College of Teacher Education
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Item The Kalinga bodong and its implications for education(1973-04) Ayang-ang, Samson D.The Kalingas as an ethnic tribe are a headhunting people. Due to fear of total extinction from headhunters and tribal wars, they themselves designed a system of peace called bodong; the primary aims of which is the maintenance of peace and order between regions and brotherly relations among various tribes. 2. The maintenance of peace and order is enforced by the bodong holder of each village who is charged with avenging the life of anyone murdered or wounded by any member of his tribe, from the contracting tribe. 3. Wealth and large kinship groups are used as a means of gaining prestige and dominating other smaller clans. This is coupled by the presence of a wealthy person in the clan who is looked upon as the pangat. Formerly the death of this pangat requires the killing of another person through headhunting as a funeral victim, regardless of the cause of his death. 4. Although headhunting had virtually stopped, some villages still cling to primitive rituals and other forms of superstitious beliefs. This is seen in the adherence of the natives to rituals pertaining to child growth, observance of omens during marriage ceremonies and beliefs in the spirit of the dead. 5. Tribal wars are caused by murder and land disputes in adjacent regions covered by bodong, and unsatisfactory settlement of minor cases, like spilling of blood from slight injuries. These ignite tribal wars that never end. It is re¬vived from generation to generation through successive avenge. This avenge is also motivated by the desire of both parties to equalize the score. 6. Revenge is generally conditioned by some tribal rules of retaliation. It is an accepted rule by the tribe that killing an ordinary person is senseless, while avenging the life of a Mayor or any person occupying a prestigious position. It is not simply a matter of life for life, but that the principle is, victims must be equal. 7. In actual combat, each warrior tries to bring home an enemy head. This is because of the honor bestowed to it and the belief that during cures childlessness. it also brings abundant harvest and protection from famine by the ancestral spirits. 8. The formal celebration of the bodong is a two vil¬lage affair where all people from different walks of life are involved. The celebration lasts from two to three days of feasting. It is at this point where a bodong holder exibits his wealth through his expression of generosity, and his po¬wer to control the people through his speeches. The celebra¬tion is climaxed by the drafting of the pagta, signed by both peace pact holders with three to five pairs of witnesses from both parties. 9. The peace pact contains various educational implications. The celebration trains teachers and students on prac¬tical public speaking, as arbiters and as worthwhile members of a social gathering. It also enables one to know how a peace treaty between two regions is negotiated. The binding effects of the peace pact trains an individual as law-abiding citizen. 10. Public school teachers refuse job assignments from their superior in areas where his peace pact had been cut. His authority is not also recognized by the students, hence they become enemies. Undisturbed peace pact guarantees physical security and prohibits teachers from inflicting corporal Punishment on his pupils, otherwise he himself causes the rupture of the peace agreement. 11. Ruptured peace pact at the middle of the school year results in mass drop-outs of students studying in central towns. Decision of parents to stop their children going to school prevails because oil fear from enemies. To the people of Kalinga, the frequent participation of an individual in peace pact celebrations enables him to gain skills and experiences in solving regional disputes. He also gets training as a potential leader and develops pride in belonging to a certain tribe. 12. Tribal wars, though a primitive practice develops a high sense of courage, bravery and discipline. These traits imply functional unity and cooperation of the tribe in case of foreign invaders. Their discipline is also seen through their strict observance of the neutrality of person and territory. 14. Politically, the peace pact is advantageous to both native and non-Kalinga aspirants for an elective position. If both seek the aid of the peace pact holders in different regions, they are assured of some votes. However, the Kalingas for a Kalinga is still a prevailing rule, a rule indicating the desire of the tribe for political distinction. The practice of the natives in giving few votes to both native and non-Kalinga candidate is also an expression of hospitality. 15. The peace pact serves as a permit of villagers for commercial intercourse. It guarantees physical protection of native merchants travelling from region to region. Businessmen in central towns enjoy favorable progress in business because of the presence of many customers from other regions. Deeds of sales between regions involving large sums of money is also sanctioned by the peace pact.