One red, autonomous Cordillera

LETTERS FROM THE AGNO

March L. Fianza

Thirty-five years after Abra, Benguet, Kalinga, Apayao, Ifugao, Mountain Province and Baguio City were lumped as the Cordillera Administrative Region on July 15, 1987 under Exec. Order 220; we have yet to conduct honest and sincere public information-consultation efforts for the proposed regional autonomy
    The grassroots in the nooks and crannies of the Cordillera are out of sight and away from the main access roads but they can be reached and be told about the gains and drawbacks of having regional autonomy.
    With honest and truthful planning, the proponents of regional autonomy can hold mass information drives in the peripheries for it is only by being informed that people are able to decide on whether or not a new regional political system is welcome.
    Set aside funds to retain regional autonomy in the minds of Cordillerans by undertaking continuous information campaigns in the remotest sitios. Going down to the ground is more productive and effective instead of planning and spending for regional autonomy summits.
    Celebrating yearly the anniversary of the Cordillera Administrative Region cannot be avoided, but those costly autonomy meetings are attended by the same people who listen to the same resource speakers.
    Those invited to the summits are the usual heads of agencies and government workers who continue to benefit from the present regional government structure. After the two-day meetings, they leave and return to their usual work.
    The following year, another regional autonomy summit will be organized. This time, it is held in another province so that those who will attend can visit beautiful spots. Anyway, expenses on food, transportation, hotel rooms and others are covered by our taxes.
    By the time they get back to normal office work, Cordillera autonomy is again out of their minds. And not one is aware if there will be autonomy soon or this comfortable setup will stay forever.
    In contrast, there are political leaders who say that there is no draft autonomy law to present to the public as it has yet to pass congress. That may be the situation, but there is a lot of information from the proposed draft that can be circulated, pending the approval of a law.
    I take this year’s Cordillera anniversary theme – “One Autonomous Cordillera: Ensuring Social Development and Inclusive Growth in the New Normal” as a clamor for more comprehensive investments that are essential during a pandemic.  
    Indeed, the world is in the “new normal” but this year’s CAR anniversary does not look any different from the past celebrations, except that the people who will attend will be wearing masks and doing fist bumps.
    What will not be considered as unusual in the New Normal is the act of chewing “momma” because it has been there since. It has spread in Benguet’s 13 towns. In La Trinidad, you will see farmers tending to their cut-flower and vegetables while they are high on momma. 
    On a tour in Mindanao in 1997, I noticed betel-chewing Muslims. They are like us, Igorots, particularly our woodcarving traders who wait for customers at the Old Stone Market. There, they sit beside can spittoons for their airborne red momma spittles that miss their targets and paint the floor red instead.
    Out of curiosity, I tried chewing momma when there was nothing to do in the 80s. After a couple of minutes of chewing, the preparation stimulates the salivary glands that induce the chewer to keep on spitting.
    It also induces a gush of energy, an unwanted and uncontrollable “high” that you want to get rid of right away if you are not used to it. While others enjoyed it, I regretted trying the formula. At first I thought it was as easy as chewing Chiclets. My first try was the last.
    Chewing momma is normal not only in the Cordillera, Cagayan Valley, Ilocos, Pangasinan and Mindanao but in the Visayas and parts of Southern Tagalog provinces, especially in IP areas.
    Although there is a strong legislation that prohibits the spitting of momma in public places in cities, in Bontoc, Tabuk and Ifugao; Cordillerans seem to lose their memory once they insert between their molars the influential momma.
    Sharing momma to a stranger is one simple form of starting new friendship. The betel nut has become an ingredient that provided the solution to an uncomfortable situation between strangers.
    During the Spanish period in Southern Luzon, betel nut was served with coffee and cigars to visitors. This was a sign of courtesy and hospitality to visitors. In China, house guests were welcomed with momma. IPs in Australia, New Zealand, Vietnam, Laos, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Taiwan and Philippines are betel nut-chewing people.
    If chewing momma is a means by which we can be civil to each other, then maybe the advocates of regional autonomy can hold an information campaign on the issue with a theme such as “one red autonomous Cordillera”.
    Chewing momma is no longer controversial as long as the spittle lands in the right direction. It is accepted in so many circles, whether the one chewing is a politician, the rich and poor, and ordinary citizens.
    Call it a crazy idea, but if the momma has united our ancestors, then we can be united today under “one red autonomous Cordillera”. Instead of the unity gong caravan invention that is full of cosmetics, why not come closer to reality and hold a Cordillera Momma Festival next time.