HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1972-08-17, Page 5Local girl cough in killer typhoon
Margie Whyte plays a clapping game with Bebie Sibel, a negrito girl living in Kakilinjan.
Because there is no schools in the area everybody in the village is illiterate.
The bamboo "house on stilts" in which Margie Whyte and Heather Blair lived while on their
Crossroads project in Kakilinjan in northern Luzon in the Philippines. The area was ravaged
by a typhoon that killed 500 people and left thousands homeless.
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BY MARGIE WHYTE
iss Margie Whyte is port of
radian Crossroads
matioaol which has seat 56
dents from all across
. ado,
ord received earlier this
k by her mother Mrs.
yte of Senforth, indicates
t Margie survived the
boon that swept through the
ipines earlier this month,
storm killed almost 500
)ple and left thousands
ieless. It was the worst
m to hit the area in aver a
.dred years.
.,anadiqn Crossroads
emotional is a private
untory .organization
aged in promoting
motional understanding by
ering Canadians the
ortunity to live and work
acid for three to six months.
iss Whyte, who graduated
t spring from the U. of
elph, left Canada at the end
May armed with film
vided by the News-Record,
t the present time Heather
it of Saskatchewan and
elf are engaged in a most
iching experience, doing
nteer work with Canadian
ssroads International in the
lippines. As well Allan Shaw
Nova Scotia is doing
icultural work in the
wince of Tarlac, in Northern
zon. This summer the
ssroads program sent 56
tents from all across Canada
rojects in Africa, India, West
ies, Hong Kong and the
lippines.
his is a private volunteer
anization engaged in an
periment in
munications" as well as to
vide cross-cultural
cation. It is based on the
ief that by living and
king together, people will
n a mutual respect and
erstanding. I certainly do
that a great step has been
en towards attaining these
ctives, and with this in mind
late to you my experiences.
ur project sight is Kakilijan,
ch is a reserve for a cultural
ority group of Negritos, in
province of Zambales. This
e village is situated in the
thills' of the Zambales
ntains, on the west coast of
largest island of Luzon in
Philippines.
elieve me it is quite an
ted area. A main highway
through San Marcelino, the
est town, 23 kins (15 miles)
y. This town is 74 kms (46
s) northwest of Manila, the
ital city of the Philippines.
t may be the nearest road
m, is a rugged narrow
io trail. It is on this trail
we came by a four wheel
weapons carrier for 18
(11 miles) and then by foot
est of the way. As well, we
to cross a four foot deep
with a swift current. Thus,
he time we arrived at our
ct sight we were quite
and drenched.
until April 15 before Mr.
Itho Minor, an
ulturalist employed by the
rch, and five Seminary
nts arrived, the village
fined their drinking water
a spring about 1/2 km (3/4
) away, and had to go 1 km
he river to wash their
es, but Mr. Minor and the
nts made a water tank at
pring, and set up a water
m at two spots in the
io. This group also
ructed a four room bamboo
se on stilts" which is what
lived in, and in which we
reside. This house built
rding to Philipino
dards is much more
'antial than the Negrito
es, They also built a
aoo comfort room, which is
;arable to our latrines, and
ructed three stone walls
around our water tap as a wash
house. But Heather and I have
found that the privacy of the
river has enticed us to bathe
there,
In this village there are
annraainmtely a dozen families
sharing seven homes. The
standard house„.,typical is a one
room enclosure (8' x 10') built
two feet off the ground, on
bamboo or timber stilts. This
"house on stilts" is made of
thatch from tall grass or banana
leaves. with a bamboo slat floor,
An opening in the middle of the
floor gives way to a fireplace
which is used to cook their food,
heat their homes and ward off
the mosquitos, There is
absolutely no furniture, their
bamboo floor serving as their
table as well as their mattress,
As we are 23 (15 miles) kms
from the nearest town,
transportation and
communication is very slow and
poor. After crossing the river the
only methods of transportation
are hitching rides with tractors
from a nearby sugar cane
plantation, or an occasional
merchant passing through
transporting goods via carabao
and wagon, but most common is
ones own two feet!!
As there is no school here, this
community is completely
illiterate and thus their only
possible mode of communication
is by word of mouth. Therefore
no mail system, no magazines or
newspapers are found here.
There being na electricity or
telephone system here, their
major source of communication
with the outside world is one
transistor radio.
The climate in this area for
these summer months is
characterized by abundant
rainfall, uniform humidity and
high temperatures. We
experienced the first typhoon of
1972 a few weeks ago. It
consisted of high winds and very
heavy rainfall. Many of the
villagers took refuge in our
house as it is more substantial
than theirs, but our thatched
roof was definitely not leak-
proof.
And we had nothing other
than a few bags to close off our
windows and doorways with.
As you can likely imagine by
the fact that there are no doors
here, privacy is not an
important factor in their life-
style. It, was not uncommon to
sit down to a meal on our
bamboo floor with spectators at
both doors. They were naturally
curious about our food and
eating habits, but since no
communication was possible we
felt uncomfortable, as I'm sure
our rice and fish diet seemed
abundant to them.
Their diet consists mainly of
ca note (sweet potato), corn, fish
and lobster caught in the nearby
river, bananas, and various
edible leaves. There are several
varieties of bananas grown in
this area, one of which is a
cooking banana. It is short and
stubby, and very delicious when
fried and dipped in sugar. Some
of the more industrious families
have a couple of fields to have
sufficient amounts to feed their
families. However, as one little
old man said (translated from
Zambal to English) "I'm sick of
eating corn." Roast corn for
breakfast, roast corn for dinner,
and maybe for a change they'll
have boiled corn for supper.
Having no plates of any sort,
they may serve the food on
banana leaves and use cleaned
cocoanut shells as drinking cups
or bowls. They use their fingers
in place of eating utensils,
AGRICULTURE
Very little rice is grown in this
area as the land is not suitable
for lowland wet. rice. The few
fields of a farmer are on steep
slopes scattered throughout the
foothills, You can farm any
suitable land you can find, as
there is no legal land ownership.
Clearing is done by the "slash
and burn" method. Sometimes
the rice and corn•are grown in
alternate rows and all
cultivating, planting arid
weeding is done by hand. The
most common weed seems tb be
the bananas siplings.
This "dry" rice is grown on
the steep slopes in contrast to
wet rice which is grown in the
lowlands. Working in twos, they
plant in strips working from the
bottom of the slope up. The first
partner makes many holes with
a stick, and the other follows
dropping five to eight seeds in
each hole. They don't bother
covering the seeds, leaving it to
Mother Nature (rain) to take
care of that. One day, I tried my
hand at planting rice but sure
don't hold a candle to the
native women. They left me in
the dust as they plant so very
fast!
A little bit of sugar cane is
grown to eat raw (as a treat),
and not processed into sugar.
The tough outer layer is peeled
off, then you bite off a chunk of
woody fibres, chew this, suck out
the juice and spit out the
remainder of the cellulose fibers.
The Filipino agriculturalist
with whom we stay, is
considering helping the natives
extract the sugar if the cane
production can be increased. He
also found a plot that may be
suitable for lowland rice, which
he hopes to introduce in the
near future.
In general the agriculture is
not very developed as the people
are still at a hunting and
gathering stage, Even today,
most of the hunting is done with
a crude bow and arrow made by
their own hands.
Poultry raising is very much
part of household activity. They
are usually left alone to feed
themselves. They are allowed to
roam about the village without
restriction,
The term market here is used
to mean a system of exchange of
goods or services without the use
of money. Merchants from San
Marcelino travel into this area
on market day once a week, via
carabao and bamboo cart in
which they carry their goods.
The marketplace is found down
at the river where nearby
negrito tribes may meet with the
Filipino merchants. The natives
hike from their mountain homes
carrying baskets which are
carried on their backs with a
strap around their foreheads,
and may weigh up to 300
pounds. The negrito people may
bring to barter bananas, banana
blossoms, bamboo shoots,
camote, and corn in exchange
for rice, tobacco, salt and
clothing from the merchants.
FAMILY
To many of the villagers, the
birth of a child is a much
welcomed event. Children are
considered as a blessing and are
a sign of good luck and bring
much happiness. During the
early months of infancy, the
mother carries the baby with a
piece of cloth wrapped around
her neck and she feeds her baby
almost every five or ten minutes,
each time it cries, There exists
no modesty in breast feeding in
public.
The family, generally
consisting of about 5 - 6 children
is a very close unit, as they live
and work in such close quarters.
Anything attained by any
member of the family is
willingly shared with all. Even
at the age of four, the child is
expected to help with the
families daily working activities
which may consist of carrying
water and baskets of goods, as
well as gathering firewood and
edible leaves. The older children
help with the fishing and the
weeding of the fields.
Children may marry at an
average age of fourteen. A
marriage custom called bandi is
generally practised. The bride's
father sets a sum of a certain
amount of goods to be given by
the groom in order to marry the
daughter. Common bandi
wearing apparel, but for
something special like a trip to
town, they would often don a
shirt and pair of pants. G-
strings are a long and narrow
piece of cloth worn around their
bottoms, and would be
comparable to an athletic jock
strap.
The women's clothing consists
of a formless shift-like dress, or
skirt and top. Many of the
younger children go naked, Mr,
Minor gave a mother two
dresses for her two wee ones, but
she put them away for special
occasions,
Shoes are not worn by the
natives, since they are not
practical; but several wear
beach thongs or go barefoot.
There is very little personal
adornment. However some
ladies do wear pierced ear-rings,
and necklaces made of wood.
One older lady wears ankle
bracelets,
Being illiterate, they'd of
course, have no use for watches.
Lacking a concept of month or
year, they do not know their
ages or birthdays.
SUPERSTITION
The negritos are very
superstitious people, this fact
being shown in a few instances
during our stay, When the water
system was being dug, one of the
native men had a dream
whereby he felt that the spirits
of the water. were disturbed. As
an appeasement, he slaughtered
a young chicken and sprinkled
the blood around the spring. A
mother, in hope to cure her
young child's illness, completely
rubbed him in salt, and put a
charcoal triangular mark on his
forehead. Another family, after
having moved to a new home
were quite disturbed when their
children cried continuously
throughout the first night. They
considered this a sign, and
moved to a new residence.
REFUGE IN THE MOUNTAINS
During the first week of July
Mr. Minor had to leave on
business so Heather and I were
left to fend for ourselves. As no
one in the village spoke English
and we spoke neither Ilocano or
Zambal, the dialects of this
region, communication was
slow. Everything was going fine
until the Sunday when two
Please turn to Page 9
ch e
SALES
& SERVICE
"We Service What We Sell"
267 VICTORIA ST.
HWY. No. 4. S.
CLINTON - 482.9167
Clinton NeWs-Record, Thwsday, Angst 17, 1972,-25
CLINTON CITIZEN'S HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY
ANNUAL FLOWER SHOW
(ovacil Cinnabars - Town Hall - Motu, Opt.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 25, 1972
VIEWING TIME
3:00 P.M, to 9:15 P.M,
RULES FOR THE SHOW;
1-Entrants must be paid up members, except in Junior
Classes.
2-Membership fee of $1.00 may be paid when entering
exhibits,
3-No Exhibitor may show more than one entry in each class.
4-All flowers must be grown by the exhibitor, except in the
arrangement classes.
5-The exact number of stems or blooms called for must be
shown. A bud on an entry is classed as a bloom if it shows
colour.
6-A specimen rose must have the first row of petals open. It
should have two sets of leaves attached.
7-If possible, variety names should be placed on the entry
cards.
8-Accessories and any other live foliage, but not other
flowers are allowed in the arrangements,
9- Candles may be included in Class' 43, and they may be
more than 10 inches high.
10. Ali exhibits must be in place by 11:45 a.m.
GENERAL PRIZE LIST
1.
2.
3.
4.
CLASSES PRIZES
3rd
.25
.25
.25
.25
Asters, Giant Crego, 5 blooms
Asters, Powder Puff, 5 blooms
Cosmos-5 sprays
Zinnias, large, Dahlia flowered-5
blooms
st
$ .75
.75
.75
.75
2nd
.50
.50
.50
.50
5. Zinnias, large, Cactus flowered-5
blooms .75 .50 .25
6.
7.
Zinnias, small-5 blooms
Petunias, single, plain petal-5 stems .75
.75
.50
.50
.25
.25 8. Petunias, single, ruffled petal-5
stems .75 .50 .25
9, Petunias, double-3 stems .75 .50 .25 10. Pansies-10 blooms .75 .50 .25 11.
12.
Snapdragons-5 stems
Marigold, African-5 blooms
.75
.75
.50
.50
.25
.25 13. Marigold, French Double-5 blooms .75 .50 .25
14. Sweet Peas, annual-7 stems .75 .50 .25
15. Phlox, perennial-3 stems .75 .50 .25
16. Gladiolus, white-1 spike ,75 .50 .25
17. Gladiolus, red-1 spike .75 .50 .25
18.
19,
Gladiolus, pink-1 spike
Gladiolus, yellow-1 spike
.75
,75
.50
.50
.25
.25 20,
21.
Gladiolus, any other colour-1 spike
Gladiolus, different varieties-3
,75 .50 .25
spikes .75 .50 .25
22. Gladiolus, miniature varieties-3
spikes .75 .50 .25
23, Tuberous Begonias, any colour-3
blooms .75 .50 .25
24.
25.
Dahlia, large decorative-1 bloom
Dahlia, Cactus-1 bloom
1.00
1.00
.75
.75
.50
.50 26. Dahlia, semi-Cactus-1 bloom 1.00 .75 .50
27. Dahlia, Miniature, less than 5" in
dia. (no pom-poms)-3 blooms 1.00 .75 .50
28. Dahlia, Porn-porn, not over 2" dia.
3 blooms 1.00 .75 .50
29. Lily, any type-1 stern or 1 bloom .75 .50 .25
30. Any other flower groWn from seed-1
stem or 1 bloom .75 .50 .25
31. Potted plant-African Violet .75 .50 .25
32. Lady's corsage 1.00 .75 .50
ARRANGEMENTS
33, Gladiolus-basket or container-
arrangement to count 1.50 1.00 .75
34. Arrangement of assorted Roses 1.50 1.00 .75
35. Zinnias, basket or container-
arrangement to count 1.00 .75 .50
36, Coffee table arrangement 1.00 .75 .50
37. Miniature arrangement, not over 3"
high, including container. Florets
may be used. 1.00 .75 .50
38, Arrangement of assorted garden
flowers, in container 1.50 1.00 .75
39. Display of flowers in container same
colour as flowers 1.50 1.00 .75
40. Mantel arrangement, one sided 1.50 1.00 .75
41. Arrangement in a small unusual
container, originality to count 1,00 .75 .50
42. "Rustic Rhythm"-a design using
decorative wood (driftwood; and
other plant material. L50 1.00 .75
BEGINNERS ONLY
43, Dining room table arrangement, not
over 10" high, Refer to rule no.9, 1.50 1.00 .75
CHILDREN OF PUBLIC SCHOOL AGE
44. Zinnias, large-5 blooms .50 .35 .25 45. Artistic arrangement of dried
• flowers .50 .35 .25
46. Asters-5 blooms .50 .35 .25
47. Pansies-5 blooms .50 .35 .25
48, Snapdragons-5 stems .50 .35 .25
49, Petunias, single, plain petalled, 5 blooms .50 .35 .25
50. Table bouquet, not over 10" high 1.00 .75 .50
51. Make an animal, using fruits, vegetables,
or flowers, or any combination of these. 1.00 .75 .50
SPECIAL PRIZES'
ADULT CLASSES #1 to 43
1. Eaton's Trophy, highest number of points
accumulated.
2. Clinton News Record, second highest
number of points,
3, Durst Farm & Garden Centre, $5.00
voucher for bulbs,
4, Anstett's Jewellers, donating china vase.
5. Mrs. Mary Epps, cash award for best
Dahlia in show.
6. Mrs. Viola Nelson, cash award for best
Gladioli in show,
JUNIOR GARDENER MEMBERS ONLY
52. Gladiolus, any coTourT spike
53. Artistic arrangement using pansies and
other plant material.
SPECIAL PRIZES
.50
1.00
.35
.75
.25
.50
CHILDREN OF PUBLIC SCHOOL AGE - 'CLASSES #44 to 51
1. Bank of Montreal, highest number of
points, $5,00
2. Mrs. Ron McCann, 2nd highest number of
points, $3,00
Adults - Mrs. Cudmore
Juniors Mr. Charles Cook
Door Prize donated
Entry Tags are available in advance of show
by Mrs. Don Pollen from the president ot the secretary,
PRESIDENT
Mrs. Den Pullen
Secretary treasurer.
Mrs, Harvey Howard
Mrs, Rog, Cudmere
articles are clothing, weapons,
radios or food. Arguments over
unpaid bandis seem to be the
major cause of tribal upsets. We
have been told of two instances
.' of unpaid bandi, whereby in the
first case, the parents threatened
to take custody of the first born
child, and in the second case,
the parents threatened to take
the life of the young man if he
did not pay up.
Extended families are quite
common as married children
live in the same home as their
parents for several years, until it
gets too crowded,
Due to the high infant
mortality rate, (there being no
doctors here) the life-expectancy
of the negrito is lower than that
of the average Filipino life
expectancy of 45 years.
CLOTHING
Clothing seems to be a status
symbol here. Even though most
people have only two or three
changes of clothes, the family
that seems most self-sufficient
and industrious has more
clothes. Some of the women iron
their clothes with a native
charcoal flatiron.
For the men and boys, 0-
strings are a common everyday
JUDGES