THE Tingguians have a rich tradition reflected in songs, dances and ceremonies, courtship, weddings and festivals.
The bodong or peace pact is among the traditions familiar to lowlanders. To a Tinguian, the peace pact also known as the pagta greatly influences conflict resolution and disputes over ancestral land. The pagta lists all the agreements reached by the tribes forging the peace pact.
A sacred ritual called the singlip is a two-day affair when the two agreeing tribes eat, dance and chant and where initial agreements in the pagta are crafted, including safe passage, peace maintenance, territorial boundaries and the other fine details of the agreement.
Many Tingguians to this day cherish the fine art of the nganga, a popular pastime of chewing the betel nut.
The Philippine Dental Association (PDA)-Abra Chapter and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) headed by its director Genesis Quiblado has launched Project Nganga.
Dr. Ramarie Fernandez Dickson, President of the PDA-Abra chapter, says Project Nganga aims to improve and safeguard the oral health of the indigenous people in the 10 towns of the province where betel nut chewing is popular.
The aim is to create awareness about the potentially harmful effects of betel nut chewing.
The World Health Organization estimates that over 600 million people chew betel nut in South Asia, the Pacific islands and Southeast Asia, including the Philippines.
At least 10 indigenous communities in Abra practice betel nut (momma in the local dialect) chewing, mostly in the municipalities of Tineg, Boliney, Tubo, Lacub, Malibcong, Luba, Sallapadan, Baay-Licuan, Bucloc and Daguioman, according to Dr. Ramarie Fernandez Dickson.
Dr. Fernandez is the President of the PDA-Abra Chapter. In cooperation with the NCIP, the PDA is conducting an information campaign among the Tingguians about oral health care and betel nut chewing.
You see, regular and heavy use of betel nut may cause the discoloration of the teeth into a reddish-brown color, caused mostly by the other ingredients that come with chewing the betel nut. Mouth ulcers and gum disease may also result from incessant betel nut use.
The other potentially ill-effects of betel nut use include oral cancers or sub-mucous fibrosis, a pre-cancer condition. A study in the Journal of the American Dental Association indicates that betel nut users are at a higher risk of this incurable condition. It results in stiffness in the mouth and loss of jaw movement.
Chewing the betel nut may also cause stomach ulcer, heart disease and dependence on chewing more of the betel nut to get the same effect of pleasure.
The PDA’s Abra Chapter aims to educate the indigenous population of the negative effects of using betel nut and the importance of removing the stains caused by the chewing habit.
Members preach the importance of maintaining good oral health by providing lectures on basic oral health care, proper brushing techniques and the use of toothpaste with fluoride.
They also provide dental services based on the needs of the community as well as the adolescents and the elderly. All these by adhering to the appropriate PDA infection protocol standards in this time of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Manila Standard newspaper reported.
At the same time, the PDA-Abra Chapter makes it a point to stress the importance of reducing the consumption of sugar-rich foods and drinks to prevent tooth decay.
Originally launched by former PDA president Dr. Auditha Fernandez-Dickson, Project Nganga has set-up a ‘’Dental Home’’ and washing facility inside the NCIP compound in Bangued, the capital.
“This is to promote oral health care and uplift the social status of betel nut chewing among the Tingguian communities of the province,” Dr. Fernandez-Dickson points out.
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Dr. Joseph D. Lim is the former Associate Dean of the UE College of Dentistry, former Dean of the College of Dentistry, National University, past president and honorary fellow of the Asian Oral Implant Academy, and honorary fellow of the Japan College of Oral Implantologists. Honorary Life Member of Thai Association of Dental Implantology. For questions on dental health, e-mail jdlim2008@gmail.com or text 0917-8591515./PN
