Tuesday, December 30, 2008 Weygan: The use of the feet By Sacha Garah K. Weygan Ubbog
I'D RATHER take a jeepney to get to upper Session Road than walk. That was way back when these jeepneys lived up to their names - express. Now, these jeepneys have multiplied along with other vehicles squeezing in our roads as if every hour is rush hour. That was also when I could let go of a few pesos for a fare. Now, I've found the use of my feet. And it amazed me.
As a mountaineer, I realized that with a full battle gear - a mountain spirit, a good company, and a pair of itchy feet, I could walk for hours up and around mountains and still be able to walk some more. Whether it's bad weather, hunger or weariness, mudslides or loose rocks, or leeches, it is never enough for the feet. Even hours of getting lost and night trekking won't stop the itching for more adventure.
Where I lived last year, everyday is a walking day - in the morning with the neighborhood kids and in the afternoon with my co-teachers. It's not tiring for the feet but rather for the mouth - a good morning and a goodbye to everyone you meet and with whom you part ways. It wasn't tiring for us who lived near the school, compared to our students who wake up at 4 a.m. so they could start walking early to get to school on time.
Our walks extended to our students' homes. We started home visiting when one of our students stopped attending his classes. We learned that in his last few days in school, he walked to and from his home five kilometers away instead of going home to his uncle's house near the school. Even with a second visit, we failed to persuade him to come back.
In our other visits, we were able to walk around all of the sitios of Barangay Taba-ao at Kapangan in the 10 months we lived there. We knew who among our students walked home together and how near or far each lived from their school.
And we came to understand why they'd prefer to wear slippers. Their school shoes aren't for walking up and down the muddy trails leading to their homes, especially in the rainy season. Some bring their slippers on uniform days and change footwear before entering and after leaving the school campus.
One time, watching first graders running around wild and barefoot, I decided to try it myself and went barefoot for a day. When I went to class, one of my students, wondering where my shoes had been, offered me his slippers. When I refused to put on his, the others asked if I'd wanted them to take off their slippers too. I went home that day carrying my shoes. Except for a few sharp stones, the earth and cement felt good on the feet.
Back in Baguio this year, I lost my daily walking routine. With jeepneys and taxis everywhere, I began to lose the use of my feet. But true Baguio people love to walk. From them I learned that walking around the city requires careful planning and special skills to be able to navigate through crowded sidewalks and overpasses, avoid polluted areas, and cross one-way streets. Better armed, my feet gained greater freedom.
I just got back from my most challenging climb through Mt. Amuyao, Barlig to Batad, Banaue. Scratching the itchy feet has to wait for a while until my bruised legs and blistered toes have fully healed. For now, I have to give in to the itching of my hands.
(For comments and suggestions, readers may email Ubbog Cordillera Young Writers at ubbogcordillera@gmail.com or at http://ubbogcordillera.blogspot.com.)
