Tuesday, April 22, 2008 Ifugao's beloved son braving all challenges
FAR from my usual trips to Ifugao, when my task was primarily to cover events taking place in the province, my last trip was a diversion from the picture taking and narration of events.
Aside from covering the three-day International Igorot Consultation (IIC) at the Banaue Hotel, I was also tasked to interview one of most talked-about officials in the Cordillera, Ifugao Governor Teodoro "Teddy" Baguilat Jr.
Prior to my departure to Ifugao, the governor's staff confirmed my appointment. The governor is available after 5 p.m. of April 13.
Fellow reporter Jane Cadalig was supposed to join me at the IIC, but had to cancel the trip at the last minute for she had to go back to her native Sagada, Mountain Province to attend a family gathering.
So along with Philippine Information Agency (PIA) director Helen Tibaldo, Joel Arthur Tibaldo of the Cordillera News Agency (CNA), lawyer Delmar Cariño of the Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI), Laarni Ilagan of Manila Times, Glo Tuazon of Baguio Reporter, Ramon Dacawi of the Public Information Office (PIO), Eliral Refuerzo also of Baguio Reporter, Redjie Cawis, Ariel Arcaina and Francis Martin of the PIA, we went to Ifugao, on the wee hours of April 13.
We arrived at 9 a.m. Before that we had breakfast in Solano, Nueva Vizcaya and then had a tour to the Ibulao bed and breakfast inn, in Kiangan, the province's old capital.
With my schedule at past 5 p.m., I knew I had enough time to prepare and interview the governor and of course ask a very important question, which my editor -- Sam B -- said I should not to forget: "why does he remain a bachelor?"
At the opening ceremonies of the IIC at the hotel, the governor was of course present. After that, he shook hands with IIC co-host Delmar, then me, then uttered the unexpected -- he has a terrible headache from lack of sleep from last night's rescue operations, had to retire to his room and doze off -- so there, so much for the interview.
Until the second day of the IIC, the governor was invited as spokesperson to the youth group, who, earlier joined villagers in nearby Poitan village in Banaue for their immersion activities.
I may have failed to have a one-one-one interview with the governor, but the excerpts below may give a piece of Teddy's mind on Igorot culture, his experiences as an Igorot mingling with children from the city, his decision to go back to Ifugao and yes, why he remains a bachelor.
From the city
Raised and schooled in Manila, Teddy enjoyed all the conveniences of city life. He wore shoes, had complete school materials and had friends who like him also enjoy the bounty of what it is like to be living in the city.
He knew he was Ifugao -- after all his parents, his father a native of Kiangan, Ifugao and his mother who is 25 percent American, Ilocano and a Gatdang raised him knowing his roots, so every time he was asked of his native province, he never hesitated to tell his friends that he is an Igorot.
But typical of some lowlanders, the notion of being Igorot is they live in tree houses, are pagans, hunt wild animals, and worse, have tails. He said this stereotype made him cry. He cried because he did not know much of his culture that correcting a wrong notion proved to be difficult.
On his third year in high school, the young Teddy decided to go back to his native Kiangan. Albeit receiving discouragement from his parents, he prevailed and pursued his studies at the St. Joseph High School.
Adjusting in a rural village
His return to Kiangan was not exactly difficult. Like in the city, Teddy continued to enjoy the amenities he enjoyed in the city.
In school, he wore shoes, had several notebooks, stylish pens and a more expensive backpack. "I was the first Ifugao boy who had a Walkman then!"
His classmates, on the other hand, wore slippers and had only one notebook.
He stood out from the rest, to say the least. To blend in with his classmates, started sporting slippers, had one notebook and a pencil. He also ate what his classmates commonly ate. "No hotdogs, no ham, no electricity."
He stayed in a rickety house, which he suspected was haunted. He slowly adjusted to village life.
Urban vs rural life
Time came when he had to go back to Manila and pursue his college education. He studied at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City.
His going back to Manila made him realize the stark contrast between rural and urban life. "I saw how underprivileged my province mates were," Teddy said. This made him decide soon, he will return to his native province.
In 1991, he did just that. In Kiangan, he established a non-government organization (NGO), which grants scholarships to Ifugaos.
Considered by some as a quixotic dream, he ventured into politics and won as councilor of Kiangan. It was winning a seat in government, which made him pursue his lifelong dream of preserving the Ifugao's culture and heritage. "It is my reason for being," he stressed.
Rocky road
The dream however is not that easy to transform into reality. He observed despite recognition and appreciation by the Ifugaos of their culture, asking them to stay is a challenge.
He said while Ifugao has a high birth rate, adults leave the province in search of more lucrative jobs.
But this did not stop him from saying "in every problem, there is always a solution."
He said it should be a mission in a family for one sibling to stay behind and preserve their culture. "At least when you decide to come back, the family house is still there," he said, adding that other members of the family have to subsidize those who are left behind.
Culture is wealth
Other than the suggestion to subsidize one member of the family, cultural tours are also arranged by the Provincial Government.
Tourists are made to participate in planting the tinawon rice and terracing and are made to sleep in native huts.
He stressed, it is never wrong to embrace modern ways, including technology but he said the youth should also learn the indigenous dances, culture and architecture.
The Provincial Government in cooperation with foreign donors also established 19 Hudhud Schools of Living Traditions.
Why he remains single
Teddy made it his mission to help the province rise from poverty and preserve its heritage, but as to why he remains single, he said he has difficulty showing his affection to the opposite sex.
If you believe that, then you probably haven't met the enigmatic Teddy. (RO)
