A group of Baguio-based writers and a renowned photographer have documented indigenous traditions in an effort to preserve or even passed on to the future generations.
These practices have been compiled in the book called “Indigenous Wisdom at Work Building Resilient Communities in Baguio City.”
Ira Camelia Degawan, one of the book’s authors, said many indigenous peoples still observe these practices such traditional woodcarving, weaving tattooing, and hog raising but with the passage of time and urbanization, the younger generation no longer practice them.
Degawan said continuing with the practice cannot be forced but having a book can help educate the younger generation about their heritage.
Indigenous practices covered in the book are traditional livelihoods such as the art and skill of building stonewalls, mining, home gardening, hog raising; folk arts and crafts such as the traditional woodcarving of the Ifugaos, backstrap weaving, music, and the handtap tattooing of Kalinga.
Also included in the book are community practices to help one another such as aduyon, binnadang, baddang, and gamal.
Stories of Ibaloy communities, how migrant settlements such as Bontoc Village, Maligcong Village, Mountain Province community in Poliwes and San Vicente, and the Tanglag Village in Navy Base were established have been added as part of the historical account of various ethnolinguistic groups converged in Baguio.
Co-authors of the 250-page book are Judy Carino-Fangloy, Amian Tauli, and Geraldine Cacho with Ompong Tan as photographer. – Rimaliza A. Opiña
April 20, 2024
