Days Off Our Lives

Friday, June 19, 2009

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Who Is Ayu? What is Cicada?

As the mild and cool breeze of habagat (southwest monsoon) sweeps one early harvest time of 2003, sending a chill in the air for the people in a half-open nipa hut perched on a ledge of a limestone karst, a name was given birth in an island which houses the most beautiful and cleanest inland body of water on this side of earth: Kayangan Lake. The name Ayu was bestowed to this writer by a couple of friends who belong to a group of indigenous people in this corner of the archipelagic province dubbed as the Philippines' Last Ecological Frontier, Palawan. Their tribe is called the Tagbanua of Coron Island in the Calamianes Region. The area is a cluster of islands and islets on the northernmost part of the province. Their clan is one of the remaining indigenous people in the Philippines who are able to preserve and continue their way of life in commune and in an almost traditional way despite the major changes in our society and environment. Tagbanua means "people of the place."

Ayu in Calamian Tagbanua means tree. They came up with the name that would fit the value and demeanor they saw in me during my stay in their community as environmental educator, friend, brother, and son. I find it just perfect as tree in a simple sense connotes the environment, life, nature, air, the world, us. Nothing else can best represent these things than a tree and there's no other thing I can relate or symbolize myself than a tree. Just a perfect choice, a gift I should say.
In Malaysia, ayu means aura. In Japan and other parts of China and Korea it is a kind of fish. Again, no matter how big the distance between these places, the word would often refer to nature or something pertaining to nature. I am just delighted.

The simple ritual of just orally conferring the new name came after countless of hours working with them and the other groups of indigenous people (including the Tagbanua of mainland and Palaw-án in the south) on the protection of their Ancestral Domain. This also came after long sessions trying to study their native tounge and after years of trying to live and become one with them culturally and spiritually. They are believed to be descendants of the Tabon Man, the first Homo sapiens to roam the Philippines 40,000 years ago. As for the last name I personally penned Cicada which is the scientific name for crickets or "kuliglig". These creatures abound the upland and coastal forest of Palawan and have really fascinated me with their harmonious sound. Presence of this musically genius insects that play lullabye at night and "impetus blues" during daytime when you hike to the forest, translates the diversity and abundance of life in the area. Thus, equates to the good condition of its forest community.

Ayu Cicada would lead me in my search for cultural identity at this age of globalization and disrespect. This process has been done by icons who chose the same path like the renowned artfilm director/writer Eric de Guia aka Kidlat Tahimik (Silent Lightning) and avant-garde musician Joey Ayala aka Batang Bakal (Mendicant Child-referring to the street children begging for money who would scrape the side of your car with a piece of metal if you didn't give any). They are among those who cast off their colonial names, in one way or another and pursue a more homegrown one in propagating their aspirations and endeavor.

Ayu, the Tree, represents my indigenous name. The true Filipino name that would give back the pride lost when we were forcibly given colonial names by the conquistadores. Cicada, the Cricket, would play the music brewed in my most beloved homeland and concocted by the sounds from our neighboring cultures.The great Bob Marley dreamt of a society under "One Love, One Life" and I believe that before we can attain this state of mind, we must first establish, understand and recognize our own identity. And in this case we Filipinos should dig back our roots to be able to blend these unique qualities with our brothers and sisters in other lands for that mission.

Days Off Our Lives

Friday, June 19, 2009

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Ayu Cicada

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