The Value of Honesty in Taloctoc, Kalinga

One thing that had made its mark in my memory as a young child is the honesty of the Kalinga native.

In our barrio - Taloctoc, houses were never locked. You could wander in and out of anybody's house, if you so desire.

You could leave your personal things anywhere and would still find them untouched when you get back.

Sometimes a child may be curious and "investigate"but he will always leave them where he found them, or report the found item to an elder .

If - apparently - the owner forgot it, then it will be brought to the barrio captain's
house where the person may claim it.

It was an unwritten code to respect the rights and properties of another person.

There were no documented and notarized papers to that effect (just like what we do now), but everyone respected that "law".
There were very rare occasions when a scalawag nicked an item, but eventually he himself surrenders and would be willing to suffer the consequences.

all Photos by glenmcbethlaw