"We do not sell water here”

CULTURAL NOTES

Richard Kinnud    

One time, I jogged to an outlying village though just seven kilometers away from the town center and stopped by a store supposedly to buy water.
    "Adda lakuyu nga danum, manang," I asked. (Do you have some water for sale?)
    "Ay, awan laku nga danum ditoy ayanmi ta mainom met ti danum ditoy," the storekeeper replied.
    I understood what she meant that they are not selling bottled water as water is already potable in the area.  That long-time joke immediately came to mind and so I said, "Diay mangalngal nga danum ngay?" (Do you have the water that can be chewed?")
    I expected the storekeeper to either laugh, or at least smile or maybe upset, but she opened the ref and said, "Pandan ken mango flavor lang ti adda!" (Only pandan and mango flavor is available!) She was referring to some ice candy for sale. 
    I left the store smiling at my own joke.  And my free fill of water from the storekeeper’s jug was the food for the mind the rest of my way.  While commercial spirit has obviously permeated the community, the manufactured ice candy on my hand as a simple evidence, I very much appreciate the fact that they do not sell water in that village.
    There is that often told story of a villager who cooked chicken raised from his yard for his guest and would later say, "Pagpasensiyaanyu daytoy manok ta addayu met pagalaan tay naimas nga sardinas!". (Let's make do with this chicken as the store for sardines is far!)
    I think that story is an illustration of the frame of mind that food bought is better than food produced, that the manufactured is better than the natural, that the city is better than the rural, etc. Thinking about this actually reposed me some self-reproach but on the other hand, I also believe the free water from that village is teaching some good lesson.
    Such could be something small an act for the villagers not to "give in" to bottled water. But I think it is a big ingenious protest against profiting from something where profit is not meant.  Or stated differently, it is the preservation of a culture to make free something that is really meant to be free.
    As if on cue, an artwork at a waiting shed I later passed by had the printed words, "You have what it takes to create something good in your life" beside a palm with a heart shape on it.  Their act of "not selling water" could be what it takes to create something good for the life of their community.  It is apparently freedom from always thinking about commerce and profit.  It is a statement that there are other else to think about such as the source of water for it to remain potable, which is essentially a part of them taking care of each other's welfare in the community.
    Could this change soon?  That community has gardens on its mountainside.  And should these expand to some visible forest cover, there could be a time when the village may have shortage of water.  Or if pollution will soon seep into their water source because of possible use of chemicals in their gardens, water purifying stations would soon be the in thing.  I hope to pass by there another day, and bottled water is still not on the shelf for sale.  I hope that the village shall sustain a good culture of care for the environment.