Franco, Cenri Anrie R.
October 2, 2023
BETCT-2A
Tuesday 3:00PM-6:00PM
REFLECTION PAPER
(Ang Huling Prinsesa by Kara David – I-Witness)
Assignment #2
When we talk about “culture”, we usually mean intellectual and creative products,
including literature, music, theater and painting. Another use of the term "culture" is to
describe the beliefs and practices of another society, especially when considered closely
related to tradition or religion. But culture is much more than that. Culture is part of the
social fabric of every society, including our own. It shapes the way things are done and our
understanding of why this should be so for those who follow said belief.
Southeast Asian archipelago nation of the Philippines is known for having a highly
rich historical and cultural legacy. You may always discover something intriguing to learn
and know about anywhere you go. This country, as we can observe, consists of different and
various traditions and cultures that is due to the different influences of the different
colonizers that happened to occur. That even their language has a mix or is derived from
foreign words. All having unique stories of places, things, personas, and events that connects
them to the past, from the time before Spanish, Japanese, and American colonization to the
most recent political events. These important events have taught and shaped their citizens to
become what they are today: Filipinos, or citizens of an independent nation.
However, modern Filipinos have lost touch with their heritage. People of today are
too dependent on modern technologies as a result of their growth, which prevents them from
reflecting on their cultures and traditions. Numerous things influence change. Communities
and households respond to social and economic changes brought on by globalization, new
technology, environmental challenges, armed conflict, development projects, and etc. which
results in cultural change. Change also results from deliberate efforts to influence values
through changes in the law or government policy, often due to pressure from civil society.
New cultural definitions emerge as a result of a process in which certain social groups
advocate for and model change while others oppose it. In other words, there is no universal
agreement on "cultural values" because cultures are not uniform. Cultural norms are
frequently redefined in response to altering circumstances and demands. During this process,
some ideals are challenged as being out of date and others are reinforced.
Though alarming, I know that there are certain groups and organizations who are
driven to preserve the different cultural heritages that the Philippines and its citizens can
offer. In the documentary “Ang Huling Prinsesa” by Kara David and her production team,
they highlighted a culture who would’ve died today if not for the efforts of others. This
documentary, which is available to the public for free, piqued my interest. The presentation
and how Kara David, as the driving person that presents the culture and how it is doing as
of late, presented the stories that the interviewed indigenous people and scholarly journalists
in a very interesting matter through vivid stories and thought-provoking narrations that I
had sat down, watched, and took notes voluntarily.
In the hustle and bustle of the 21st century, our cultural practices no longer seem to
be a priority. Families seldom ever have time to sit down and converse with one another. The
transmission of traditions from one generation to the next has been interrupted by a lack of
communication. Though, there are some who strive to protect and record the different
cultures and traditions along the country. Alicia P. Magos, an anthropologist and a professor
emerita of University of the Philippines Visayas, had published extensive works on the
culture of Western Visayas especially on the Panay Bukidnon in the course of over 25 years.
Dr. Magos is a sociocultural anthropologist by profession and has spent almost 40 years of
her life as a government employee, most of which as a researcher, professor, and extension
worker at the University of the Philippines Visayas in Iloilo. She was a volunteer of NCCA
at the time when Schools for Living Tradition (SLT) became a flagship project of the agency.
She spearheaded the idea of making Brgy. Garangan, located at the border of Tapaz, Capiz,
and of Calinog, Iloilo, as the site of the first School of Living Tradition in the Visayas, thus
revitalizing epic chanting and their long-forgotten or abandoned needlework called panubok.
It has now become an additional source of livelihood for some families in the hinterlands of
Panay.
In pioneering the establishment of the first SLT in the Visayas and her advocacy for
indigenous culture, she was supported by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts
(NCCA). These SLTs are established in response to UNESCO's call for the preservation of
cultural heritage by preserving it in a living form, ensuring its transmission to the next
generations. Through culture experts and masters, this program primarily focuses on
teaching young people indigenous skills and techniques. They were created with the intention
of protecting and promoting the country's historical and cultural heritage by fostering and
supporting research into, identification of, and preservation of endangered human cultural
resources, such as weavers, chanters, dancers, and other craftsmen, as well as the
preservation and development of such at-risk artistic, linguistic, and occupational skills. By
assisting in the establishment of, or encouraging, monitoring, and funding companion
systems at the regional, provincial, and local levels intended to develop traditional cultures,
such as arts and crafts centers, preferably in community settings other than the typical
museum settings, where exponents of living arts and crafts can practice and teach the craft,
it also preserves traditional culture and integrates it as a dynamic part of the national
cultural mainstream. Initially started by the NCCA, the UP Visayas and UP Center for
Integrative Development Studies (UP-CIDS) gave full support by funding the translation of
the ten epics of Panay into four languages, from the original archaic Kinaray-a to
contemporary Kinaray-a, Hiligaynon, Filipino, and English. Eight out of ten epics of the
Panay Bukidnon had already been launched by the University of the Philippines Diliman
Press. Originally committed to memory and orally handed down through the generations,
especially by the Binukots of the Bukidnons communities, these epics, when fully
documented in the late 1990s by Dr. Magos and her team of academics from UP in the
Visayas, consists of twelve (12) encyclopedic volumes. When continuously chanted in its
original form without any break, it would take about three (3) days of continuous recitation
or around two (2) months in its usual serialized presentation, making it one of the longest
epic known.
Mass media also plays a big role in the preservation of cultures and traditions through
documentation. It serves as an avenue or platform for minority groups to voice their stories,
beliefs, and cultural heritage without fear of marginalization or censorship. It provides new
technologies that can help preserve traditional practices in modern times. An example of this
is Kara David’s documentation of Panay and its binukots in the province of Capiz, “Ang
Huling Prinsesa”. Binukot, also spelled Binokot, is a pre-colonial Visayan tradition from the
Philippines that secludes a young woman with the expectation that seclusion will result in a
higher value placed on the girl by marital suitors in the future. It is originally applied to
young noblewomen. The name literally means "wrapped up" or "veiled" in Visayan
languages, in the sense of seclusion. Select young women chosen by their families were
isolated from society, kept away from the eyes of men with the hopes this seclusion would
increase their marital value and family prestige. Most Binukot are unmarried for their entire
life, however, if a binukot is married, she will immediately become a Nabukot or one who was
a Binukot. A man marrying a Binukot should possess a hard-working and loving nature and
has the capability to love, cherish, and treasure his wife for all of time as the Binukot that
would turn into a Nabukot has no knowledge in caring for herself as she is usually raised and
supported for the entirety of her life. The Binukot and Nabukot are both major cultural
bearers of the Panay Bukidnon people as they have a vast knowledge on their people's epics,
which is their expertise, along with the traditional practices of a Binukot.
Being a binukot must have been challenging. Not only are you isolated from others
most of the time, you are also not allowed to receive modern education. They may be cared
for and looked up to, you are, however, limited in the actions and bounded by the constraints
imposed by the belief. This made me appreciate my life and the privileges that were given to
me. I know for a fact that, due to my impatient nature and natural desire for the unknown,
I would have not been able to live as a binukot with how much shackles and forbidden things
they are supposed to follow. Their ability to memorize to heart their epics and dance practices
amazes me as those usually require months to finish citing and years to learn. Through the
documentation, I gained a deeper understanding on one of the cultural heritages of the
Filipino citizens whom, in the face of modernization and globalization, are in grave danger
of being forgotten and unrecorded.
The documentary is a challenging feat for anyone who wants to see and explore a
mysterious tradition preserved for decades among some of the mountains isolated
communities. I commend Kara David and her team for going out of their way in order to
preserve significant portions of history and culture that are in grave danger of being lost if
preservation efforts are not intensified. Through her and the preservation efforts of Dr.
Magos, I was able to learn about the “princesses” of Panay and their struggles in following
their ancestors’ footsteps as well as their continuing path towards general provision of
knowledge through SLTs. I also realized the importance of mass media and scholarly
journals in the preservation, documentation, and publicization of the cultures and traditions
of these minority groups. By raising awareness of traditional values and practices,
emphasizing the value of distinctive customs and beliefs, preserving knowledge and
experiences for future generations, providing access to a wide variety of cultural expressions,
reinforcing a sense of pride and connection to one's culture, encouraging dialogue between
cultures, supporting collaboration between public and private organizations, and other
factors, mass media plays a crucial role in preserving cultural heritage.
To conclude, cultural heritage is central to protecting our sense of who we are. It gives
us an irrefutable connection to the past – to certain social values, beliefs, customs and
traditions, that allows us to identify ourselves with others and deepen our sense of unity,
belonging and national pride. In the ever-changing modern age, these cultures, these
identities are slowly being forgotten and are considered as irrelevant and meaningless by a
sizeable portion of the population. However, scholars and the media have a goal towards the
preservation of these heritages – recording, documenting, and publishing works related to
the topic at hand. In general, research activities and communication through the media have
a positive impact on conserving cultures around the world. Documentaries, academic papers,
and other media and programs help people learn more about other traditions. On the one
hand, it provides access to cutting-edge technologies that can help keep old practices alive in
the current era. In the other, it provides a forum for underrepresented groups to tell their
tales without worrying about censure. The upholding and fostering of Filipino tradition act
as pillars in the construction of the nation's identity and aid in the spread of Filipino culture.
It helps Filipinos feel more connected to their past, promotes inclusivity and a feeling of
community, and strengthens their sense of national identity. Because it enables people to
connect with their roots and comprehend their past, the preservation and promotion of
Filipino tradition are crucial. It provides a sense of identity and pride in being a Filipino.
The distinctive characteristics of the Philippines and its many cultures are highlighted by
cultural customs. Additionally, it aids in preserving and safeguarding these genuine customs,
assuring their survival for future generations. Without these customs, a significant portion
of the nation's cultural legacy would be lost. As a result, let's all recognize and protect the
Philippines' vibrant and rich culture.