WHAT IS IT IN IGOROT CULTURE THAT SHOULD BE PASSED ON TO THE NEXT GENERATION by Henry Foken

3rd Igorot Cordillera BIMAAK Europe (ICBE) Consultation
5-8 May 2005

      Henry Foken

 

1.Our dances

Most of all, our dances to identify us as Cordillereans. And I know that wherever we are, when we hear the sound of our gongs, we feel at home (if we are proud to be an Igorot, not trying to hide ourselves).

Some Igorots don't want because they don't know our dances. Or they don’t understand our culture. So it’s good to share these dances to our next generation.

And one more thing it seems we are one here in Europe, it is good do it here. So one day, when our next generation goes home, they will challenge some people in Cordillera. In my experience most of the next generation in the Cordillera doesn’t know where they come from. Because most that they know now is Born again...

That's why, it’s good to share these to the next generations.

2.Our Songs

I should say that our songs are mostly monotone. That's why most of the people don't hear so much or are not interested at all, especially if they don't know the language. In my experience again how to make it interesting to other people is, mixed like modern but not modern. For example: Sing the song with guitar or other instrument, plus in every paragraph there’s a refrain. And mostly, the refrain or chorus is the place to tell what you mean in that song.

Another is, it is the artist who also makes it attractive. One sample which I composed is "Cordillera."