Posts Tagged ‘I-Besao’
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Ug-ogbo: a spirit of volunteerism
Character formation is a universal aspiration of different people in different culture and place. Yet these universal characters find specific expression in cultures especially among Indigenous peoples. As a member of the Igorot community, our people continue to discuss and model generation age value towards character formation in our present day Igorots and express these generation old practices that must be passed on to the next generation. One of those values is “Ugbo, Ug-ogbo, Ogbo, Og-ubgo” and translated in English as cooperative volunteerism, reciprocal labor exchange, common community undertaking, mutual self-help and similar translations.
What was common in the uplands was Og-ugbo during planting and harvest time. A group of people with fields would band together and harvest the field of family 1. The field owner usually provides lunch and shows where the field is to be worked on. On the next day the group moves one to family 2 and this goes on until all the fields of those who banded together us harvested. This is just one example and is also done during the planting season, the “dapilan” or the sugar cane crushed to make sugar, the building of a house in the “ili” and the like.
In the common day life, it is practiced in tune with the current needs and situation. Among the Maengs of Abra, during the sports competition other out of town competitions, the families practice “ur-or” “or-or” where each family gives one chupa or cup of rice for the team as their food contribution to those sent out to compete. This is also practiced in other activities when food is needed.
But this practice is slowly diminishing as most things are now translated into cash equivalence and labor is being paid. The practice is sometimes limited to close family or clan activities.
In mid 1980s a group of young professionals aged 21 to 30 started an organization called Association of Young Igorot Professionals, Inc. (AYIP) The vision and ideals that these Igorots profess is the plowing back of resources, professional expertise and time towards the betterment of communities. This was the volunteerism that speaks of their expression of volunteerism.
Last September 28, 2013 the Soroptimist International of Baguio organized a barn dance titled “I LOVE YOU THIS BIG” where several groups came to join to render mutual help in raising funds for the beneficiaries. The singing Congressman Nicasio Aliping Jr, Benj Cruz, Millet Juarigue, May Ann Balangue, Eva Marie Fianza, Pete Agoot were those who volunteered to sing with the accompaniment of the PRO Cor Combo. Groups who came to help raise funds included thee Veterans of foreign Wars Post 124 led by Post commander Willy Totanes and Past Post commander Larry Senato; Provincial Director Angela Gabriel of TESDA; PCI Dyann Bancawayan; BCPO city director Jess Cambay; Pastor Dante Ferrer, the Federation of Women’s Club; the Episcopal Church Women, Soroptimist Pines led by President Elisa Namoca; family and friends came together for self-help. Before the end of the night the Soroptimist International gave fifteen thousand pesos (15,000.00) to Kalipi Hillside Barangay to buy two sewing machine for their livelihood program and another fifteen thousand (15,000.00) to BCPO women and children protection desk for their one way mirror. The expression of self-help has reached a contemporary scenario where the basic need towards the livelihood program of the Kalipi Hillside Barangay is met through the cooperative effort of several sectors of the community. PSSupt Divina Mencio in her words of gratitude mentioned that the one way mirror has been a long desired need of the multi awarded unit.
In this present day occurrences’, the spirit of ug-ogbo seems so remote to Igorots yet in character transformation seminars this take the name volunteerism, community life and others. In those conferences and workshops of Igorot International Conferences (IIC) the International Cordillera BIMAAK Europe (ICBE) Conference; Grand Canao and other international conferences the desire to pass on good values and practices to younger generations persists. Yet, there are realities that seem to hinder these aspirations. Like what AYIP aspire and the “I love you this Big” activity it is then up to the people of today to anchor these volunteerism initiatives as expressions or even acts of deepening the appreciation of indigenous practices and values. It is fast diminishing because of the lack of knowledge and experience of the generation of Igorots today, thus it is highly encouraged to be taught not only in the dap-ay or ator but also in the sociology classes in the schools in all levels. Similarly, Character transformation should be anchored on culture and religious values. (Oct 5, 2013)
TENGAO, A TIME OF REST AND REINFORCEMENT
In creation, the Sabbath/Savath was a day of rest made holy by the Creator God. Several places in the Bible we are told to take rest like Psalms 46:10 “be still and know that I am God.” It is then considered a day of rest and a time of prayer. Sunday is generally the rest day in many countries but to the Seventh Day Adventist and the Sabbatarians rest day is on Saturday. This started as a religious practice however, rest days found its way into the workplace and we now have legislated and regulated rest days like birthday leave, sick leave, Sabbatical leave, vacation and annual leave.
In the Jewish tradition aside from a Sabbath day, they also have the Sabbath Year which is the seventh year of the agricultural cycle mandated in the Torah for Israel. This is the Shmita and the land is laid barren to fallow for the next agricultural year, other agricultural activities like planting, plowing and harvesting are forbidden. This was observed during Biblical times and believed to still being observed in Israel by the Jews.
For the Babylonians, counting from the new moon the 7th14th, 21st and 28th are considered “holy days and evil days” and unsuitable for prohibited activities but the 28th is a rest day. The Quran acknowledges the 6th day creation and the 7th day as a day of rest; however, they replaced the Sabbath with the Jumuah or Friday prayer just after midday. Some Muslim considers this not a holiday but some countries like United Arab Emirates and Bangladesh consider Friday a holiday.
To some tribes in the Cordillera like the Bontoks, I-Besao,I-Sagada, I-Kalinga, Tingguians and other tribes observe a day or several days of rest called the Tengao or Teer,Toer. This is a regulated day of rest called by the elders of the community or “Ili” and bans the coming inside or going out of the village. This has something to do with the fields, planting, butchering and cooking of pigs, khaat or cleaning of pathways and listening to the bird Ichew for a good or bad omen. During these times of teer/toer/Tengao prayers and rituals are performed by the elders and the spiritual leaders. During my service in the Cordillera villages, our schedules did recognize the “ili” holidays where trainings or monitoring activities are conducted cognizant of the beliefs of the community. It is true that the culture is challenged and change makes the culture dynamic, but in many ways the host culture prevails in times of debatable worldviews. However, we do not find this consistently followed by government projects and activities. Traditionally, observed by every member of the Ili/village, but the entry of government and other interventionist in the village led to tradition decay and lack of discipline. Moreover, the teaching on the importance of community discipline has not been passed on to the younger generation thus, the significance of the practice lost its meaning. Ways of passing on these traditions is integrating it in the new festivals like the 2013 Panagbenga where the Bontoc Teer Si Saray-at was one of the presentations. More about the Bontok life ways can be read in the writings of Dr. Kate Cholipas Botengan and Dr, June Prill Brett. In the 2013 Panagbenga the Bontoc Teer Si Saray-at was one of the presentations.
During these contemporary times rest days to the Igorot translated into the demands of work, the legislated leaves, and country, church or religious holy days.
My training as a missionary is to consider days, weeks or times of rest as part of the work cycle. While we were in Nepal, individual members would have alternative day off from the Bible school. This was spent by the staff in any way he chooses like sleep, prayer and fasting, visiting believers or friends. Even when our partners from Colorado came, we allowed them a week off after a month of teaching. They went trekking during the part of that week off. It is to rejuvenate and spent time with the Father in prayer. Resting is also considered an important aspect of healing. We would likewise take time offs during the school break to go to outreach so that we be rejuvenated outside of the classrooms.
We need to continue the time of rest and prayer, a time to connect with the Spiritual Being, a time for healing and a time for rejuvenation. Schools have semester breaks so student should be rejuvenated for the next semester, unfortunately the times have not been used properly. When we were in Bontoc, we would try to break school on Friday to give way for the students to go home to the village. Similarly, when we were in Nepal, we break on a Friday so that our students can go home for the weekend and come back Sunday afternoon to start another week of study.
Whatever it is, rest is indeed necessary to a weary and tired soul. (October 25, 2013)
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