Pottery of the Ibanag Community

Scores of children running paths among the Ibanag Community.  My visit consists of my Fulbright colleagues and professors from Philippine Normal University of Isabela, Luzon.  The purpose of our visit is to learn the economic activity of the community - Pottery.  I could not help notice all the young children and the very old and busy small population of older women and the very small horses used among the palmed and thatched houses.

Special locations in the community are designated as a meeting center, work areas creating pottery, areas of pottery drying into red greenware and way in the back area is a carefully piled collection of red ware colored pots covered in horse dung and plenty of dry grass.

One of the older men of the Ibanag Community was told I am a potter and was excited to find me. He took me to the prepared firing of the pots. He lite the grass and heavy white smoke came up out of the pile. He reported to me the local horses supply all the needed dung for the long firing as the dung is set in every pot and does a very slow burn. The pots come out a strong red bisque and the women polish the pieces to a soft patina shine.

One Ibanag very wrinkled woman with a warm smile took me to the location where she calls home. She pulled a few pots out and set them open in a ledge. She asked me which one I want, the interpreter told me. I chose a short round one with a lid. My new friend wrapped the pot in paper and tied string around it. I did manage to get it to the USA in one piece - for me it is a great artifact and treasure from a beautiful community in northwest Luzon, Philippines - the indigenous Philippine group, the Ibanag Community.

Fulbright Hays Scholars Fly To Manila, Philippines, June 19, 2015, Chicago

O'Hare, Chicago, Saturday morning to Manila, Philippines,, Sunday night. Problems popped up in the two days with answers for each. One scholar had to continue trip a day later due to allergy conflict. All of our checked baggage did not make it to Manila. But we move forward with great team enthusiasm trusting Sue and Rhoda and our PNU hosts to assist in the challenges. Indeed each was resolved.

Pearl Manila Hotel is home for first five nights. The hotel is very close to Philippines Normal University, PNU. We are near Philippine Bay and the U.S. Embassy. Walking alone on streets is not suggested. Metro Manila is a city of 22 million, many very poor, on the street living and on the street sleeping at night. 

I prepare for tomorrow's program and the week's schedule. 

Salamat Po! - To My University of Chicago Philippine Friends

Today I enjoyed a special hour with my husband's Philippine friends and colleagues from University of Chicago.  We shared a Philippine lunch together, Michael, me, Contessa, Joanna, Rich (my husband) and Maria shared places, foods, ideas, stories, suggestions, information, on absolutely everything Philippine. I heard, 'You will never want to leave!" over and over with incredible passion and love for a beloved country, The Republic of Philippines.

My Take Away Includes:

1.  Food is everything!  tapsilog tap=beef/si=fried rice/log=egg. tocilog to=pork/ci=fried rice/log=egg, pancit=noodles and chicken and each are fabulous! Try mangoes cut in small cubes in the skin.  Try Bulalo soup/bone marrow beef soup = the best and so good.  Try the coconut drink! Try the calamensi juice (lemon) and lime juice on everything.  Sugar cane is used in drinks and more instead of corn syrup. Coffee uses condensed milk....in fact much discussions on sweet condensed milk as a memory as children.  And always the Halo-Halo!  It will cool you!



2.  Maria brought sodas, mangos, lemon bars (made by her daughter) and arranged all and more for us - a gracious and wonderful woman.  Each were amazingly informative and brilliant on all ideas on Philippines.

3.  The Aeta community and their forced interaction with the local Filipinos due to the Mt Pinatubo eruption story was interesting to me. 

 The Aeta Tribal group was forced from their villages and had to interact with the rest of the Filipino population - an interaction they were not fully prepared for. They were confused by the clothes that were donated to them and the food that was donated to them.  They were confused by the clothes by sometimes wearing inappropriate garments (men in gowns) and the food that was donated (totally unaware of the purpose of canned goods).  After the volcano explosion, days were dark and ash everywhere for many days.  So now, the story goes, not two seasons of sun and rain- but three, sun, rain and ash. See more info on the eruption of 1991. http://geography.about.com/od/globalproblemsandissues/a/pinatubo.htm

4.  When going to Taal Lake be certain to get the Tawalis fish - they thrive only in Taal Lake and no where else in the world and are a fresh water fish.   We as Fulbright recipients will be hiking at Taal Lake first week we are there.  

5.  Tagalog - The word NG - The word NG has no direct translation and covers a broad range of meanings.  NG is a marker and indicates that there is some type of relationship between the  word that follows NG and another word(s) in the sentence.  Michael demonstrated sound NG - perfectly!

6. Ride a Jeepney! Public transportation with a Filipino feel!




7.  Visit the malls - they are filled with many people and are cool!  Buy long necklaces and pearls.

8.   Michael, Contessa, Joanna, and Maria pointed to the Philippine map - reporting the zone 1, 2, 3, 4, locations of parents, grandparents, where each were raised or a favorite vacation spot or beaches - 'sand like powder'.  Each reported memories about the geckos, lizards in the house ceilings and the games played with spiders using matches as a child.  

9.  China - Stay out of the Philippine Spratly Islands!



http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?cid=1101&MainCatID=11&id=20140526000100

10.  For hiking at Taal Lake - I am told to bring my rubbers - we all laughed........




 Thank you Maria, Michael, Joanna and Contessa.  I felt your passion and love for all Philippine. Salamat Po!

Indigenous History

Bahay Kubo is an indigenous house used in the Philippines. The native house has traditionally been constructed with bamboo tied together and covered with a thatched roof using nipa/anahaw leaves. A Bahay Kubo is an icon of Philippine culture as it represents the Filipino value of bayanihan, which refers to a spirit of communal unity.

Fulbright Start Date in 12 Days -

As a Fulbright recipient, I will be participating in a four-week study tour based at Philippine Normal University in Manila.




The program will examine the country's response to ethnic conflict and local efforts to rebuild democratic institutions and advocate respect for human rights. As a Fulbright participant, I will develop lectures stemming from the program.

Why the Republic of Philippines?




The Philippines is a microcosm of Southeast Asia.  It is challenged with ethno-religious conflict and separatism among minority groups and the nation building democratic projects are challenged with this conflict and separatism experiences of minority groups.









Philippines is a developing country.  It has strong historical ties to the USA as a former colony.  And at the same time it has been a strategic anchor for the US military for over 100 years and continues to serve as a strategic partner in Southeast Asia.




The Filipino population is the second largest Asian American group in the USA.




The goals of the Fulbright Project are

1.  Experience the history and ethno-religious diversity in the Philippines.

2.  Understand the challenges of teaching about human rights

3,  Interview nongovernmental organizational leaders, government/military/police officers about human rights challenges faced by the developing democracy of the Philippines.

4.  Learn Tagalog, the national language of the Philippines.  YOU can begin, too...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFkm-XaKPj0

5.  Develop teaching materials to return home and I will also teach at the University of Philippines - 3 campuses  a USA human rights issue.

6.  Develop and maintain colleague relationships in the Philippines for future collaborative partnerships on teaching and learning on human rights.

Following the Fulbright - I will travel to Kuala Lumpur, Indonesia to Singapore (find the little red squares on the map), with a colleague and to Malaysia.  I will return to Manila for flight home to Chicago.