By Penelope A. Domogo, MD
When lockdown was imposed here in the Philippines in March 2020, stores were closed except for those selling essential items like food and medicine. Public transportation was grounded. People stayed home especially the elderly and the very young. For those who are allowed to go out, they have to walk to the market or to the farm if they have no car. We have to do physical distancing. Wash hands more frequently. Wear mask if with other people. No handshakes, no hugging, no beso-beso. We don’t congregate en masse.
So what did people do at home? Well, Igorots are people of the land so a lot of us in the Cordillera went back to gardening, specifically planting edible plants – at least, that’s what I and my friends on Facebook posted. In other words, we produce our food, as much as possible.
It is said that this is the new normal. Well, actually, these things that covid has forced to do now is the original normal of indigenous living. For my generation (60s and above) who have grown up in the province, it’s going back to what was normal in the past. Then, stores were located only in the town center or poblacion and these were open only up to perhaps 5 or 6 o’clock and closed on Sundays. There was not much to buy- salt, sugar, candies, San Nicolas cookies, yes, soft drinks. Bread was not available everyday. In my birthplace, Kin-iway, market day was only after the mass on Sunday. Market meant the roadside where local produce from the neighboring villages was peddled and with the cash, the farmers bought salt and sugar and walked back to their villages which could be as far as 2 hours walk.
We didn’t travel far except to go to college or high school or work in Tabuk or in the mines or in the US (as nurses or US Navy). There was only one trip that plied the Besao-Baguio route and one trip for Bontoc via Sagada. So most of our travels were in nearby houses and villages and on foot. In other words, walking was a way of life.
My Mom was a public school teacher but, just like the other teachers and government employees, she would gather camote leaves for our pigs during lunchbreak and do more gardening after class. On weekends, all of us would tend to our camote patches in Banao or Bacnad or help plant or harvest rice. We planted beans, corn, squash, aside from camote and other vegetables. Sayote was in every one’s yard, just like today. Other vegetables like amti, gindey, kalunay, were provided free by Nature. We had chickens and pigs growing naturally, just like all other households. In short, we produced our food, just like all other families in the village. We were food sufficient.
Because producing food naturally is labor-intensive, we spent most of our daytime in the outdoors, each one to his or her own task. There was no time to party all night, drinking and eating all you can. There was no time to watch movies or Korean telenovela. Except for community celebrations like begnas, that were necessary for survival, there were no festivals that drew big crowds. There was no congregating except for a brief meal during rice planting and harvest but then they would just be at most 10 people. Because Cordillera villages are small, elementary classes were about 20-30 students (even less nowadays). Church congregations were (and are still) relatively small. By nature, there was physical distancing.
Another indigenous practice is that when arriving from faraway and when visiting a household especially if there are small children, you don’t just go in immediately. You first have to sit outside the house, rest and recover your breathe. What I heard is that this is for you to shed off any bad sprit that you might have met along the way so it won’t enter the house and bring illness to the child. I interpret this as to shed off any bad energy that you might be harboring – tiredness, extreme emotions, negative emotions and focus on the intention of your visit or on thanksgiving for a safe arrival. For me it’s a prayer. It’s a beautiful practice and so I try to do this as much as possible. At present, this is the essence of hand washing when you arrive home.
Handshakes, hugging and beso-beso were introduced to us by our western colonizers. Igorots just look and say “Hello”. Nope, that’s still western. I think we all know each other so no need for all those.
So for us Igorots and other indigenous peoples and probinsianos, the new normal is the original normal. Nature has a way of pulling us back to natural living. For our own sake, let us heed her.***
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“On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.” Psalm 145:5
