American Lenses: Igorot Eyes

I was fortunate to have been born with 20/20 vision.  My five sisters and parents weren’t as fortunate though.  For years, they have relied on corrective eyeglass lenses for adding or subtracting from their cornea’s focusing power, thereby creating the clear images of their daily lives.  Although I never physically relied on eyeglasses, I wore a pair of invisible lenses for which to see the world through.

My very first pair of lenses were Igorot made; forged from the Cordillera Mountains of the Philippines.  I only had those for four or five years, and I hardly remember wearing them.  For almost my entire life, the glasses I wore were American made.  I once tried a pair of Japanese lenses, but preferred the American made ones that I have been so accustomed to wearing.

If you have been following my latest blogs, you will definitely see how these lenses influence my writing.  Some of my fellow Igorots or Filipinos may have been scratching their heads wondering why I draw my inspiration from people like Ashley Judd, Bethany Hamilton, Tim Tebow and U2.  Well, that’s just who I am I guess. 

Most of my life has been spent on the flat plains of the Midwest and Southern areas of America.  The magic and splendor of the Cordillera Mountains were for the most part – absent.  I’ve always consider myself as American as most normal Americans.  I went to predominantly white schools all my life, dated white girls, love rock and roll, love football and basketball, enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, and would die for this country I call home. 

I may see the world through the lenses of America, but my eyes are pure Igorot.  Lenses only project images for the eye to see.  When our cerebral eyes connect with our hearts, we are able to “see” clearly; and therefore, we are able to discern good from bad. 

I recently added a page on my website that associates my upcoming book, “Igorotdo: The Warrior Within” with well known movies, books and personalities.  Does the book seek to be a cheap imitation of any of these things?  Of course not.  I use these examples because they contain so many values, characteristics and similarities to the Igorot culture that my eyes and heart intend on sharing with the world. 

My Igorot culture has been able to withstand over 300 years of Spanish colonization, but somehow more and more Igorots are allowing themselves to become morally and spiritually colonized by the Western self centeredness that brings out the worse in all of us.  Take divorce for example.  Just because it is an accepted norm in American society, it doesn't have to be nor should it be as accepted by Igorots.  

I would like to say that my Catholic upbringing is the only thing that keeps me focused on my marriage and family, but there is much more to it than that.  I draw from something my father once mentioned about my Igorot heritage.  I learned that before there were ever Christian missionaries, we Igorots took monogamy seriously.

Were there ever Igorots who were unfaithful to their spouses? Of course.  If there weren't, we would be the only perfect people in the world, and I know this is definitely not the case.  However, the overwhelming majority of my ancestors entered marriage with a good purpose.  They did not enter it blindly or selfishly as many do today.  Also, we believed so strongly in the sanctity of marriage that the punishment for being unfaithful makes today's court precedings seem like a slap in the hand (something I will cover in a separate blog).

So, go ahead and wear whatever style, color or type of lense, but remember to see with your eyes, and in doing so, draw from that which is good in your ancestry.  

ASHLEY JUDD: Who Do You Think You Are?

Who Do You Think You Are?

In my senior year of high school, I began hearing about the importance of “living the present moment” by spiritual mentors in my life and by leaders of that time.  One of my most influential leaders once said, “The past no longer exists; the future is not yet here. Just as someone travelling by train does not walk up and down the carriage to get to the destination sooner, but stays put, so we should stay in the present. The train of time moves on its own. We can only love God in the present moment given us, by saying our ‘yes’, a strong, total, and active ‘yes’, to His will."

This was later echoed through a more practical and zen-like perspective by the Japanese mentors of my early and somewhat recent adult life.  Whether the lesson about living the present moment came in the form of words, chanoyu, martial arts, zazen, gardening or sushi preparations; I always seemed to, and continue to struggle with any notion that the past plays little or no role in who we are today.  It is much easier to accept any of such notions if our past is made up of nothing but bad or evil things, but what about the good things of our past?  More importantly: the great and inspiring things?  

While I agree whole heartedly that the present is more important than the past or future, I can’t discount the importance of our past because it has a direct affect on the quality of our present being.  My novel, “Igorotdō: The Warrior Within,” demonstrates this by pointing out how the past can be filled with life changing discoveries that can help us become better people.  Fortunately, there are many others who also believe that we can gain positive things from knowing our past and the past of those before us.  I recently discovered a television series that promotes the importance of ancestry and learning about our past.

The television show, “Who Do You Think You Are,” is an NBC series that I highly recommend.  Many of the actors and actresses who are profiled have many great stories and lessons to share with its audience.  I will be blogging about the ones that inspire me the most so please stay tuned for future blogs.  Meanwhile, here’s one profile that I really like:

ASHLEY JUDD

Emmy- and Golden-Globe nominated actress and humanitarian Ashley Judd is an eighth-generation Kentuckian on her mother's side.  Her more recent involvements as an activist for different human rights organizations has triggered a curiosity in her that had her wondering how many other people in her family also agitated for reform, and fought for the poor, exploited or disempowered.  Her curiosity led her to New England where she discovered many new things about her family that emigrated from Sicily, Italy.

The biggest discovery was that of her 3^rd great grandfather, who served in the Union army during America’s Civil War.  Only a teenager at the time; he was twice a prisoner of war who endured heroic battlefield experiences.  Ashley was so taken by how psychologically strong and resilient he was that she called it a “life changing experience.”

To learn more about her discoveries, please visit the NBC site of “Who Do You Think You Are” to watch the full episode or watch it below.

IGOROT REFLECTIONS

After watching the episode, I first thought of how lucky she is to have discovered all the records she needed to make her discoveries.  This is not something most, if not all, Igorots have the luxury of possessing.  Since our ancestry has been passed down by oral tradition, it is unlikely we are able to trace back our family roots as far back as most people are able to do here in America.  Although  there has been a recent movement towards documenting the Igorot culture, so much about the ancestors of long ago has been lost forever.

Mel Gibson as William Wallace
in the movie "Braveheart"

Also, her 3^rd great grandfather’s story had me thinking about the strength and resilience of my own Igorot ancestry.  It reminds me of the importance of sharing my ancestry to the world so that Igorots can also join the likes of the 13th century William Wallace and his Scottish highlanders, whose stories of bravery and resilience continue to inspire people throughout the world.  One can definitely read how my Igorot ancestors embody these two traits in my upcoming novel, “Igorotdō: The Warrior Within.” 

SOUL SURFER Review

This morning, I had the opportunity to take my kids to watch a pre-screening of the soon to-be-released movie, “Soul Surfer,” starring Anna Sophia Robb, Dennis Quaid, Helen Hunt and Carrie Underwood. While waiting in line, I tweeted and posted on Facebook where I was and what movie I was waiting to see. The post ended with “stay tuned for a review.”

What I had in mind then was a simple posting saying something short, but after watching the movie, I had too much in my mind to fit in a tweet or post. I was so impressed with the movie that I decided to blog about it. So, here’s why I strongly recommend it:

It's a true story
Soul Surfer is the inspiring true story of teen surfer Bethany Hamilton. Bethany lost her left arm in a shark attack and courageously overcame all odds to become a champion again, through her sheer determination and unwavering faith.  Nothing beats a true story except for things inspired by a true story.


It’s something for the whole family
Today, we live in an age where it’s almost frowned upon to air shows and movies featuring happy families with both parents. Gone are the days of “Leave it to Beaver”, “Little House on the Prairie” and “Prince of Bellaire.” The family unit has changed so dramatically that it almost seems offensive to portray the American family as something it should be . . . a loving relationship between husband, wife and children.

I’m not one who believes in such a thing as a perfect family, but I strongly believe that families need to be there for each other at all times. I know the damage that results from broken up families; the destructive patterns that get passed down from generation to generation, and the dark things that no child should keep in their closets. I don’t need to tell anyone how saddening it could be for all involved, including society in general. Yet, these are the things that sell in Hollywood and continue to be fostered through television, movies and music.

Well, for those like me who have been waiting for something from mainstream USA to promote healthy family relationships; you will find this movie a breath of fresh air. The movie does a wonderful job portraying certain family dynamics that are so missing and needed in today’s world. Now if you’re the type who despises happy endings, positive and encouraging things; this movie may be hard to swallow.

Though politically incorrect for some, it takes a stand for good teachings
One thing that goes hand in hand with the frowning of traditional family structure is the mention of God and Jesus. Many deny the fact that there is an all out war going on between Hollywood and Christianity, but if you stop and observe all the shows being broadcasted, you will clearly see the absence of moral teachings. In fact, you will see aggressive attacks on Christian beliefs by companies you trust your kids to, like Disney. It baffles me how Disney allows and fosters shows like the recently announced pilot called, “Good Christian Bitches.” A show like that not only misrepresents the Christian community, but it is also very insulting for all women.

I love how “Soul Surfer” has a cast of well known actors and actresses such as Dennis Quaid, Helen Hunt, Carrie Underwood and AnnaSophia Robb starring in this movie that clearly has a Christian message. As I watched the movie, I thought, “This is like the Tim Tebow of movies.” Like Tim Tebow, who uses his professional football career as a platform to spread his Christian beliefs; this movie also shares its inspiring and moral messages to the mainstream audience. It takes a stand, and it does it in a way that is very accepting to those who would otherwise avoid it if it were called “Jesus Surfing” or similar.

The ethnic subtleties within
Being an Igorot whose ancestors were not Christian, but pagans who believed in the spirit world; I couldn’t help but notice the Hawaiian music used in certain parts of the movie. I’m sure for cinematic reasons; the music was needed, especially since the entire setting took place in Hawaii. However, maybe the producers carefully selected music like “Sunrise @ Maui Beach” to connect the audience to certain spiritual moments.

 If so, it sure worked for me because there is something about the native music of tribal people, like the ancient Hawaiians, that speaks to the non-peripheral ears of the heart.
Although Igorots have resisted the Spanish colonization for more than three centuries and still maintain their culture, many have converted to Christianity. For the most part, Igorots who now live in America and abroad no longer practice our ancient beliefs or worship our ancient gods. This is probably true with the native Hawaiians; though I’m sure there are still those who do.

The movie has many good messages. The strongest among them happens to be Christian; yet music from the non-Christian culture of Hawaii only amplifies these messages. Subtle, but true.
As more and more Igorots become modernized and westernized, the need for spirituality tends to decrease over time. Maybe if more people realize the importance of having a spiritual side in their lives, they might be more open to the teachings and lessons of God. I think much can be learned from our pagan ancestors.

It is purpose-filled
Mahatma Ghandi once said, “Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.” My parents and past mentors took it a step further though. They taught me to believe that unless these three harmonic elements are not applied towards other people, one will still be unhappy and unfulfilled deep within the recesses of his or her soul.

The movie throws out several biblical scriptures, but the one that really caught my attention was Jeremiah 29:11, which the movie quotes, “For I know the plans that I have for you, says the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future.”

This movie speaks volumes about having the kind of true purpose in life that will make people happy. It speaks of something that is rarely, if not ever, taught in the formal educational systems of our world. Instead, I hear only about the importance of having good grades and GPA’s so that we could find the happiness and prosperity that Hollywood and society sells. It’s no wonder that countless of people go through life unbalanced and unhappy.

Our purpose in life is perhaps the most asked question in the history of mankind. This movie does an excellent job addressing this question. I also attempt to address this in my upcoming book, “Igorotdō: The Warrior Within.” Hopefully, it also inspires people in their search of purpose.

Admiring Japan's 'No Looting' Culture

Photo by REUTERS/Asahi Shimbun

Yesterday’s news that Japan’s nuclear crisis appears to be spinning out of control only adds to the myriad of concerns I have for Japan and its people. The thought of more than 10,000 people dead, which is more than eight times the death toll of Hurricane Katrina, is stifling enough. I can’t imagine the devastation that could result if the nuclear crisis escalates.

Two years ago when the landslides and typhoons hit the Philippines, similar feelings of concern ran through me as they do today. This time it’s much different. This time, the people being affected are not Filipinos, but they are from a country I deeply respect.

I was at the gym the other day exercising while watching three television screens displaying horrific images of the disaster. There were thirty other people on treadmills looking at the eight screens above, but only a handful, including myself, chose to watch the news of the devastation in Japan. Sadly, the others were more interested in watching sports highlights and Hollywood shows about Justin Beiber and Charlie Sheen. The sight stung more than the sweat that kept entering my eyes.

“How can I help?” I asked myself. Part of me wanted to leave to volunteer in search and rescue missions, as was being at the time. Part of me wished I had extra money to send to victims. Part of me wanted to organize a fundraiser like before. Part of me wished my book could be published this month so I can donate a percentage to victims, and so on.

After reality and my priorities were just about to rule everything out and leave me feeling helpless, the sight of a lady closing her eyes and bowing in prayer-like fashion reminded of the power of prayer. She reminded me that despite one’s limitations, one should pray. For some reason, I still felt that prayer without action, especially when one has the ability to act, is an empty prayer. Then I was quickly reminded of my love for writing and decided to shed more light on a particular aspect of the Japanese culture that inspires me.

Victims gathered around fireplace

As I write this, I am very much aware of all media surrounding the disaster that touts how Americans and other nations are flooding Japan with support and aid, and I admire this fact. It is a strong testament to the good that still exists within the human race, and is also evidence that unity is still possible. For me though, there is something more admirable and inspiring happening amidst all this disaster than the help coming from the outside of Japan.

Japanese forming orderly line for kerosene

Despite all the chaos and tragedy going on in the earthquake torn regions of Japan, there are no reports of mass looting or unlawfulness. This phenomenon is a stark contrast to what has happened in the wake of other catastrophes, such as in New Orleans, Manila, Haiti and Chile. I still remember all the horrible reports of theft, murder, rape and so forth that took place during the disaster of Hurricane Katrina.

For some reason, crime has always been associated with natural disasters, but how can such a tragedy of this magnitude result in much different behavior from those within its grasp? The answer has much to do with culture. Today’s Japanese has both good and bad ingrained in their culture. Since the end of WWII, they have chosen never to repeat the unspeakable of their past, and the result of their decisions thus far reflects on the culture that flowers in the dark soil of their tragedy today.

During my last visit to Kyoto, Japan in 1997, I recall an analogy told to me once by an American who married a Japanese woman and has been living there for fourteen years. He said something to the degree that the Japanese are like the passengers of ship embarked on a long voyage around the world, and Americans are like people on a ferry boat going from one side to another. The Japanese passengers are well aware of the long duration and seek to become as humanitarian as possible amongst each other. They seek not to make enemies or cause trouble, but to maintain an orderly sense of unity. Americans on the other hand, know their boat ride is short and that they will probably not see the other passengers again. Rather than having the same outlook as the Japanese, they tend to have a “looking out for myself” or “take, take, take and prosper” attitude. When I first heard this, I didn’t know enough about the Japanese to give my opinion on his analogy, which I’ve heard several times more since then. Today, I would have to agree with him in a very general sense, though I believe there are many more good Americans than there are bad.

Patiently waiting in line for relief supplies

Every culture stands to learn a valuable lesson from the examples taking place right now within the Japanese people who are directly involved in this devastation. It would be great if their sense of unity and affinity for each other were exemplified by every ethnic majority and minority. Strangely enough, when I think of them, I think about my Igorot culture and how we share that sense of unity, despite our war-filled history between tribes. It makes me more appreciative of my roots and ancestry, and yes, I dare say that our cultural bond is something all Filipinos and other cultures can also admire.

The Rhythmic Salvation of Youth

Cultural dance has always played an integral part of civilizations throughout the world.  It is one of the vital threads that make up the cultural fabric of many ethnic groups.  Without it, a large part of history and the livelihood of any culture are lost.

Fortunately, here in America, many ethnic groups continue to keep their culture alive by keeping their cultural dances alive.  The Irish and Indian communities are notably two of the more popular groups.  Past Broadway and Hollywood appearances of Riverdance and Slumdog Millionaire, have attracted a captive audience.  As a result, more people continue learning and participating in their cultural dances.

We Igorots, do not have anything of such magnitude to promote and encourage the continual appreciation of our dances, but the need to do so has never been as great as now.  Among many other things, our cultural dances are being threatened by modernization and the continual rapid loss of our elderly, who possess such knowledge.  This is why the Igorot culture needs to “revive” and “keep alive” its dances.

Our dances are more than just “performances.”  They are our culture.  Anyone can put on an Igorot “costume” and mimic the movements, but by doing so only scratches the surface of its totality.  Our dances should not be considered performances, by rather, the continued appreciation and “practice” of our culture.  It has been, and should continue to remain a reflection of our past, present and future “way of life.”

They have traditionally been associated with ceremonies and rituals that mark the mile stones of our people’s life cycle in the Cordillera Mountains.  Its many different meanings are signified by certain steps and movements that ultimately show our close affinity to ancestors and mother earth.  When we dance, we express our love for our culture, our freedom and the unity we are so blessed with.  When our ancestor danced, there were no such things as scores or votes.  The only idols were that of the supernatural or spiritual, and certainly not any one particular individual.

 

In the spirit of preserving our Indigenous Knowledge, I hope more people continue their interest in our dances for the sake of keeping our heritage alive.  I hope that Hollywood and its relentless efforts to create idols by focusing on ego do not taint our dances.  Let’s leave all the critiquing and competition to those who put on “costumes” and “perform” for the sake of ego and “show.”

The evolution of our dance needs to continue with our youth because they are our future.  They should not be discouraged to partake in our music and dance, as I have heard in the past.  I am not sure why, but I have heard how kids were once “shewed away” from playing our instrumental gangsas.   Adult and elderly Igorots can no longer afford to keep our gangsas, drums and other instruments out of the hands of kids.  Instead, every Igorot kid in the Cordilleras and abroad should be given the opportunity to partake in our native music and dances.

When my cousin recently posted a video of Igorot kids dancing, I couldn’t help but feel an overwhelming sense of joy.  It was much more than a cute dance.  The kids demonstrated a sense of appreciation for their heritage that I wish more people had, including myself.  They possessed a kindred spirit so raw that it is so contagious.  I would love to have interviewed them to find out just how much the dancing meant to them.

So next time you see the absence of children dancing among adults performing dances like the Bedian, Taycheck, Takik, Salidsid, Tadok, Pinukla and others, ask yourself why there aren’t children dancing them.  Then, think of the words said in Mathew 18:13, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

Gorals and Igorots

A few Sundays ago, after attending Mass, I took my family to Downers Delight, a nearby family restaurant known for their breakfast and brunch meals.  As we pulled into the parking lot, I immediately noticed the lack of parking and knew we would have to wait long.  I briefly thought of driving away to find a less populated place to eat, but my stomach convinced me otherwise.

After waiting approximately twenty minutes, we were finally seated in a cozy corner table that comfortably accommodated my family.  We took our time reading the menu and finally placed our order.  While waiting for our food, we engaged in our typical conversations the normally surround the table as I looked around the restaurant.

I noticed many families seated at their tables and thought of how nice it was to still see families making time to eat together.  Then I noticed the waitress walking towards us with a large tray of food.  My stomach became excited, but I knew it wasn’t ours because it was too soon for our food to have been cooked.

The waitress began distributing the dishes to a family of five sitting at the table next to us.  When the youngest boy, who looked to be five years old, received his food, he smiled from ear to ear and his eyes lit up like Christmas morning.  I smiled as he picked up a piece of bacon and held it in front of his face while licking his lips before biting into it.  He caught me looking as I smiled and gave him a big thumbs up.  He responded by nodding his head before stuffing the rest of the piece in his mouth. 

After that brief moment of amusement, I turned my attention back to my family.  Moments later, my right ear caught something that took me attention away from my family again.  The father next to me said something in another language to his oldest son, who looked to be ten years old.  I wasn’t sure of the language, but it sounded Polish or Russian.

The boy answered back in English.  Then the mother joined in and said something to the younger bacon-loving boy in the same language.  He too responded in English.  I casually turned my head slightly their direction as I continued to eavesdrop on their conversations. 

The parents would say something in their language and the kids responded in English.  Then, I noticed how the kids threw in some of their parent’s language into their English sentences.  I thought the parents must have been first generation immigrants because of their language, but when the mother flagged down the waitress for some syrup and the menu, I was surprised how perfect her English was.

My curiosity grew so much that I slowly turned toward them and politely said, “Excuse me.”  The father turned and looked at me in response.  Then his wife also turned her head toward me.

“Sorry to disturb you,” I continued.  “I couldn’t help but hear you talking to your kids in another language.  Is that Polish you’re speaking?”

The husband smiled and responded with an accent, “Yes, do you know Polish?”

I answered, “No, but I’ve worked alongside many Polish people and I’ve heard it often.”

His wife jumped in and said, “It’s actually a unique dialect that’s spoken where we’re from.”

“Oh, where’s that?” I asked.

“We’re from the mountains,” she replied with enthusiasm.

“Really!” I smilingly said.  “We’re also from the mountains where we are from.”

I looked at their kids, who were all looking at me, and asked, “Do they understand everything you say to them?”

Before either parent could respond, all three proudly nodded their heads and smiled.  The mother went on to tell me that their kids go to Polish classes every week to learn about their culture and practice their Polish dialect.  I congratulated the kids and their pride swelled as they smiled and continued listening to my conversation with their parents.

Our conversation revealed more about their culture, and I found it very interesting to learn that they referred to themselves as Gorals, which literally means “highlanders.”  Like Igorots, they had their own language, food and cultural ways that differed from the lowlanders of Poland.  Also like Igorots, they have an organization that unites the Goral highlanders called “Polish Highlanders Alliance of North America.”  After our 10-15 minute conversation, we both returned our attention back to our families.  Before they left, we exchanged pleasantries again and said our goodbyes hoping that we would bump into each other again.

After they left, I thought about how great it was for their kids to learn about their culture and to feel proud about it as well.  Then I thought about a Polish friend, who except for his last name, knew almost nothing about his culture and didn’t care much about it either.  Finally, I thought of how I forgot my own language and couldn’t help but feel envious. 

Since then, I have been thinking of the Goral’s ability to understand the importance of preserving their culture while assimilating in America.  That was a young family, yet they somehow knew the importance of their culture.  The mother had to have been at least second generation because of her perfect English, yet she knew her native dialect and chose to preserve it and her culture by sending her kids to a cultural school once a week. 

Two weekends ago, I visited some new Igorot friends in Elgin, Illinois.  Kankanaey dialect, Ilocano or Tagalog, she said, “But how’s that possible?”  Well if she only knew how strong the pull to become “American” is for new immigrants and their kids, she would understand just how easy it is.

I can’t help but keep thinking about a stark difference I notice between the Goral people and Igorots here in America: Igorots do not have the same motivation to preserve our culture here in America.  We have no such classes that the Gorals have, at least not that I am aware of here in Illinois.  Also, I “suspect” most Igorots who immigrate to America would rather raise money to help our people become better educated and more modernized than help preserve the Indigenous Knowledge of our heritage.  I hope I’m wrong, and if I’m right; I hope this will change. 

If any Gorals are reading this, I take my hat off and salute your efforts to keep your culture alive in America.  It is truly an inspiration.

Igorotdō 道

Many of the Japanese arts use a particular kanji character at the end of their names.  The term “dō” appears as 道, and simply means “way or path.”  This term connects the practice of Japanese arts to the philosophical concept of Tao.  It is a vital element in the different Japanese martial arts such as Bushidō (way of the warrior), Aikidō (way of harmonious spirit), Kendō (way of the sword), Kyūdō  (way of the bow) and Judō (gentle way).  In addition to the martial arts are Shodō (way of calligraphy), Chadō (way of tea – tea ceremony) and Kadō (way of flowers – flower arranging).  The “dō 道" is so important that the early founders of these arts saw these “ways” also as a “way of life.”

My very first experience with any of these arts happened at the age of 11 when my father enrolled me in Judō classes; which was his favorite sport as a teenager in the Cordilleras.  Still too young to grasp the philosophical side of it, I enjoyed it more as a sport than anything else.  As a teenager, I was lucky enough to have a Judō club in high school where I continued to practice and compete.  In addition, I began learning Chinese Shaolin Kung Fu in my sophomore year followed by Kenpo.

            Bushido                        Aikido             Kyudo              Judo

At the end of high school, the movie “The Karate Kid” made a huge impact on the way I saw (and still see) martial arts.  The main character’s Karate teachers, Mr. Miyagi, had me thinking about how so many people, including myself, misused and abuse it for vanity sake.  I remember so much emphasis on belts, competition, being the best and just kicking . . . ubet.  I really felt like I missed out on the entire “dō” that Daniel-san reaped in the movie series.  Fortunately, there were other mentors like my basketball coaches to help me with the “dōs” as a teenager and young adult.

Chado                                    Shodo                                          Kado

Shortly after my parents and sister passed away, my interest in landscape architecture and Japanese culture led me away from the financial services field to explore a new interest in Japanese landscape architecture.  It was then that I talked to Professor Ikka Nakashima on the phone inquiring about the Japanese gardening classes that she taught at the University of Illinois at Chicago.  She told me that she stopped teaching at the University, but invited me to sit in on a class at her home.

Eager to learn, I went to her house only to find out that the class was a Chanoyu (Japanese Tea Ceremony) class.  Haven driven almost an hour, I politely stayed to observe, albeit wondering what the heck I got my self into. To my surprise, I became fascinated with the demonstration by a young Army Special Forces soldier who performed the ceremony in such precise movements and discipline.  That evening at home, I did some research and learned that Chadō used to be performed by Japanese samurai men before Westernization influenced the inclusion of women practitioners.  This along with the soldier’s earlier demonstration quickly got me over the initial concern of learning something feminine.

I became her student and learned Chadō (also known as Chanoyu), different aspects of Japanese gardening, some basics in Kadō (Ikebana), and even went to Kyoto, Japan to learn about Japanese gardening at the Kyoto University of Art and Design.  Most importantly, she taught me about the “dō” or “way” of Chadō as a “way of life.”  Just about everything she taught had a connection with how to live a good life.  She was my Mr. Miyagi. 

Morikami Japanese Garden - Lesson in living the present moment & focus

I later became employed by Master Garden Designer, Hoichi Kuriisu, who also took a very philosophical approach to Japanese gardens.  Although I was hired to project manage his large project at the Morikami Japanese Museum and Gardens in Florida, I became his apprentice and soaked up as much knowledge possible.  Like Nakashima-sensei, Hoichi found a way to connect everything to life itself.  In a way, he embodied a way life that I call “Niwa (garden) dō (way of).”

Kyoto, Japan

In Bushidō, the way of life is centered on seven main virtues.  These virtues are rectitude, courage, benevolence, respect, honesty, honor and loyalty.  In addition, filial piety (respect for parents and ancestors) and wisdom are also associated virtues. 

Although there is nothing (at least that I’m aware of) documenting Igorots living by a certain code or “dō” like the Japanese practitioners of their arts, I strongly believe we Igorots can look to our ancestors for inspiration and therefore, develop our own “dō” in life as Igorots.  All we need to do is identify the values and traits that our heritage is so rich of, and then implement them into our daily lives.

Where does one find such values?  Our “dō” is found in our values, which originated in the Cordilleras where our ancestors originated.  Notice I said the Cordilleras and not just the Philippines.  I still maintain that our Igorot culture is rich in values that make up our own true identity, which is very unique in many respects.  Unfortunately, modernization and other influences continue to strip these values from our people.

I know and have met many immigrants who have been raised here in America and have become so detached from their heritage that their “dō” has been lost or discarded.  Among these immigrants are many Igorots that were raised in melting pot places like Baguio who know little of their true heritage.  In fact, I continue to meet more and more Igorots who claim their heritage, but know little of it.  They speak fluent Tagalog, almost all speak Ilocano, but not everyone knows their native language.

I like to use language as an example because it is usually the first to die followed by everyday ways of life, and then values.  David Harrison, a linguist at Swarthmore College, was asked, "What do we lose when we lose a language?"  His reply included:

"When we lose a language, we lose centuries of human thinking about time, seasons, sea creatures, reindeer, edible flowers, mathematics, landscapes, myths, music, the unknown and the everyday. Only some cultures erect grand built monuments by which we can remember their achievements. But all cultures encode their genius in their languages, stories, and lexicons. . . We would be outraged if Notre Dame Cathedral or the Great Pyramid of Giza were demolished to make way for modern buildings. We should be similarly appalled when languages—monuments to human genius far more ancient and complex than anything we have built with our hands—erode." [read article]

Does this mean that people who do not possess their native tongue have lost their heritage?  Of course not, but the process of cultural erosion has already begun for them, and unless they connect to the cultural ingredients associated with their native language; the erosion will continue at an alarming rate.  In my opinion, the most important ingredient are cultural values and virtues because these are what make up our "dō."   These are the actual fiber that weaves the lufid or wanes of our souls.  One can still "be" Igorot without possessing their native tongue, but without the values and virtues of our heritage, one is like faith without action: an empty vessel.

One major goal of my upcoming book, “Igorotak: The Warrior Within,” is to create or re-create an interest in our culture that can spark a new or renewed interest within and outside our Igorot communities.  Once the interest is there, people will likely want to know more factual information about us and begin researching and learning more.  This is why it is so important to support the preservation of our indigenous knowledge by documenting as much of it as possible.

As Professor Maria Luz Fang-Asan of the Benguet State Unviversity claims, “The loss of IK (Indigenous Knowledge) is alarming.”  As more and more of the bearers of our heritage die and take our Indigenous knowledge with them, our Igorotdō also withers away.


Chanoyu Demonstration at Anderson Japanese Gardens