Province of Kalinga-Apayao Local Custom Tips by GenuinelyCurious

Cockfighting is not a human invention

We were all minding our own business, when these two birds starting going at it. The villagers paid it absolutely no attention, and one of the kids laughed that I was taking pictures…

Rice is food

“Do people in your country eat food?” I was surprised, but patted my ample, American-sized belly and said yes. We eat every day. In fact some of us eat too much. Oh, but do you eat RICE?? So, rice is food. Given that, I had to explain that Americans typically eat bread and potatoes ahead of rice, but yes, we eat rice.

Rice is so important, it is food. The daily life is organized around it. Some of the greetings, like “have you eaten rice today” underlies the hospitality and caring of people. And in the recent rice shortages in the Philippines, the presidency of Gloria Arroyo was threatened. I can’t say I really relate, until I think about the glories of fresh-baked bread, especially my beloved San Francisco sourdough. There is something so primary about it that it has become in my culture the staff of life. And so it is with rice.

Healthcare in the village

This lady has suffered a stroke that paralyzed the right half of her body. Since she never married and therefore has no children, cousins take care of her day to day needs. There are a number of herbal remedies that I’ve heard of, from the (see pic) betel nut that is supposed to provide oral health to the use of various leaves to staunch bleeding and promote healing. In desperate situations, a trip to the hospital in Bontoc (2 hours away by jeepney) can wipe out a family financially. They have to sell a caribou (water buffalo) or even their house.