at Sagada

photo taken by me at the Igorot Park
The word “Igorot” is a collective term given to the people living in the Cordilleras (Scott, 1965). The Cordillera Region is composed of several provinces; Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga and Mountain Province. I know that some people from these provinces and their indigenous groups do not consider themselves as Igorots but for this specific post, I will use the term Igorot loosely.

I have had pleasant and memorable experiences and I’ve also had disappointing and frustrating ones with Igorots and I would like to share two of the most memorable encounters I’ve had.

Several years ago, my friends and I decided to walk through Abanao St. While we were walking and chatting along the road, some man tried to steal my phone but he was unsuccessful because I caught him, literally. I took hold of his collar and I tried to memorize his face but he dropped my phone and he quickly ran the other way. My friends said that the man was “mangibabain”. The reason why they said this word was because they knew that the person who tried to steal my phone was an Igorot. My friends who were with me that time were full-blooded Igorots, they come from Bauko and Tadian, Mt. Province (Jenks, 1905). It was an unpleasant experience but it was not a reason for me to generalize and discriminate against Igorots.

Another memorable experience I’ve had was when I went to Sagada to escape from the stresses of the city life. This was before the movie That Thing Called Tadhana was shown in the cinemas. It was the very first time I’ve travelled alone to a new place and I can say that it was one of the best experiences I’ve had. People from Sagada were truly accommodating and helpful with everything I asked or needed. They made sure that I was properly cared for. I have experienced that Igorots are one of the most accommodating and hospitable people I’ve known. They are kind but they are also courageous and fierce. A lot of Igorots are in the military or the police force. They know how to serve and protect. A number of them are also athletes who excel in mixed martial arts, trail running and other sports. I have seen and witnessed their persistence. They don’t give up easily. They persevere through difficulties and challenges. They are hard-working and are resilient even if calamities, problems or troubles arise . They are strong-willed because they will fight for what they know is right(Scott, 1972). They are not afraid to speak out and stand up for what is just (Jones, 2002). Although there are some who are quite shy, timid and soft-spoken. There is a term coined to describe these kinds of Igorots, they are called "shymango". They respect and honor the environment. They protect and nurture it because they know that the earth gives life. (Jenks, 1904) Igorots have a strong sense of family and community. They have deep respect for the elders of the community and they teach and guide the younger generation. They continue to preserve their culture for future generations.

I've only shared two of the most memorable experience I've had with Igorots. And I can say that regardless of the bad experiences I've had with some of them, I did have the best memories and experiences with a lot of them which is why I consider a lot of them as my friends and family.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

SCOTT, W. (1962). The Word Igorot. Philippine Studies, 10(2), 234-248. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/42719782 on February 18, 2017.

JONES, A.W. (2002). A View from the Mountains: Episcopal Missionary Depictions of the Igorot of Northern Luzon, The Philippines, 1903-1916 Anglican and Episcopal History Vol. 71, No. 3 (September 2002).

JENKS, A.E. (1905). The Bontoc Igorot. Volume I. American Anthropologist, New Series, Vol. 7, No. 4 (Oct. - Dec., 1905), pp. 696-701.  Retrieved from: http://www.jstor.org/stable/659116 on February 20, 2017. 

SCOTT, W.H. (1972). The Igorot: An Integrated Cultural Minority. Philippine Sociological Review, 20(4), 356-360. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/23892184 on February 16, 2017.

JENKS. A.E. (1904). The Bontoc Igorot. Department of the Interior, The Ethnological Survey. E-text created by Jeroen Hellingman. Retrieved from www.fulltextarchive.com/pdfs/The-Bontoc-Igorot.pdf on February 16, 2017.

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