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Ngibat: a purifying experience

A group of students from Easter College taking up Bachelor of Science in Development Studies had an immersion in Ngibat, Tinglayan in the province of Kalinga. Ngibat village was originally known as “Masinta” by its residents. It is one of the barangays occupied by the Butbut sub-tribe in upper Kalinga.

The village is reachable through an hour’s hike on grassy and slippery foot trails from Maswa village of the same town, which is the nearest point of entry to the place.

On our way to Ngibat, quitting became an option for me due to the very high elevation and that it was raining during our travel. But upon reaching the place, the cold and natural sweet taste of water took away the tiredness I felt. The people warmly welcomed us as we were introduced by our guide, Luis Edpis, who is also one of the pangat (peace pact holder) in the place and a staff of the Montañosa Research and Development Center (MRDC), a non-government organization based in Sagada, and who helped in the facilitation of our immersion.

The activities we had during the three-day stay in the community were not a simple adventure to me, but an experience with spiritual meaning.

Working with the people

On the first day of our visit, we helped in the irrigation work, particularly in the hauling of sand. Here sand is cleansed by separating the dirt from the pebbles with the water flowing until it reaches its fine texture. The sand is then prepared for us to load.

This process of preparation illustrates the relationship we had with the people of Ngibat. To truly belong to the community, there must be a cleansing of intention, a removal of prejudices that might have hindered the good relationship from blossoming. With good and honest intentions, in return, the people’s trust was obtained. There was a revelation of pain, of dishonesty and oppression that they had encountered from other people. From these revelations, compassion was awakened, trust was given and friendship and belongingness began.

Another important thing we noted is the people’s cooperation. It has been observed that everybody works without hesitation. Every time a child, a youth or an adult imparts a day of free labor, a dream is about to come true. The fact that I was new in the community, for every basin of sand I carried, I felt that it was ritual offering of thanksgiving of my spiritual union with the people, a sweat of what we call the “life-giving” relationship.

In building the irrigation, there was the mixing of sand, gravel, water and cement. The right amount of ingredients together with the love of work and determination of the people lies the quality of the project. If it will be maintained and be given a proper care and love, the project will last long. In the same way the unity of the people of Ngibat was strongly build, traditions and cultures was still intact, these are due to the right mixing of cooperation and love and care to their ancestral land and of their companion, which is also and can serve as their strongest weapon against any violence and injustice that might attempt to take their place.

In each meal we shared, the food was very simple. But it brings an after taste of divinity. It deepened our bonding with the people because every spoon of food nurtured the dialogue we had with the host family.

The pounding of rice is a three-step procedure that requires a very careful hand, strength and determination. Here, the rice grains are placed in a mortar and pounded repeatedly until the grains completely peel off. The whole process is of purification. In living with the people, again cleansing is very important. Like the grains, we have to go back to our intention over and over again so that impurities will be left behind. True, identity must come out. To have a good relationship, there is a very careful examination of heart, strength to fight temptation that could lead to greediness. So that when we left the community, I say that beyond the success of having an irrigation and micro hydro power, that could have helped in their economic development were unity and cooperation among the people. # Jo Ann Annaway

Ms. Annaway is a student in Easter College taking up BS Development Studies

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