Philouise’s Weblog

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)