When one visits Baguio
like Mines View Park or Burnham Park, it is very much noticeable that several
tourists patronize the take-a-photo-with-Igorot-gears business. They pay at
least P 10 for a shot wearing Igorot/Cordilleran garment and holding replicas
of other native paraphernalia like spears.
Many would probably agree that this is an indication of change of perception regarding the Igorots or the Cordillerans in general. There are a lot of stories on how foreigners and even fellow Filipinos from the lowlands describe the Igorots/Cordillerans as a barbaric ethnic group. Yet at what one can see at the heart of Cordillera, Baguio City, perhaps there was a change of heart. By wearing what is distinctly Cordilleran, other people recognize that the natives came from a rich civilization with its distinct culture which is often reflected in the garments and other material possessions.
This should encourage every Cordilleran to be proud of his culture and continue to develop it to something distinctly Cordilleran. It can not be denied that generally, indigenous ways of doing things have already been diluted with many things foreign or has vanished. The Ifugao's mumbaki, the Kankana-eys mambunong and many other significant emblems of the different Cordilleran cultures are now disappearing if not already vanished. The native houses, and the paraphernalia inside them are already things of the past or for museum display. The embrace of new religions, development in education, and of course economic progress are factors to all of these things. But perhaps there still hope in creating a modern day Cordilleran completely distinct from other Filipinos.
One might argue that the Cordilleran culture is visible today. The Cordillerans are showing so much during festivals such as the Mt. Province's Lang-ay Festival, Ifugao's Gotad, Kalinga's Ullalim, Benguet's Adivay, and even at Baguio's Panagbenga. And the Baguio City Parks and some other public places are adorned with distinctly Cordilleran artworks. But is this the real essence of Igorotness/Cordilleran-ness?
Beyond the festivals and adornments, it is always great to have this culture be distinctly manifested in the the day-today activities. For example, pinikpikan is a great treat during occasions and even tastes better when it is native chicken raised from ones backyard. It is fascinating to hear a toddler speak in English but perhaps it would be more amazing if that toddler too can recite a poem in the native dialect. Western themes during wedding celebrations are often a delight to see but the scene could be more colorful with the native red and black stripes. And does everyone enjoy the “garter ceremony” often adopted in weddings? The modern day dance moves are delight to the eyes but the tadek, bendian, tayo, and other native dances are equally graceful. All those desserts whipped with mayonaise and other creamers are great but the patupat, binakle, and other native delicacies are tasteful too.
The bottomline is that there is a native culture/civilization to speak about. Other people foreign to this mountain part of the Philippine Islands love our culture and it is each Cordilleran's responsibility to maintain and develop it in order that at whatever age of modernization, the distinction would not be lost.
Many would probably agree that this is an indication of change of perception regarding the Igorots or the Cordillerans in general. There are a lot of stories on how foreigners and even fellow Filipinos from the lowlands describe the Igorots/Cordillerans as a barbaric ethnic group. Yet at what one can see at the heart of Cordillera, Baguio City, perhaps there was a change of heart. By wearing what is distinctly Cordilleran, other people recognize that the natives came from a rich civilization with its distinct culture which is often reflected in the garments and other material possessions.
This should encourage every Cordilleran to be proud of his culture and continue to develop it to something distinctly Cordilleran. It can not be denied that generally, indigenous ways of doing things have already been diluted with many things foreign or has vanished. The Ifugao's mumbaki, the Kankana-eys mambunong and many other significant emblems of the different Cordilleran cultures are now disappearing if not already vanished. The native houses, and the paraphernalia inside them are already things of the past or for museum display. The embrace of new religions, development in education, and of course economic progress are factors to all of these things. But perhaps there still hope in creating a modern day Cordilleran completely distinct from other Filipinos.
One might argue that the Cordilleran culture is visible today. The Cordillerans are showing so much during festivals such as the Mt. Province's Lang-ay Festival, Ifugao's Gotad, Kalinga's Ullalim, Benguet's Adivay, and even at Baguio's Panagbenga. And the Baguio City Parks and some other public places are adorned with distinctly Cordilleran artworks. But is this the real essence of Igorotness/Cordilleran-ness?
Beyond the festivals and adornments, it is always great to have this culture be distinctly manifested in the the day-today activities. For example, pinikpikan is a great treat during occasions and even tastes better when it is native chicken raised from ones backyard. It is fascinating to hear a toddler speak in English but perhaps it would be more amazing if that toddler too can recite a poem in the native dialect. Western themes during wedding celebrations are often a delight to see but the scene could be more colorful with the native red and black stripes. And does everyone enjoy the “garter ceremony” often adopted in weddings? The modern day dance moves are delight to the eyes but the tadek, bendian, tayo, and other native dances are equally graceful. All those desserts whipped with mayonaise and other creamers are great but the patupat, binakle, and other native delicacies are tasteful too.
The bottomline is that there is a native culture/civilization to speak about. Other people foreign to this mountain part of the Philippine Islands love our culture and it is each Cordilleran's responsibility to maintain and develop it in order that at whatever age of modernization, the distinction would not be lost.
