Saturday, May 30, 2015

Why Wildlife Preservation and Conservation are Important

Nature and the ecosystem have a way of maintaining balance so that each flora and fauna would support and balance life.

Mother earth heals herself but people have to help her do it. One way that a community can aid mother earth to do this is by helping to preserve and conserve wildlife.





Wildlife has a role to play in the ecosystem. Just like lizards who feed on mosquitoes to balance the multiplication of these harmful insects, wildlife also helps in the balance of the ecosystem.

Here are other reasons why humanity should do this.

Wildlife is part of the balance of nature and the ecosystem. They interact with the environment and with this interaction other creatures survive and others are controlled.

Scientists may not have discovered all the wonderful benefits that we could derive in the preservation of wildlife.

It is a fact though that Mother Earth has a way of obtaining balance and this process could affect man’s existence in Mother Earth’s soil.

Wildlife can also add to a country’s economy through the exciting creatures and plants, and plant products it could provide.

There is also a scientific value of wildlife. It is only by studying wildlife that early processes and occurrences are discovered and created.

When people maintain wildlife, the circle of life is maintained and hence man’s survival as well. The role of the conservation and preservation of wildlife is crucial because it also helps to maintain the natural balances of the ecosystem.

The IUCN releases now and then a list of the threatened species to make the world aware of these wildlife threatened species.

Lions, seabirds, and some species of lions and tigers are among the list. Even amphibians are declining in population, like the golden toads.

Scientists also noticed a decline in primates, such as monkeys, gorillas, and apes. Some wildlife creatures feed on other creatures, which prevents the proliferation of another species.

This acts as a food chain which balances the creatures existing in the ecosystem. If all of these wildlife creatures are eliminated, then this might create a redirection of the food chain, which could be dangerous for human beings.

Humans should stop hunting and selling these wildlife creatures but instead men should preserve and conserve wildlife with its plants and animals.

This is so that the balance of the ecosystem is not disturbed. Any imbalance would affect the existence of man and could be detrimental to man’s health, economy and safety.


Thursday, May 28, 2015

Learn Common Taloctoc Sentences



If you’re traveling to the boondocks of Taloctoc, Kalinga, you will certainly need to know some of the common sentences, so you can at least communicate using the dialect. 


What’s your name? – Umma ngadan no?  (Letter “d” is pronounced like a cross between the “t” and “d” sounds)

Where are you going? - Umma ayam?

What’s your viand? – Umma sida yo?

Let’s go to the river.  – Intako adte dawang.

Where are you? – Umma igom?

Let’s eat – Mangantako.

Let’s go – Intakkon.

I’m fine – Ambaloak. (Letter ‘l” is pronounced as  a rolled “y” )

I love you – Laydok sika.

I don’t know – Ikpon agammo.

Yes – On

No – Na-i




Sunday, May 17, 2015

Kalinga Native Fish Dishes

Kalinga native dishes are simple dishes meant to bring out the natural flavor of the food. One of the most delicious foods I have ever tasted in Taloctoc is the fish dish.


Image credit: ayrshire.ac.uk



This is usually cooked during swimming picnics along riverbanks.

The fish is caught using our bare hands, and yes you can catch them this way. It’s a skill I came to learn and it was fun.

Steps


1. Wash the fish thoroughly

2. Add salt to taste and mix. Some preferred not to add salt.

3. Wrap them in banana leaves.

4. Place them in bamboo containers. These are small bamboo trunks/tubes that are freshly cut to expose the hollow cavity inside. The bamboo is cut in such a way that the “node” covers the other end of the bamboo.

5. Place the wrapped fish in banana leaves inside the bamboo container

6. Cook in low fire.

7. Serve hot.

This type of cooking brings out the natural taste of the fish, and I tell you, I have never tasted such delicious flavor in my life.

You have to experience it to believe.

Go ahead, and try it at home. But you have to buy fresh fish (still alive), and some banana leaves and charcoal.

Good luck with your Kalinga dish.

Here's an additional pointer from an Aunt who had lived in Taloctoc but now resides in America.

Fe Potter  says:

"The bamboo tube should also be a fresh cut so it will not burn right out over the charcoal. This method of cooking is excellent in any kind of fish dish."

Sunday, May 10, 2015

I’m an i-Kalinga (Igorot) and I’m Proud of It

Just because you’re one of the cultural minorities (an Igorot) does not mean that you’re a second class citizen. It’s this perception that causes some Igorots to deny their ethnicity.

It’s a misconception that only uneducated and misinformed individuals have.





For those who don't know it; Igorots come from the Mountain Province, which is composed of 5 major provinces namely; Kalinga, Apayao, Benguet, Bontoc and Ifugao.

If you’re well-informed, learned and have traveled a lot, you’ll be aware that Igorots are one of the most honest, sincere and intelligent Filipinos.

I have lived in Taloctoc, Kalinga during my childhood and I have never seen such honest people; you can leave your house unlocked and nothing will ever be stolen.

You can trust them because they honor their words and consider them unbreakable. There’s no need for legal pieces of paper, because their words are good enough to serve as binding contracts.

During college, and even now, there are still ignorant and misinformed people who look down upon Igorots. But, I just think that they’re ignoramuses and are insecure individuals.

Whenever someone asked where I came from, I readily stated that I was an Igorot, an i-Kalinga, to be more specific. Sometimes, some were surprised, because perhaps, they didn’t expect that I could be standing - dignified - among them, and, in addition, I was proud of my origins.

I can go on to list factual names of Igorots who have made it successfully in the local and international arena in various fields, but this page would not be enough.

Do I have a tail? I don’t. I’m as normal as you are.

To all Igorots out there, be proud of your heritage because you come from a noble tribe that is composed of honest, intelligent, sincere and hardworking people.

Umali kayo losan atna Kalinga! Matago-tago tako losan.

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