Taloctoc, Kalinga: My Village

Taloctoc is the Village where I grew up since age 5. I stayed in the city and then went home to Taloctoc. It was my small Paradise, an ideal haven for those who would like to escape the hurly-burly of city life. Taloctoc then was has fresh, cool air, clear, sparkling waters, verdant, rich mountains and a flora and fauna that were incomparable. I still have not gone back. I hope in time I can and would still see a remnant of the Taloctoc I knew as a child.


Drawing: by Eugene Supermedtech

Amabalo e Algao Yo

"Ambalo e algao yo" is a Kalinga sentence meaning , Good morning to all of you.

"Intakkon not," means let's go. This is used in informal conversation and among peers. If used in a formal conversation, you add the title of the person you're talking to like, "Apo Palicas, intakkon not."

When they give you water, take it even if you're not thirsty. It is an affront if you don't. Accepting the water indicates that you accept the offer of friendship.

These are some Kalinga practices still observed by many up to this day.

Kalinga, A Place of Beauty

How I wish I could go back home and capture the beauty and serenity of my small village. It has been eons ago that I have not visited. When I do, I'll splash all the pictures here. For now, you'll have to bear with my rants.

But here is a wonderful site that talks about Kalinga.

The Banawe Rice Terraces

The Banawe Rice Terraces are much the same way as the rice fields in Kalinga. Man's intrepid and enterprising spirit is displayed in this man made structure. These are great pictures taken by fallacious truth

An Invitation to a Book Tour: A Puppy, Not a Guppy on December 15, 2009

There will be a virtual tour of the book : A Puppy, Not a Guppy by Holly Jahangiri which is scheduled in my other blog Jena Isle’s Random Thoughts on December 15. It's a collector's item, and you'll learn why on December 15.

To make it more exciting, a contest would be held; the detailed mechanics will be posted on December 14, 2009.

There would be four (4) winners of the contest:

1. Two (2) winners of the Contest proper, to be awarded by the book author – Holly Jahangiri.

2. One winner of a $10 prize (thru paypal) to whoever would be asking the book author the most interesting question. I will be sponsoring and selecting this winner. A link back to my blog, ( if you have a blog) would be the only requirement.

3. One free Inspirational Book (Anthology of Bloggers all Over the World) would be awarded to whoever has the most interesting comment on the blog post about the book tour.

More detailed information about the book would be posted at Jena Isle’s Random Thoughts http://www.jenaisleonline.com on the date scheduled.

Holly Jahangiri would be answering all your questions.

I look forward to your participation!

MY KALINGA MAN

The typical Kalinga man is tall, dark and handsome! He's intelligent, witty and generous too.

Meat Dish in Taloctoc: the old way of cooking

In the lowlands especially here in Pampanga, meat is cooked in various ways and in several different dishes that sometimes, the genuine taste of the meat is lost.

The natives of Taloctoc are usually vegetarians. There are special occasion however, that the butchering of pigs, carabaos and cows are considered appropriate. These are during marriages, peace pact agreements, and village fiestas.

Before the animal is butchered, certain prayers are done first by the “mandandawak” (village’s quack doctor.)

carabao

Then the animal is cleaned through the use of direct fire and a sharp knife to scrap the hair out of the animal’s skin.

The “message” of the gods is then interpreted from the arrangement of the lobes of the animal's liver.

The blood of the animal is also spread through a portion of the ground as a symbol that the people are honoring the gods.

The meat is cut into medium-sized pieces, and then placed in a big "silyasi" (wok.) These are boiled in water until tender, over a stone stove making use of firewood collected from the nearby forest.

There are no condiments added; no salt, no vinegar, pepper or whatever flavor enhancers that we usually add to meat.

Rice would also be cooked in a big pot.

After everything is cooked, all of it is placed in banana leaves, where everyone would then squat to eat.

There are no plates whatsoever.

Everyone eats from the two, big serving plates - the banana leaves. One for the rice and one for the viand (meat).

I can tell you, I have never tasted meat so pure in form and flavor.

Photo by Hulagway

Politics in Kalinga (The Coming Elections)

With the coming elections, the people of Kalinga are empowered to vote for their own candidates. Here they're proudly demonstrating their willingness to exercise their right of suffrage.