THERE ARE SOME old pictures – of the once not-so-sleepy settlement of Bingaan, but the mango trees cover or overshadow the small pathways, the households, the stonewalls – double and single, and other important details, thus our need of a local artist to further crystallize and bring freshness and life to our recollections and reflections of old Bingaan
LET ME NOW proceed – with intent Focus. imagine that I am now seated on a palangka, on adequate view of the surroundings – infront of the Pedro “Aliw-iw” Lampitao ancestral home, or Sengeg ni Baley
STRAIGHT NORTHEASTERN, YOU see a Pasbol or animal gate (two posts, with holes on both so that the bamboo poles may be inserted horizontally, when opening or closing them.
TWO PATHWAYS EMANATE from there: one leading to the balusbus (Ibaloi native trolley transport, above across the river Agno) and destination: the Lampitao ricefields and swidden farms, omma, at Dengas). The other pathway leads Southeasterly to Kesbeng, where you’ll find four or five new ricefields regularly planted to, plus two others not yet tested with crops or so.
NEAR THESE. YOU’LL notice three Difay ni Baley or guest houres (of Lampitao) erected by his son, Kohdowai or Antonio, and sons-in-law: Esoy Canite and Bacbac Lackias.
SHIFTING OUR VIEW – going Northeasterly or counterclockwise, but still sitting from our observation vantage point, we see another gate – a bigger one than the former described (Supra), made of the same materials and of the same style. This is the main gate to the dwelling.
THIS GATE GIVES – or accepts, two big pathways, Shalan na angkakambaleg: on the right side and Northwards to: the Sitios of Debcöw Dongbaan (horse racing ground) and Shacshac – also called Debcöw Kawajan (bambusa vulgaris).
ON THE LEFT side and Southwards, the big pathway leads to sub-sitios: Eskwedaan (lit. “school”) and Despag (“lower elevation”). But before we go to the Sitio subs, there are two unique views that may invite your attention thereat:
COMING OUT FROM that gate and walking some 30 steps, you’ll notice a special, one-in-a-kind tree to your left: the Bolak, or Pongan (“pillow”) tree – whose ‘fruit’ when peeled gives you that white, soft, cotton-like fiber people patiently collect and have these stuffed on an empty flour sack – sewing them in, to make excellent pillows.
[THAT BOLAK TREE is still there. I last viewed it enjoyably – circa two years ago, when Mr. and Mrs. Julius Caez P. Lampitao who presently reside there, gave an offering or ritual party].
FROM THAT SAME gate further, you’ll notice the ‘single-file’ stone fence you’ll follow as guide – when you walk to the two sub-sitios.
[NOTE: THIS STONE fence – ‘single-file’ preceded the big wires of Today – and the ‘barbed’ (ugh!) wires, used now to enclose dwellings, lots, or properties.
[IT WAS ALSO ‘practical’ – I later learned from the Informants, because: when an aggressor – animal or person, attempts ENTRY into the dwelling, the people inside will know – by the sound of the touched – and now falling stones piled atop one another.
[THEY’LL SAY: AMANGKA bang-bang e atoll.. ima e aman seskep (Transl: “Falling are the stone fences.. there’s something (or s.o.) attempting entry”), and they’ll keep themselves warned – or curious or ready]. Ah, follow that atoll and you’ll pass by sub-sitios Eskwedaan and finally, Despag. In said sitios:
AT THE ENTRANCES, you’ll notice ‘double-file’ atolls – two ‘single-file’, paralleled atolls – seeded with earth, or small stones – on top of which are placed flat, smooth stones for the village people to sit on; or, bask in the morning sun.
[NAH, DON’T IMAGINE those doubled stone fences planted with flowers, or even onion leeks! That would be much, much later – or nowadays. Sometimes too – in between two different – but you bet: related by-blood households, there were those ‘double-file’ fences. One serving purpose:
[THE YOUNG ADULTS – Beddolekki tan meshekit, didn’t need to find chairs and benches to sit on while conversing – the ‘double-files’ or ato-atoll convenienced them as such; and further: gave them ‘poise and style’. Say the Kabayan and Loakan (Itogon) narrators – now seniors: Singa barey s-tyle to noman eh (Transl: “as if there’s that incomparable style, CONC”).
I LIFT MEANWHILE these memories or recollections of old Bingaan.. in anticipation of a next-segment follow-up, and so forth.
THE FOREGOING NARRATIONS or observations are refreshed from Yours truly’s experiences and Past – at about the age of five, even less perhaps; what’s sure: I was beginning school that time – staying during school days at my aunt Saminja’s house – some 10 meters or so from the aforecited Aliw-iw (or Lampitao) ancestral home.
AT THAT TIME [– or, in this Discussion’s time], Bingaan was a ‘center’ village, where people of other villages come to visit or frequent. It was ‘ruled’ by several family heads – but acknowledging one Impan-ama or “recognized father”, the late Don Mariano Fianza. In some old Tax Declaration papers, the addresses official clearly read: Bingaan (or Binga), Lucbuban, Itogon. Ayuhh kha nete!
