Balweg: Ina Maria “Uyang” Amingay Insigne laid to rest, will continue to shine

THE sun was going to its zenith, shining brightly except for patches of silvery clouds high above the Baguio Memorial Cemetery. This was the scenery along that part of Quirino Highway, popularly known as Naguilian Road, last Tuesday, November 22, 2016, when the funeral cortege entered the Memorial Cemetery gate. There was not much fanfare, not even the dirge-like rendition of religious songs common in convoys bringing the remains of people to their final resting place.

The funeral car bore the body of the late Maria Amingay Insigne, fondly called by younger relatives and close friends simply as “Ina Uyang”.

The solemn entry of single-filed cars into the Memorial gate seemed more as a continuation of the church rituals started with a Holy Mass at the Baguio Catheral than the closing stage of funeral practices. The whole affair starting with the wake in the Insigne house at Cabinet Hill from her death on November 9 also appeared to symbolize how she was and lived in life. She did not care for the limelight but was full of service to her family and other people.

An Amingay from the town of Nagbukel, Ilocos Sur, Ina Uyang was a full-blooded Tinguian. (The Tinguian province of Abra was once a sub-province of Ilocos Sur.) As a Tinguian of the southern Abra- central Ilocos Sur borderland, she was of the Maeng sub-tribe descended from the primordial lineage of Kindiingan, one of the three orphaned daughters (Dalimag, Ginaudan and Kindiingan) from whom all Tinguians are said to be descended. Is there anything striking in Ina Uyang worth mentioning for the emulation of succeeding generations, especially of the women? The affirmative answer is better left to Fr. Oscar “Amboy” Alunday, who officiated at the pre-burial rites at the Baguio Cathedral.

In his homily-eulogy, Fr. Amboy pointed right away to the altruistic helpfulness and religiosity of Ina Uyang. That happy combination must have been an offshoot of her adherence to her ethnic roots and embracing also the Christian way of life. By those qualities, she was a boost to her husband, retiree Forester Apang Insigne, who happened to be also a Tinguian belonging to the Mabaca sub-tribe and thus under the Dalimag lineage that is known for hospitality to visitors and passersby. Fr. Amboy recalled Ama Apang’s invariable invitation presumably seconded by Ina Uyang, “Dumagaska(yo) yan boloy ta mangantako!” (Come to the house first and we shall eat meal together!).

She attended Holy Mass every Sunday at the Adoration Convent of the Pink Sisters; her belief in the life hereafter was a given. Even in death, she could vividly be imagined, like Martha, sister of dead Lazarus, listening intently to Christ as mimicked by Fr. Amboy when he said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, even if he die, shall live.”

As a family woman, Mrs. Insigne knew her role and zealously kept it, a biblical glory to her husband and first teacher to her children, who, in turn, all, led in achievement by Prosecutor and past NCIP Commissioner Kenny Insigne, proved their worth by attaining more-than-the-ordinary success in their respective professions, here and abroad.

Speaking of education, many other Cordilleran children were housed in the Insigne home enabling them to pursue and finish successfully their higher studies in Baguio. It is from one of them that I overheard that Mrs. Insigne was strict. I was not surprised. In fact, I would have been more surprised if she was not. I am not prepared to believe in the attainment of developmental success without discipline. Mrs. Insigne must have been that—a disciplined mother and a motherly disciplinarian.

Happy her children and wards and others who came across her path, watched her steps not only her open hands, and listened to her words!

During the unique celebration of the centenary (100th) anniversary of her birthday two years ago, her grand-grand-progenies saw their grand-grandmother Uyang’s enjoyment of the traditional Tinguian arts. She still energetically joined in the native salidummay tunes, tried the dangu chant, and attempted to dance the physically demanding tadek and salukisik to the glee of the gathering. Well-known traditional chanter or vocalist Manang Matok (Mrs. Julie Dugayen Senga) reacted in gentle reprimand to those who innocently failed to fulfill the celebrator’s preference to wear a truly traditional Tinguian attire, the venue being at the SVD compound in urbanized Baguio. She was right. Tinguian Lady Uyang wanted to be and appear in all virtuousaspects as a shining example for all traditional but uplifted Tinguian women, be they present or still to come. Ot sadiyon, great Tinguian! Bon voyage, great Cordilleran! (Cp No.: 09293259855)

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