The Cordillera is testimony that there is no need to reinvent the wheel when it comes to responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. This crisis calls us to revisit our indigenous solutions for resilience and community building. 

Last June 30, 2020, the Brahma Kumaris Philippines organized an online conversation with guests from the Cordillera Region to discuss their culture’s best practices in responding to the pandemic. Below is a summary of the major discussion points. Speakers were Cristina Segnaken-Aban, president of Cordillera Network of Development POs & NGOs (CORDNET), and Ryan Guinaran, an Ibaloi medical doctor based in Benguet and the founding Executive Director of Doctors of Indigenous Training and Education Networking and Governance. Panelists present were Benjie Marzan, PhD. and Flordia Faculo. 

Ms. Aban opens the discussion by saying that the indigenous is always tied to the earth and that the relationship between the human and larger non-human world is always alive. Knowing that the land is free, the air is good, and the water is drinkable gives her inspiration that there is still good despite the pandemic.

Resilience

Cordillera people are self-reliant. Since the terrain is challenging and neighboring towns are far apart, the people always have stored food. Rice is kept unpolished for future use. “We plant fruits and vegetables, and raise chicken or pigs. This will serve as our food. In the context of this pandemic, it keeps us sane and secure knowing we can survive despite the lockdown.” Ms. Aban is also proud that they do not rely too much on external help since they focus first on what they can do before asking help from outside. This has been their practice in the past whenever disasters like typhoons and earthquake come.  

Benevolence

The Cordillera is no stranger to natural disasters. It is why they have developed resilience. Dr. Guinaran cited their city mayor, who declined the rice donations because they already have more than enough rice. In places where there is insufficiency, people pitch in and donate. “We have community kitchens and volunteer groups. Farmers make food for everyone. Even at the barangay level, the great work of contact tracing is done together with our LGU leaders. Everyone is doing his/her part.” He explained that the word “bayanihan” has a lot of local translations in the Cordillera. “As linguists would say, if you have a lot of translations for a word, then it is deeply ingrained in your culture.” 

Ms. Aban chimed in that their culture is deeply anchored in the ethics of care and selflessness. “(Even in this pandemic) I have not seen people quarrelling about relief goods because they give it to those who need it more.” 

Wholeness

Both guests believe in karma. “Health and everything about the Cordillera life is attached to many dimensions. You have a sense of wholeness and integrity attached to the land, the supernatural world, biophysical world, etc. Wholeness means integrity. If you do not deserve relief goods, then you do not get it. If you do something bad, it comes back to you.”

Interdependence

Dr. Guinaran expounded that there is also a psychological aspect in the Cordillera rituals. “In these rituals, nature and land participate. When the government called for a lockdown, one could find leaves tied to the community borders. These were believed to cast away the virus or anything evil that might happen to the community.” Chickens were also cooked as a form of prayer for good health and safety. It helps restore balance and harmony, and adds to their peace of mind. Patients sent off to the Benguet General Hospital were given fruit-bearing trees. It’s a reminder for them to value life and to grow or heal. 

Signs and symbols are expression of people’s beliefs on the interdependence between man and nature. 

Ms. Florida Faculo hopes the legacy of the Cordillera culture will be preserved and passed on. “Let’s educate the youth. If the youth do not participate, the culture will vanish. It should be documented. Develop their own dictionary because the richness of a culture can be seen in its local languages. The education system in the Cordillera should be indigenized.” 

The Cordillera people prove to other communities that people can rise above the pandemic. After all, throughout history, Cordillera has been hopeful and positive in overcoming hardships. Respect for tradition, people, and nature is a powerful force that can help us in this trying times. 

The full video can be accessed here: https://www.facebook.com/PauseMunaPeaceMuna/videos/959495057811677/