Ibaloy braves

LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL

Roget Sinot 

(2nd part of a series)

ASIN HOT SPRINGS, Tuba – Focus on the term “indigenous people” as we go down the river. The United Nations refers to it as the “people who occupy a distinct territory, have historical continuity with pre-invasion and pre-colonial societies; consider themselves distinct from other sectors of society living in some parts of the same territory. They are not a dominant sector of society but are determined to develop, preserve and transmit existence as a people, in accordance with their own cultural patterns, social institutions and legal system.”

In Benguet, the Ibaloy as the major IP tribe is found in the old political districts of Kabayan, Atok, Kapangan, Bokod, Tublay, La Trinidad, Itogon, Tuba, Sablan and the Baguio area. As a descendant of the Ibaloy tribe of Benguet (and the Baguio area that was culled out of La Trinidad and Tuba), I appreciate the writings of William Henry Scott, an American missionary   of the Anglican Church in the Philippines. Aside from teaching and lecturing in Philippine schools, he lived among the Igorots for some 20 years. Then had his research works placed in school libraries in the country, across the US, Spain and other countries in order to educate other people about the Igorots of the Gran Cordillera Central of North Luzon. He also wrote about the dramatic history of our ancestor’s response to foreign invasion.

Scott described the difference between the merry-making by the lowland tribes and the Igorots, saying further that the Christians are not worth anything because it is “all just a lot of noise-making with bells and drums and muskets, and then everybody just goes home to eat what little he has.” But the canyao (fiesta) of Ibaloys in the highlands are different. “They are tasty and satisfying and don’t have all that racket. They kill animals by the dozens and everybody drinks to their heart’s content, and then pass out.” I describe it as “piyasta ni ulay”. It is “eat and drink until you drop”.

The canyao is held for days and nights. In the lowlands, anybody can be mayor or headman. In the mountains, Ibaloy leaders are never changed but become more in number. In Ibaloy culture, it does not matter how much the host spends in a canyao, as long as it is within what is required by the traditional celebration. They were able to maintain this way of life.

Although in other parts of the Cordillera, the canyao as an independent tradition would not have been so objectionable had it been kept in isolation in the mountains. But one writer has put it: “who do no harm to nobody because nobody goes there” – but the fact was the lowlanders came and went as they pleased. The Igorot braves were deeply annoyed and irritated enough that they raided communities and carried off lowland heads (inhuman cruelty) or even whole lowlanders as slaves or objects of ransom.  

In relation to the definition of “Igorot brave” as an elder, a research work by DENR field men reported that the qualities of a “pangat” or elder includes that one “should have killed many” not as a no-nonsense killer but one who has killed enemies in tribal wars, in protection of his community and tribal members. The more people they killed, the more scars and tattoos are printed on their bodies as signs of bravery. In an interview, when then Congressman Vic Dominguez was asked “are there warlords in Mountain Province?” His answer was “awan ti warlord ijay ayan mi ta warrior kami amin.” His strong words stuck to my mind as the Bontocs are “bossy” because of their being “war-like”.

But for Prof. Eufronio “Morr” Pungayan, in our conversations in Session Road restaurants, he said, the “maksil ni Ibaloy” is a defender of the Ibaloys. There could have been Ibaloy warriors in the early times. Their being a leader is based on their skills in catching a cow. A skilled Ibaloy lad described as “matakal” can catch a runaway cattle by himself. The courage in battle, charisma, one who demonstrated ferocity and pervading influence in the village, dominance in the kin groups, intelligence and noble birth qualify one to be a chieftain as he ages. This respect is earned “by incidence or by real hard work.” By incidence – when a person achieves leadership by virtue of marriage, recommendation or recognized kinship; by real hard work – when somebody passes promotions and tests. The “self-built man”, they say. The Ibaloy warriors were vigilantes. They watch and protect the community from intruders more on the defensive, not like other tribes that were trained to be assassins and headhunters.

I wish Atty. Amador Batay-an the best of luck as he retires as NCIP director and enters a new chapter in his life. A government retiree in July, a rainy month, he is one among the “Rainy Day People”. A good man indeed, his bravery lies in the way he sports his haircut. Dayta ti Igorot. Happy trails Manong.