Posts tagged ‘Kalinga’

When I was 5 years old, I had been a witness to a dead corpse who was a victim of head-hunting.  His head was sewn to his neck as it was totally severed from his body, apparently with a razor-sharp bolo.

There was no “bodong” (peace pact) between my village and another village so a full blown tribal war had erupted. The death toll was rising and more and more grieving families wanted revenge for their loved ones.

Headhunting was then the method of revenge of one village against another. It does not matter whether you were a relative or not of the deceased, as long as you belonged  to that particular village then you were a potential target.

There were times when we took cover in the forests when the avenging tribal warriors from the other village came to extract vengeance. Children were the most affected, in my young mind, it was a traumatic experience. I could still hear the cries of people around me as everyone scrambled for safety. Women and children were brought to safety, while the men geared up for war. A lookout/crier would be assigned every night who would warn the village folk  when danger is near,  so all  could all ran to the forest refuge.

My grandfather once told me that there were vicious tribes who even brought the head with them to their villages and would dance around it all night long. But, I thank God; I had never witnessed such event.

My native folks were really gentle people but they were extremely protective of family and territory. No villager would venture into another, without proper information and permission and I grew up amidst these dangers.

Great efforts were made to reconcile the tribal differences with what we call the “bodong” (peace pact). It was an agreement performed with native rituals from both villages.

Little by little,  as education was brought to the young villagers, and some had been able to pursue higher education, a semblance of peace started to be established.  The native folks began to realize that there is nothing to gain by these continuous slaughter, of even, innocent people.

As I grew up to become a teen, there were some villages that still went on with their tribal wars, but by then, they were using guns. These were the villages that just wanted domination and not peace.

Slowly though, through the efforts of well meaning elders and socially responsible villagers, the “bodong” began to be established between each of the villages. It was a long drawn out process though with lots of impediments along the way.

Up to this time, the “bodong” is still the key that is keeping most of the villages in peace. Although, this agreement is not usually executed in the presence of an attorney, it is a lasting and well respected pact that every villager observed.

I  have not been to my village for  the past years,  but I know I still have to go back to my roots eventually in the future.  I know the Kalinga people are a peace-loving community  having strong convictions to work for  peace and unity.

I would like to invite you to my village –Taloctoc, the paradise I had known as a child.

Intakkon od Taloctoc, Kalinga! (Let’s visit Taloctoc, Kalinga!)

I just described Taloctoc to this talented artist and he was able to capture the essence of the small village in the heart of the far-flung  Kalinga mountains.

This was done by Eugene Andrade – a.k.a. suexox05 – an upcoming young artist; he’s just 19, and a 4th year Medical Technology college student.

I know he’ll go a long way in his passion. To view more of his work, visit his page at DeviantART

A contest:

Name the man in the native costume and win  $10 thru paypal. You can do some research to find the answer in one of my blogs.

The clock was ticking

It was the midnight of October 31,  and I  was still undecided about what to write For the NANOWRIMO.  I was growing restless and anxious that I might not be able to make up my mind in time for the November 1- kick off.

Should I continue with my previously written novel –Umma Ayam Sinsana?  The initial draft for Chapter 17 has been gathering cobwebs in the document folders of my lappy.

A little help from my friends

1.   But a dear friend – Holly Jahangiri – reminded me that it would be better if I start with a new novel.   Holly has also written a pertinent post: “Nano Nine: How to Gear Up for NANOWRIMO, which is a must read for noobs.

2,  Heather Kephart ,  another NANO participant was also in search for a plot for this enterprising venture.  I enjoyed reading her article: Post-halloween NaNoWriMo Crankfest . Out in Utah,

3. Brady Frost had also started writing his novel. Here are some pointers from him: Five Things to Keep in Mind During Nanowrimo. We were all in the process of  conceptualizing a plot for our novels.

4, Another  friend ,  who helped  me a lot in my blogging and profession,  is Patricia Rockwell.   She has posted  this article on the 5th day of the NaNo - “Writer’s Solution: Goth Poetry Generator”. She’s a veteran Nano writer and is a published author too.

5. Several scenarios played in my mind: should I write another cheesy love story? Woman meets man and after some LQs, lived happily ever after? Or a sci-fi story? Earth invaded by aliens and saved by the Zorlonians?  He he he…. But that’s Doc Zorlone’s original concept and I wouldn’t want to mar his creative genius  by my inaccurate description.  Incidentally, Doc Z is also an eager  participant in this writing endeavor.

I could not sleep thinking about an appropriate plot for my NANOWRIMO.

The muse has finally appeared

I was in this suspended state of introspection, when out of the blue an idea popped out from the dura matter that I had thought was lost from within.

I hastily click on “create a new file”, and started typing. As soon as the first sentence sprung from my fingertips, I could hardly keep up with the deluge of words that had started to pour from my meandering thoughts.

I had always marveled at the beauty and grandeur of the Mountains of Kalinga. It was in this far-flung place that I had spent the latter part of my childhood, I had revered its Eden-like beauty with its lush flora and unnatural fauna. It was only there in Taloctoc that I have seen a genuine firebird – with its flaming red feathers, ominously effulgent in the starless night.

I fell in love with the clear, rambling, Chico River and had forged unforgettable memories amidst its swirling waters.

Photo courtesy of Nikes Alviz

I have written several stories about my beloved Kalinga; some found their way to the glossy pages of local magazines and some went straight to the editor’s bin.

In spite of all those stories written, there are still numerous ones that continue to haunt me in my sleep. And one of these is the basis of my story for the NANOWRIMO.

The Clamor of Kalinga

My novel in the making,  entitled:  “The Clamor of the Mountains”,  is a tribute to the people of Kalinga.

I’m now on my 8,000 word count. NANOWRIMO veterans,  like Holly,  instructed us  – the Noob /Newbies – to write, write,  and write; and not be bothered with syntax and fluidity .  Editing would be next December.   During these crucial, first months,  it’s the word count that matters.   Hence,  I’ll say goodbye for now; I’ll have to shift to MSword so I could continue writing my novel.

Wish me luck  as I unravel another story that – I hope – would serve as a means to understand more the culture and customs of the Kalinga people.