ACCORDING to my mother, writers and ethnographers, in the olden times the "ili" (communities) of the Mountain Provinces has the Olog and the Dap-ay. For many generations this survived the changes brought about by technology, education, religion and government. As we celebrate Indigenous Peoples month, we realize the diminishing tribes of our people in the land. Politically correct they are called Indigenous Peoples and missiology's "nations."
Those who grew up in the system tell stories of the time spent in these indigenous institutions. The Dap-ay is for the men and boys are expected to gather firewood and feed the insatiable hearth fire slowly falters. Boys kulkulis the men's forefoot thickened by walking barefoot over mountains, rivers and valleys and through earth and water. Boys who have experienced being there became regular and find a place in the dap-ay when they grow older.. A few weeks ago, when we went home to Besao, the road from Kin-iway now goes all the way down to Padanga-an Dap-ay. It has lost its original physical structure, but they say it remains an indigenous institution where community matters are discussed, advocated and decided.
The Olog is what outsiders will call a girls dorm with an older woman as the dorm master. Young girls sleep in the Olog after they are too old to sleep with their mothers. The girls do home chores and are much seen participating in community life and celebrations. They grew up taught by the elders and the other community institutions. They have roles to play as girls and relationships are nurtured. But as homes are improved and more rooms are made, the children now have their rooms and the Olog as a dorm has lost its significance and use.
To some elders they lament these developments because they believe it contributed to teenage pregnancy, premarital sex and sexually transmitted diseases. The presence of restrain brought about by community presence and values has been a deterrent in the occurrence of these social problems of teenagers.
In 2012, a ranking official of the United Nation Population Fund Agency reported that the teenage pregnancies in the Philippines surged by 70 percent over one decade. This strengthened the need for advocacy programs in educating adolescents on various topics including teenage dating, premarital sex, healthy and unhealthy relationships especially among the most vulnerable aged 10 to 19. However, the 2013 National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) reported that one in ten young Filipino women age 15-19 has begun childbearing: 8 percent are already mothers and another 2 percent are pregnant with their first child. Another year comes and Population Commission reported that the Cordillera Region has the highest prevalence of teenage pregnancy over the other 17 regions.
Last October 6, the Soroptimist International of Baguio conducted its first of a several "Teenage Dating Violence Awareness program" as part of its role in protecting girls and giving them alternatives to live their dream. Together with PCI Divine Mencio we related the cycle of violence as shown in the series of studies. Revealing to the girls is the difference of a healthy and an unhealthy relationship and the factors that propagate these relationships. We hope these advocacy and education will help in making more teenagers prepare for a better future.