TODAY, LET ME share you some self-discoveries, physio-psychological ‘experiences’, realizations, and inner thoughts – plus postulates resulting.
THESE ALL STARTED – you guessed right: not ‘all-at-once’, when one nephew – MMDs (Mother’s sister’s daughter’s son), Ventura Luckyas, voluntarily came to the house and offered to be my attendant and ‘bodyguard’ – from those sudden dreams and dangerous wake-up-nights, He said (in Nabaloi, but let’s translate.): “the cousins and others say you’re having those trauma-dreams, balekha, lately. I come to help if you need some?”
‘SURE DO’, I said, and further: ‘I really appreciate. Go, and come back – fast: with your personal needs and other sleeping necessities. Zaldy and Dandaen (another cousin, and nephew, respectively) might come and join us. We’ll dine and tell some little stories tonite. But alas!
VENTURA HAD ALREADY cooked, and later, we finished Dinner – after pausing for some intervals expecting the two other men to come. But they didn’t.
THE NEXT DAY and the third – only Ventura came to offer me ‘guard’ and share some stories.
ON THE 4TH (or 5th) night, he came again.. this time with something slung, shoulder to the sides. It was a portable radio and the announcer was speaking.. in Kankana-ey!
HE WAS TOUCHING the Volume key but I said: ‘no, please don’t. I want to listen some.. more..
AND LISTEN WE did.. to the announcer’s words, to the songs and music, to the Greetings and dedications, etc. – rendered not only in English, Iluko, and Tagalog – but [quite ‘new’ and interestingly for me, some other parts] also in: Kankana-ey, Nabaloi, and Kalanguya. “Ayuhh!” or “Wow!” I mostly said.
I, FOR ONE – I’m happy, I’m glad [– and please refrain from misquoting me] that: where we ‘perennially’ failed before on radio, you’re {or they’re} presently – and: over and over, succeeding each time, I listen; each step you ‘take-it-away’.
NO KIDDING, I really appreciate what you’re doing now ‘on-air’ (and surely too: in practice?)
WITNESS FOR INSTANCE, one announcer reading the text messages, requests, and greetings in three major languages of the Cordillera, nl. Kankana-ey, Nabaloi (or Ibaloi), and Kalanguya.
HIS RENDERINGS: PRONUNCIATION, cadence, stress, volume or height, intonation, etc., wow! even the French linguist of the Benguet tongues has no better word to say but: Excellent! [ex-se-law!]. of course, the ‘Philippine’ English version of this would be: flawless [and oh,] how fluid! No kidding again folks, ask or verify from Cordi researchers Ingrid Balbines and Lynette C. Bibal; and they’ll re-assure you that’s gospel. But
DO NOT LOOK for just that one announcer I’m describing, or your amazement may get amplified! And why?
BECAUSE ALMOST ALL (– or rather all) of them can do the above-said ‘Excellent’ Reading – with parallel or near-same fluency, accent, and accuracy..
TRY LISTENING ONCE – or, if not, ask those who listen to the programs and you’ll agree with what I mean.
A FEW MORE months, and we should not be surprised – if the announcers shall be reading too messages, questions, dedications, and greetings from listeners all over the Cordilleras – rendered in the other Cordi languages like: Isnag, Tingguian, Kalinga, Ifugao and others. Yes, why not?
YES, I ENCOURAGE [– and let’s all do –] these announcers to keep using our own languages, and keep discovering even more! “You’ll see, you’ll love just doing it!” Let’s tell them.
IF YOU’RE PRESENTLY using three major languages in the Southern Cordi, and these are: Kankana-ey, Ibaloi, and Kalanguya, inch a little more and you’ll hear the other tongues: Karao (in Bokod), Iowak (in Shomolpos, TInongdan), Bingaan (in Binga and Suburbs), Cataguan (in North central Benguet, according to some books), and Benguet-Bago – in some boundary Sitios of Bakun and Kapangan. Ayaket! And well,
IF YOU WANT to learn; and then, use as well, the other (Northern) Cordi languages in your radio and TV career, you’ll find them spoken among many residents of Baguio, La Trinidad, and other ‘urbanized’ (or ‘semi-urbanized’) areas. Ayuhh!
April 24, 2024
