The Problem

 

“I will ask my family members to talk to me using the Ibaloi language.” thus Bobby Lee (15 years old) plans to learn Inibaloi, the dialect of the Ibalois who are the indigenous people in Baguio City. Bobby’s proficiency of the dialect of his ancestors is very low. Like others in his generation, Bobby who is the son of a Kankana-ey with Chinese parentage father and an Ibaloi mother, speaks neither Ibaloi nor Kankana-ey. He converses with family members using Ilocano, the dialect from the Ilocos region. Bobby’s case illustrates the scenario facing the youth in Loakan today who are losing the link with their roots, thus facing the challenge of sustaining their indigenous identity.

 

The Ibalois in Loakan realize that most of their elders are fast dying, leaving behind a younger generation who had grown dependent on the elders’ wisdom and knowledge. Without a conscious intervention to share and transfer the knowledge and skills to the younger generation, the indigenous practices of Ibalois in Loakan will disappear in the remaining elders of this generation.

 

The situation calls for an urgent response to educate the youth about their heritage. Their elders who realize the importance of orienting the youth about their culture are willing to work in partnership with them. And they did. This is the story about the efforts of elder and young Ibalois in Loakan to highlight the importance of their indigenous identity, sustain the positive values of their heritage and contribute to their community’s development. 

 

Bobby may not immediately speak the Ibaloi dialect proficiently. But his effort to learn Ibaloi is an act of homage to his ancestors and the heritage they bequeathed. Bobby and the rest of his ANI members echo what our national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, who said, “Ang di marunong lumingon sa pinanggalingan ay di makakarating sa paroroonan.” The young Ibalois’ indigenous heritage defines his or her Ibaloi identity. By recognizing the roots of their identity, they acknowledge a rich heritage that they can use to inspire other young people to aspire for excellence in the service of their families and community.