Anidu (Kankana-ey): To Warm One's Self Before a Fire

"Anidu" is a Kankana-ey word for the act of warming yourself before a fire. Gathering before a fire was a very common community activity by our Igorot ancestors. Many of their traditional practices and rituals were tied to fires. 

And of course, just like civilizations from the rest of the world, sitting and gathering in front of a fire also meant a venue for storytelling and sharing of tales, tall or otherwise.

The New La Trinidad Municipal Hall Building Currently Under Construction

This is the new La Trinidad Municipal Hall currently under construction. The new building is being built at the lot between the Trading Post and the old Municipal Hall. 

The Iconic Ginebra San Miguel Label Was Designed by Fernando Amorsolo

Did you know that every time you hold a Ginebra San Miguel, you are looking at an artwork originally designed and painted by a young Fernando Amorsolo?

The iconic label was a homage to St. Michael the Archangel and it was originally called "Marca Demonio". Amorsolo was commissioned to create the artwork in 1917.

The Pudong: The Traditional Igorot Way of Making a Sign or Marker

This is called a "pudung" or "pudong" in Kankana-ey. The leaves of a reed grass are tied into a distinctive knot. It's a traditional way of making a sign which can translate into several meanings. 

Such meanings include:

1. Don't pass or don't trespass. The "pudong" is used during "ngilin" or similar village rituals and observances wherein people aren't allowed to enter or exit a village. 

2. Don't enter. It means don't cross if placed beside a river or body of water. 

3. Beware or there's danger ahead. For example, a "pudong" will be placed near a dangerous cliff or landslide area to warn people. 

4. Don't touch or don't get. The "pudong" is placed near goods or other materials to tell people that these are already owned or claimed thus they shouldn't touch nor get them. 

This is commonly practiced to this day in many parts of the Cordillera region. In some parts of Eastern Mountain Province, they call it "pochong". 

What do you call the "pudong" in your place?

Stickers on Signages in Baguio City: Vandalism or Art?

Should the city of Baguio allow the posting of stickers on signages within the city? The two signages in these photos are along Session Road. One is beside Skyworld and it's known as a tourist hotspot on its own because it's probably the most photographed signage in the city. The other signage is near the stairs going up to the main entrance of the Baguio Cathedral.

Both are often covered with stickers from vloggers, content creators, businesses, organizations, travel organizers, religious groups, etc. 

These are also often cleaned up by the city but it's just a matter of time before they're once again covered with stickers. The signage beside Skyworld has been recently cleaned as evidenced by the white residue left behind. But someone has already posted stickers with what looks like Hebrew writings on them. Who knows what these writings mean.

Some defend the posting of stickers on these signages as a form of expression. Harmless and can be considered artful, they say. 

What do you think? Should this be allowed? Or should it be prohibited?

Bakit Mas Busog Chicheria Nila sa Baguio?

"𝘠𝘶𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘨𝘢 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘢 𝘯𝘪𝘭𝘢 𝘴𝘢 𝘉𝘢𝘨𝘶𝘪𝘰, 𝘮𝘢𝘴 𝘣𝘶𝘴𝘰𝘨." This is a common observation by tourists coming from the lowlands. The question is why do chips here in Baguio look more inflated compared to those in Manila and other lowland areas?

Here's the science (physics) behind it:

The bags of chips are sealed at lower altitudes with higher air pressure. When these bags of chips are taken to higher altitudes like Baguio City, the air pressure inside the bags remains constant but the air pressure outside the bags decreases. This creates what is called a pressure differential. 

Because there's less air pressure outside the bags when they're taken to higher altitudes, the trapped air inside the bags expands. This causes the bags to inflate and puff up.

In short, when you take a bag of chips from the lowlands to Baguio City, the air pressure outside the bag decreases as you go higher. Air pressure decreases with increasing altitude. This change in pressure causes the air inside the bag to push ouwards causing the bag to inflate.

Common Sunflower (𝘏𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘶𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘶𝘶𝘴) at the Strawberry Farm in La Trinidad, Benguet

This is a common sunflower (𝘏𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘶𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘶𝘶𝘴) growing on the side of a road at the Strawberry Farm in La Trinidad. It's the species commonly used in gardens and farms meant to attract tourists because of their much larger flowers. 

It's a different species to the Mexican sunflower (𝘛𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘢 𝘥𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘢) which you see everywhere in Baguio City and Cordillera provinces.

Like the Mexican sunflower, the common sunflower isn't native to the Philippines. It was brought and introduced here from North America.