Philouise’s Weblog

SANGAL DI KULTURA

STORIES THE STONES HEAR

In 2007, the column “Sangal di Kultura” was launched, a Maeng phrase meaning “Web of Cultures.”  The column  always considered Cordillera culture vis a vis other cultures. This was based on more than 15 years experience and study that I had in the Cordillera, the Himalayas and other parts of Asia.

            The column took a leave after I assumed office as a city councilor of Baguio. The column resumes as we celebrate the 104^th Charter day of the City of Baguio and  I share some stories about the early times in Baguio.

            During my tour of duty in the city, I was able to come across several Dap-ays structures in public offices as well as in the barangays. Dap-ays is part of the culture of the Maengs of Abra and the tribes of the Mountain Province including Sagada and Besao. This is similar to the Ator and Ato of the Bontoc tribe. There are several structural features of the dap-ay but the most common is the circularly arranged stones with a seat and a backrest with a fire pit in the middle. The Dap-ay is one of the cultural practices of the Maengs of Abra that sets them apart from the rest of the tribal groups of Abra.

            In the olden times, the Dap-ay was the  recognized formal institution of learning, leadership, legislation, justice. It was the seat of governance and rituals that preserve the identity, peace and order and their spirituality. There are still Dap-ays that continue to function as such. Though the rituals, discussions and decisions are the more important aspects of the dap-ay, it is the circularly arranged stones that is commonly seen as the symbol of the Dap-ay.

To archeologists and students of culture, stone carvings unearthed or built have much to say about the history and culture of people. Stone walls portray skills, imagination and  functionability.

            More recently, Dap-ays have been constructed in various places around Baguio City. Most popular among them are those found in Café by the Ruins, PIA-Car, DILG, Bontoc Village, Guisad Barangay.

            Guisad valley in the 1960s, according to my husband was one wide children’s playground with perimeters that stretches from  what is the present Campo Filipino, Cresencia Village, Pinsao, Pinget, Dizon  Lucban, Quirino Hill and the Guisad Barangays. In those times the valley  perimeters were forested and the most common activity they do was to explore the caves, gather mushroom after the rain, kid fights to determine who is the “King of the Mountain” and raiding the kaingin “umas” for camote, corn, peanuts and bananas.

            They raid the strawberry fields of the Bureau, slept in uninhabited tombs and build  huts in the mountain  where they slept during summers. They were also known as the fire fighters during those days. But accordingly they were the ones who set the bushes on fire so they can gather the vintage bullets and cannon balls of the war remnants.

            Not many may still remember Guisad valley, but part of revisiting and holding on to history maybe the reason that on January 07, 2010 with RA 9918, the Pines City High School annex located in Cresencia Village was named Guisad Valley National High School. ( Sept 1, 2013)