ILOILO – A culture bearer of Panay Bukidnon, an Indigenous Peoples (IP) community in Barangay Garangan, Calinog town, tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Master chanter of the Panay epic Sugidanon, Leopoldo “Tay Polding” Caballero, was initially brought to the Dr. Ricardo S. Provido Memorial District Hospital in Calinog. He was later transferred to the Western Visayas Medical Center in Mandurriao, Iloilo City.
The Sugidanon (from Kinaray-a sugid, to tell), first documented in the 1950s by anthropologist Felipe Landa Jocano, tells a story in 10 chapters of powerful noblemen, demi-goddesses, and mythical creatures. It is still recited and taught to this day in chanting sessions that can last for hours at a time.
Caballero’s two sons and some grandchildren also contracted the viral disease, according to the Panay Indigenous Culture Advocacy Group (PICAG).
“This means an urgent need for quarantine in Garangan as well as aid for food, medicine and finances for families that will be affected,” the PICAG said in a statement.
“During the pandemic, the culture bearers have high risk of being infected by COVID-19 because most of them, if not all, are already old,” the group added.
Also known as the Suludnon, Panay Bukidnon or Pan-ayanon resides in the Capiz-Lambunao mountainous area and the Antique-Iloilo mountain area of Panay Island.
They are one of the two only culturally indigenous groups of Visayan language-speakers in Western Visayas, along with the, Halawodnon of Lambunao and Calinog and Iraynon-Bukidnon of Antique.
Although they were once culturally related to the speakers of the Kinaray-a, Aklanon and Hiligaynon languages, all of whom inhabit the lowlands of Panay, their isolation from Spanish rule resulted in the continuation of their pre-Hispanic culture and beliefs.
They speak the Iigbok language (also known as Ligbok or Sulod language).
The Panay Bukidnon are known for their binanog dance which mimics the flight of the Philippine eagle, accompanied by an agung ensemble.
They also use bamboo musical instruments to express themselves in traditional songs, dances, and epics.
This IP group are also known for their detailed embroidery, known as panubok.
The Panay Bukidnon are also known for their traditional practices on the mysticism of the binukot.
PICAG urged the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to prioritize the IPs in their programs, as they belong to the vulnerable sector.
Tay Polding was a younger brother of Federico Caballero, an awardee of the Gawad Manlilikha ng Bayan or the National Living Treasures Award.
The group hopes for Tay Polding’s recovery; they have an ongoing and upcoming cultural heritage documentation projects waiting for Free Prior and Informed Consent approval at the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) in Region 6.
“These projects are important in the understanding of our memory, place, spirituality, language and identity from Panay Island,” the PICAG said.
It added: “The culture bearers are the community’s treasure as we continue to reconnect with the past. They are the bastion of indigenous culture and identity.”
On the other hand, Calinog’s Mayor Francisco Calvo said the local government unit (LGU) will give assistance to the hospitalization of Caballero.
Calvo said they already augmented relief packs to the affected families.
According to the mayor, it was Caballero’s son who got infected first, making the others close contacts.
The LGU has also yet to determine how the son acquired COVID-19.
Meanwhile, Calvo is reminding his constituents to continue following the minimum health protocols such as wearing of facemasks and face shields, social distancing and hand washing.
As of Aug. 20, Calinog had 473 total confirmed coronavirus cases – 57 active, 408 recovered and eight deaths./PN
