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Primitive People: Innocent or Savage? By Meredith F. Small, LiveScience's Human Nature Columnist The photograph is arresting: three almost naked men with long flowing hair, one painted black and the other two painted bright red, shooting arrows into the sky to ward off some aerial evil. The National Geographic Society recently released this and other photographs of what appears to be a group of Amazonian Indians who have never seen modern civilization. The photograph is stunning because we are well past the Age of Discovery, and yet here are some fellow humans who escaped discovery. We pause and look, fascinated, because the idea of a bunch of people hidden in a forest, undetected and unspoiled, is just way too romantic. Of course, we, people of the so-called modern world, have been caught up in feelings for "the noble savage" for more than two centuries. In the 18th and 19th centuries, Western explorers wandered the globe and brought back fantastic tales of people living off the land, like animals, they described. At first, those people were considered ignorant savages, people with none of the "higher" aspects of European culture such as religion, art, or complex social systems. These groups were presented to the public as oddities, fearsome creatures that were less than human. But philosophers such a Jean-Jacques Rousseau, great thinkers who had not actually ever seen one of these "primitive people," took the opposite view. The "savages," they contended, were regular human with souls, but they were more innocent, more natural, more what nature intended than citizens of the modern world. In other words, these savages were not just noble; they were like very nice children. And then in stepped anthropologists, trained observers who went here and there spending real time among those savages and discovered that just like people in cities, these isolated groups had their own brand of sophisticated culture and they were anything but innocent. But even today, with that understanding in hand, we continue to be seduced by the idea that there might be people naturally much better than ourselves. For example, in the 1970s, 26 people calling themselves the Tasaday were "discovered" in the Philippine forest. They were reportedly peaceful people living in caves unaware that civilization had passed them by. Anthropological research confirmed that although the Tasaday were isolated, there had been contact here and there in their history. The real controversy is not whether groups have ever been contacted, but what to do when they have. Should everyone stay out, preserving these groups like specimens in a museum, or should globalization be allowed to gobble up these people and change their lives, integrate them into the modern world? And more importantly, who exactly gets to make that decision? The recent photographs of those painted men railing against the very symbol of globalization — the airplane — reminds us that there are still people out there living the lives of our ancestors, and that they aren't necessarily interested in joining us in our so-called modern life.
 Death Be Not Proud
Death Be Not Proud
By John Donne (1572-1631) DEATH be not proud, though some have called thee Mighty and dreadfull, for, thou art not so, For, those, whom thou think’st, thou dost overthrow, Die not, poore death, nor yet canst thou kill me. From rest and sleepe, which but thy pictures bee, Much pleasure, then from thee, much more must flow, And soonest our best men with thee doe go, Rest of their bones, and soules deliverie. Thou art slave to Fate, Chance, kings, and desperate men, And dost with poyson, warre, and sicknesse dwell, And poppie, or charmes can make us sleepe as well, And better then thy stroake; why swell’st thou then, One short sleepe past, we wake eternally, And death shall be no more; death, thou shalt die.
Ibaloi group seeks heritage revival
By Jane Cadalig
BAGUIO CITY -- The waning culture of one of the original settlers in the Cordillera region has challenged older generations of the Ibaloi tribe to work for the revival of their heritage.
Members of the Maksil ni Ibaloi (Makniba), a group of individuals working for the preservation of the Ibaloi culture, is eyeing to put up a school where the Ibaloi's native tongue will be spoken and its culture taught.
The group said putting up an Ibaloi Academy would call for younger Ibaloi generations to learn and re-learn their history, culture, and dialect. The tribe's dialect is reportedly diminishing due to the influence of other languages.
Makniba coordinator Myrna Sison said migrants had strongly influenced the indigenous peoples, including the Ibaloi's use of their native tongue.
Sandy Calado, a Makniba member, said more members of the tribe are no longer speaking their dialect. He feared that the dialect would vanish in 10 to 20 years.
"When you are at Session Road, seldom do you hear Ibalois in their native tongue, unlike the other tribes," he said.
Sison, meanwhile, dismissed the general perception that Ibalois are shy people.
"We are not shy, the perception only came about because of the term 'shiyay,' an Ibaloi word which means 'here'," Sison said.
She said other people have coined the phrase "shiyay ak" to mean I am shy, which is not right, as it actually means "I am here or here."
"Ibalois are not shy, it only happens that other tribes are aggressive," she added.
March Fianza, an Ibaloi from Baguio, shared Sison's explanation. He said timidity is not only for Ibalois, but also for the Benguet people, in general.
He said the Ibalois, when offered seats during gatherings, would always prefer to stay at the back seats and say "shiyay ak" or "I'll stay here" so the VIPs (very important persons) present in an occasion would occupy the front seats.
Fianza said this is a sign of respect for the dignitaries in a gathering.
"That's when the Ibalois were said to be shy. But this gesture is also true to other tribes in Benguet. For the Kankanaey's, they would say 'Isna ak,' meaning 'I'll stay here,' and stay at the back, to give way for the dignitaries in the front seat," he said.
Fianza, a renowned linguist and member of the Makniba, said the diminution is not only true to the Ibaloi dialect but also to the other Philippine dialects, assailing "government's heartlessness in nurturing the native dialects except Tagalog."
He, however, disagree that the tribe's dialect is waning. "When you hear Ibalois not speaking their dialect, it is because they may be talking with people who speak language other than Ibaloi. But when you are in the Ibaloi speaking areas, people speak the dialect," he said.
Among the Ibaloi speaking towns in Benguet include Kabayan, Atok, Bokod, Itogon, Tublay, Tuba, and Sablan.
Makniba Baguio-Benguet group, which was organized in 2002, also initiated the tracing of Ibaloi people in Mindanao, particularly in Kidapawan City, Libertad and Digos City. (Sun.Star Baguio/Sunnex)
TWO YELLOW DOGS MISSING FROM THE IGORROTE CAMP. From The Missouri Republic, April 13, 1904 Suspicious Transaction Threatens a Scandal in Philippine Reservation at World's Fair. 
A scandal is brewing in the ranks of high society in the Igorrote colony at the World's Fair grounds. Two dogs are missing! Last Monday six dogs were imprisoned in the Philippine reservation at the Fair. They were being subjected to a fattening process at the hands of the purchasing agent. Yesterday only four dogs graced the kennel. The two missing dogs were yellow dogs, too. The Igorrote prefers yellow dog for his diet. While the Government officials are not inclined to question the honesty of any member of the Igorrote tribe, the nature of the case is such as to make the disappearance of the canines a most suspicious transaction. It is known that the Igorrote has been yearning for a baked dog. It is also known that the members of the World's Fair colony have not tasted toothsome dog meat for over two months. It is admitted by the officials that the barking of the dogs would, in all probability, drive the Igorrotes into fits of desperation. Figuring per a Sherlock Holmes deduction, it would have been the most natural thing for the Igorrote to arise in the stillness of the night and divest the kennel of its yellow dogs. Without drawing conclusions, the bare fact remains that two yellow dogs are gone. Putting two and two together, the men engaged in unraveling this deep mystery of the Igorrote division can make their own conclusions. It is said that at breakfast in the Cuartel yesterday morning three or four Igorrotes appeared supremely contented and begged to be excused when the waiter passed the beef.
Report: Women Increasingly Choosing Dead-End Careers Over Dead-End Relationships From the Onion News Network 
Modern women are finally seeing the opportunity to toil for years on meaningless busywork. COLLEGE PARK, MD—According to a report published Monday in The Journal Of Gender Studies, many American women are bucking centuries of traditional gender roles by placing stunted, emotionally unfulfilling relationships on hold in order to pursue mind-numbing careers devoid of any upward mobility. The study, which surveyed a cross-section of 477 female recent college graduates, found that young women were 23 percent more likely than any previous generation to seek dissatisfaction in the professional world rather than in empty romantic partnerships. Dr. Gillian Detweiller, a professor of women's studies at the University of Maryland and coauthor of the report, said that the data suggests a cultural sea change in how women choose to experience lifelong disappointment. "Avoiding dying alone at all costs is no longer the primary goal for many of today's women," Detweiller said. "Every year, millions of educated females discover that they can be just as underappreciated and ignored in the workplace as they can while doting on loutish and inattentive boyfriends." In addition to an overall increase in those settling for absolutely futureless secretarial or librarian positions, the study showed that more women are now choosing dead-end occupations conventionally dominated by men, such as accounting and data entry.  "Technical and repair professions with zero prospects for advancement are no longer viewed solely as the realm of males," Detweiller said. "Women have proved that they are just as adept as men at frittering their lives away in soul-crushing vocations."
While the number of women entering moribund, male-dominated careers continues to approach parity, the longtime wage gap between men and women has been slower to catch up. "Women still average a 7 percent more abysmal salary than the already pathetic income of their male counterparts," Detweiller said. According to the report, increased college enrollment over the past 20 years has led to the recent surge in women choosing to abandon their aspirations outside the home, as many more females are afforded the opportunity to enter the monotonous suffocation of professional life. Lillian Taylor, a recent graduate of SUNY- Purchase in New York, said that without her undergraduate business administration degree, she would never have been able to entrap herself in a go-nowhere human resources position instead of a love-bereft relationship. "So many of my friends ended up centering their lives around uncaring deadbeats," Taylor said. "I'm not saying that I won't date a series of emotionally distant men in the future, but for right now, I prefer to focus on carving out a solid career rut for myself." "No one is going to hold me back except for me," Taylor added. Though many women have echoed Taylor's sentiments, others feel that modern women need not be forced to choose. A growing number of pitiful-career-oriented females are finding ways to juggle the minimal demands of a low-profile job with the embittering drain of a futile relationship. "There is nothing that says women can't experience the manifold of crippling defeats life has to offer," said Elizabeth Mooney, a 46-year-old career counselor. "A woman shouldn't feel as though she has to forfeit her chances of raising three disappointing children with a man she doesn't love simply because she chose to squander the best years of her life working as a career counselor." Though a greater number of women have decided to waste their fleeting youth toiling away in unrewarding jobs, other statistics have shown that a growing faction are embracing the more traditional alternative of slipping quietly into a painless death with a handful of sleeping pills and a bottle of Gordon's gin.
From MadAtoms.com Hillary Clinton: The Psycho Ex-Girlfriend of the Democratic Party Despite all the math counting her out, Hillary Clinton fervently remains in the race to become the Democratic nominee for president in 2008. She has become the Democratic Party's psycho ex-girlfriend, and she's not going away without a restraining order. It's 2:31 AM. The Democratic Party is sleeping peacefully when it hears its phone buzz on the night stand. It rolls over and sees "Hillary" on the caller ID. It pauses briefly, considering pushing "END" and not dealing with this shit tonight. The thought is appealing but the Democratic Party knows that if it doesn't take this call, another one is only minutes away. DEMS: ...Hello? Hillary: Hey baby. DEMS: C'mon Hillary. Enough with this. Hillary: Don't you get it? You NEED me. DEMS: No, I don't. It was fun while it lasted but I'm with Barack now. I made my choice, it's done. Hillary: You can't really mean that. How can you say that after all the good times we had? DEMS: To be honest, I started hanging out with you because Bill's pretty awesome. Hillary: But I'm just like Bill! DEMS: No, you're not. Bill is charismatic, inspiring, and gets me really good weed. Hillary: Fuck you. You're elitist! DEMS: I'm going back to sleep. Hillary: No, no, wait. I'm sorry, I didn't mean that. Listen... there's still got to be a chance. Remember when people told George W it was all over. When the numbers were against him? DEMS: Yeah but... Hillary: Remember?! And remember how everyone said America didn't really want to be with George W? But they stuck it out anyway? DEMS: Yeah and they're really fucked up now, Hillary. Hillary: But WE'LL make it work. Forget Barack, baby. Just take me back and we can forget this ever happened. DEMS: Look, I think you're a really good Senator... let's just keep it that way, OK? Hillary: ...I'll see you at the convention. DEMS: No! Hillary I told you... CLICK DEMS: Dammit. Crazy bitch.
from mardecortesbaja.com OBAMA CAMPAIGN PLAYS THE ASSHOLE CARD 
Frustrated by reports that the Clinton campaign is arguing to Super Delegates in private that Barack Obama "can't win" in November -- presumably because he's black -- some Obama surrogates have countered with the argument, also expressed privately but widely reported, that Senator Clinton can't win in November because she's an asshole.
The attempt seems to be to associate Clinton with unpopular Republican Presidents who are generally seen as assholes -- like Richard Nixon and George Bush. Clinton supporters have been quick to point out that Bill Clinton, still a popular figure in Democratic circles, was also an asshole, but still managed to balance the budget and keep America safe.
 Other Clinton backers expressed outrage over the Obama tactics. "Hillary Clinton can't help being an asshole," said Governor Ed Rendell of Pennsylvania, "anymore than Barack Obama can help being a Negro. Criticizing a person on the basis of some inherent characteristic demeans the public debate." In response to questioning, Rendell said that "Negro" was not a term he normally used himself, "though it does reflect the language of many voters in my state, who may not be ready to vote for a person they see as an uppity jigaboo. Naturally," he added, "that attitude doesn't reflect my personal views." Reporters said that Rendell winked repeatedly at the camera during these remarks, though an aide later explained that the Governor had simply gotten something in his eye.
 CNN political analyst David Gergen warned that the Obama argument could backfire. "Assholes make up a significant percentage of the American electorate," he said. "Naturally, they're attracted to a candidate who is also an asshole and sensitive to attacks on that candidate, whom they perceive as 'like them'. Barack Obama can't win the Presidency if he totally alienates the asshole vote, which could determine the outcome in many swing states, like Florida."
Obama's only comment on the controversy -- "American politics has no place for assholes" -- has struck many observers as ambiguous, at best.
A friend just texted me that today's issue of The Philippine Star carries a review of The Baguio City Yearbook 2008. I went to Philstar.com and yes indeed, there is a review of the yearbook! What a pleasant surprise! Here's a link to the review: http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Arts%20and%20Culture&p=49&type=2&sec=40&aid=2008042726 If you don't want to go to the link, here's the full article: Arts and Culture More treasures from Baguio
PENMAN By Butch Dalisay
Monday, April 28, 2008 Our recent visit to Baguio for the UP National Writers Workshop — an annual pilgrimage, really — turned up another bonus in the form of a new publication passed on to me by writer Chi Balmaceda Gutierrez, now Baguio-based: the Baguio City Yearbook 2008, which she co-edits with Jack Kintanar Cariño. Baguio City is gearing up for its centennial next year, and this yearbook is a picture- and story-rich contribution to that great city’s history. I flipped through it quickly, and much as I’d like to say that the pictures of old Baguio alone are worth the price of the yearbook, I soon found myself engrossed by the articles, nearly all of them written by Baguio oldtimers. The yearbook focuses on “Baguio’s Forgotten Ibaloi Heritage,” and one of its most fascinating stories (written by former UP workshopper Nonnette Bennett) is that of its cover girl, the resplendently named Eveline Chainus Guirey, who became Baguio’s first Carnival Queen in 1915 at the age of only 13. The daughter of a wealthy Igorot or baknang family, Chainus, as she was called, was said to have been known for her “golden smile and intelligence.” She wore a gold-plated tooth adornment called a shekang, and her clothes were made of green and purple silk. Alas — in a tragedy worthy of Poe — this pretty young woman did not live long, succumbing to tuberculosis at age 18. The article reports that when Chainus died, “Schools were closed, classes suspended, and a large crowd (of VIPs) attended her funeral on Oct. 5, 1920.” One sister — Helen, born seven years after her death — is still alive and preserves the memory of Chainus Guirey. The yearbook has many other stories of Baguio lore — for example, about women cargadores who carried rations and ammunition for American soldiers during the War, about Benguet cowboys who looked over the vast cattle holdings of the Ibaloi, and about the “haunted” Laperal House on Leonard Wood Road — but one that touched a personal chord was a report, by architect Toti Villalon, on the rehabilitation of Teachers Camp, where I spent many a summer as a high-school conference- and partygoer. Indeed, Baguio’s white-and-green, colonial cottages are as unique as the city’s pines in the Philippine landscape. And you can’t put down the engaging piece written by Linda Grace Cariño on “English Like a Native,” which traces the way English has been indigenized by Baguio speakers. For example: “Notice how natives say ‘country club’ like it was one word? Papanam? Diay countryclub. Manila cousins like to affect the answer: the club. The climbers actually say count-ry club, as in count your blessings.” For true Baguio sons and daughters — or even avid visitors — there’s a long list of all the things every self-respecting Baguio native should know (e.g., “The only thrift shop you knew was the Pines Thrift Shop near the Justice Hall, managed by Mr. and Mrs. Woelke (it was the first ukay).” I don’t know if I should be proud of admitting to understanding one of these “insider” factoids (“You knew what Chaparral signified”) — but that’s another story. Baguio City Yearbook 2008 is available for P350 at National Book Store and other outlets. For inquiries, e-mail the editors at baguioyearbook@gmail.com. * * * And speaking of Baguio memories, workshopper and journalist-poet Frank Cimatu informed me that a literary anthology — a collection of essays, stories, and poems about Baguio — is now being put together for publication in time for the city’s 2009 centennial. If you’re interested in submitting your work to this anthology, please email Prof. Grace Subido of UP Baguio at miscommunication.arts@gmail.com. * * * Toward the end of the UP Writers Workshop a couple of weeks ago, one workshopper raised a question that, I’m sure, has occurred more than once to many a young writer: “After the workshop, what?” Writers workshops can be intoxicating, providing writers with something they’ll be hard put to find anywhere else: the company of sympathetic souls who understand what they want to do, and also how hard it is to do it. Workshops can occasionally get nasty and end in tears (or worse), but they serve, for the most part, to reaffirm and reinforce one’s commitment to the writing life. The kind of “mid-career” workshops we now hold at UP aren’t even intended any longer to dwell on grammar and the other basics of writing; they’re meant to focus and to sharpen writers’ attitudes toward their own work and that of others. Admit it or not, entry-level workshops do a service to writing, the individual, and the environment by discouraging the unfit from wasting any more paper (and then again, I can imagine how some workshop judgments can be spectacularly wrong; workshop panelists are hardly gods, and have their own hang-ups to deal with). In the UP Writers Workshop, we don’t want people to stop writing; indeed, we want them to press on, more resolute than ever, and surer of their own voices. But, yes, after the workshop, what? I wanted to tell the fellow what immediately came to my mind: “Many more years of solitary confinement and hard labor.” It’s a fair summary, in many ways, of the writing life. You can drink and talk all you want, you can bask in the afterglow of Rilke and Plath and Neruda and whoever moves you, and quote them till the cows come home; but when it comes to your own work, it’ll still be just you and the blinking cursor, and maybe a tepid cup of coffee or a half-finished cigarette. No nodding readers, no owl-eyed critics, no triumphal bouquets, no one to say, “That’s good, can’t wait for the next chapter.” But just think: a hundred years ago there were no workshops, no writing programs, not even computers (and, in many places, not even electricity). But authors churned out 300-page books. Writing is always a solitary act and solitude can get lonely, but the books get written and suddenly there’s more than you listening to your voice at 2 a.m. * * * E-mail me at penmanila@yahoo.com, and visit my blog at www.penmanila.net. LINK: http://penmanila.multiply.com/links/item/1/Pinoy_Penman>PinoyPenman</a>
This Beatles Concert poster was downloaded from ebay. The accompanying description of the poster is as follows:  Rare..The Beatles Manila July 4, 1966 Philippines Handbill (Posterized) is About as rare as it gets in Beatles memorabilia, this Poster reprises the incredible July 4, 1966 day the Fab Four played a concert in Manila -- and touched off a diplomatic incident that for a few scary hours had their lives in danger. The story of the fiasco in the Phillippines is the one of the more colorful of Beatles legends, revolving around a comedy of errors. Seems the day before, without their knowledge, they were invited to join President and Mrs. Marcos at the Malacanang Palace at 11 AM. The boys only heard of a invitation to "pop in" at 4 PM, which they had to decline since that was the time of the concert at Rizal Stadium. Consequently, when word got out that they'd "stood up" Imelda Marcos, fans were enraged, promoter Ramon Ramos refused to pay them for the gig, and they received death threats. Beatles manager Brian Epstein called a press conference to apologize but the signal was jammed (reputedly by the government). The next day, the band tried to depart the country but were given scant security and upon leaving the hotel were attacked and kicked by irate Filipinos. Then at the airport a mob came at them. Luggage in hand, they had to hurdle up a broken escalator trying to get away. In the melee, Ringo sparined an ankle and others in the entourage were injured. Finally, they were refused to get on their plane until they paid a bogus $18,000 tax bill and resolved other red tape obstacles. Only when they were in the air did Ferdinand Marcos officially absolve the band, hours late. The Beatles vowed never tor return to the country, and had no trouble keeping their word. This 12 x 18" handbill poster, which is absolutely untarnished and undamaged, depicts the group above a red-emblazoned "The Beatles Show." Other acts are billed as well and there is a logo of the sponsor, Pepsi. Ironically, there is a box reading, "July 4th, 1st Show 4:00 P.M., 2nd Show 8:00 P.M." Of course, that second show never occurred. This offering is a ReProduction Poster of the Original "Handbill" for This Historical Concert. The Poster size is 12" X 18". The Winner pays $5.00 shipping in the U.S. and Canada with $7.00 needed outside the U.S. and Canada. If you win two or more Posters on auction...Shipping is FREE. Good Luck
| | The Laguna Copperplate Inscription A Philippine Document from 900 A.D. by Hector Santos
© 1995-96 by Hector Santos
All rights reserved.
Once in a while, an unusual artifact different from anything else previously found in the area turns up and baffles experts. It usually ends up in a dusty museum shelf, waiting for the day when somebody will study it, understand its significance, and reveal its secrets to the world.
The Laguna Copperplate Inscription (LCI)
Copperplate A small, innocent-looking object found in 1989 on the southeastern shore of Laguna de Ba'y was such a find. It now threatens to upset our basic understanding of Philippine history. The object is a thin copperplate measuring less than 8x12 inches in size and is inscribed with small writing that had been hammered into its surface. The black, rolled-up piece of metal was found by a man dredging for sand near the mouth of the Lumbang River where it emptied into Laguna de Ba'y. The man could just have easily thrown it away as just another piece of junk that tended to clog his equipment as he tried to make a living. It was not porcelain, like those he found before and was able to sell for good money to the antique dealers from Manila. Those dealers have been frequenting the area because it was a rich source of artifacts that were in demand among the rich in Manila. These artifacts provided another welcome source of income for people like this man who struggled to provide for his family. Fortunately, the sand man decided to keep that piece of metal and take another look. Upon unrolling, it turned out that there was some kind of writing on the crumpled and blackened metal plate. He finally sold it to one of the dealers for almost nothing for it was unlike anything ever found before and nobody knew what it was. Because it was not a recognizable object, the dealer could not find a private buyer for it. In desperation, he offered it to the National Museum of the Philippines, normally the buyer of last resort for unsold objects. The copper object is now called "Laguna Copperplate Inscription" (LCI). It languished at the National Museum as supposedly qualified scholars passed up the chance to evaluate the artifact. They were either too busy or not interested, but perhaps intimidated by the prospect of working on something they had no knowledge of. Fortunately, the ability and persistent effort of one man paid off in unlocking the secrets of the LCI. Antoon Postma, a Dutch national who has lived most of his life among the Mangyans in the Philippines and the director of the Mangyan Assistance & Research Center in Panaytayan, Mansalay, Oriental Mindoro, was able to translate the writing. His effort is all the more remarkable when you consider that the text was in a language similar to four languages (Sanskrit, Old Tagalog, Old Javanese, and Old Malay) mixed together. The text was written in Kavi, a mysterious script which does not look like the ancient Tagalog script known as baybayin or alibata. Neither does it look similar to other Philippine scripts still used today by isolated ethnic minorities like the Hanunóos and the Buhids of Mindoro, and the Tagbanwas of Palawan. It is the first artifact of pre-Hispanic origin found in the Philippines that had writing on copper material. Indeed, artifacts of pre-Hispanic writing are so rare that only three had been previously found and made available to researchers. They are the 14-15th century Butuan silver strip, the 10th century Butuan ivory seal, and the 15th century Calatagan jar. The writings on these three previous finds have eluded attempts to decipher them so far. Important Date Postma's translation provides a lot of exciting surprises. Like most other copperplate documents, it gives a very precise date from the Sanskrit calendar which corresponds to 900 A.D. in our system. It contains placenames that still exist around the Manila area today. It also lists the names of the chiefs of the places mentioned. The date is important because a country's history is considered to begin with the first dated document recorded in it. This newly found document pushes the "starting point" of Philippine history all the way back to 900 A.D., 621 years earlier than the previously accepted date of 1521 when Antonio Pigafetta wrote his observations during his voyage with Magellan. Authenticity The authenticity of the LCI was a prime concern to all from the very beginning. Postma and the Philippine National Museum were aware of the many frauds that had been perpetrated on Philippine historians in the past. Many of these fraudulent historical documents have unfortunately gotten into Philippine history textbooks which are still being used today. The most famous of these frauds is the Code of Kalantiaw that every Filipino schoolboy knows. The supposed text of the code was contained in the Pavón manuscript, one of the many fraudulent documents passed on to the Philippine National Museum over many decades by Jose E. Marco, a known philatelic forger. Damage caused by frauds like this is immeasurable. More than a quarter century after the fraud was exposed in 1965, the average Filipino still believes that the Code of Kalantiaw was real. This is not so much a reflection on the average Filipino's interest in history as it is on the Philippine government's failure to educate the public. As a matter of fact, President Marcos was still inducting "deserving" justices into his Order of Kalantiaw in the 1970's. (This was, perhaps, a fitting way for History to get back at those who wanted to rewrite it.) Postma was acutely aware of what yet another phony document would do to the community of Philippine historians. He sought and got advice from Dutch and Indonesian experts on the LCI's authenticity. The experts concluded that the specific script style used in the LCI was consistent with its indicated date, and that the correctness of the languages and words used would have been very hard for a forger to have contrived. Although there were some differences between the LCI and the copperplates found in Indonesia, they were for legitimate reasons and their consensus was that the LCI was authentic. The text on Indonesian copperplates of the same era was mostly in Old Javanese and, as was customary at that time, mention the name of King Balitung (899-910 A.D.). Unlike its Indonesian cousins, the language of the LCI was not Old Javanese. That the LCI did not mention the king's name was another clue that the LCI did not come from Indonesia. However, the biggest difference was in the way the copperplate was inscribed. Indonesian copperplates were prepared by heating them until they became soft. Then a stylus was used to impress the letters on the soft metal, creating smooth and continuous strokes. The Philippine copperplate, on the other hand, was inscribed by hammering the letters onto the metal using a sharp instrument. The letters show closely joined and overlapping dots from the hammering. Philippine connection It was left for Postma to establish the LCI's Philippine connection. When he first saw the LCI, he thought it may originally have come from Indonesia but made to appear like it was found to the Philippines so that it could be sold as a valuable antique. The text of the LCI convinced him of its Philippine provenance. The LCI was an official document issued to clear a person by the name of Namwaran, his family, and all their descendants of a debt he had incurred. In the old Philippines, an unpaid debt usually resulted in slavery not only for the person concerned but also for his family and his descendants. The amount of debt was 1 kati and 8 suwarnas of gold (865 g. or about $12,000 at today's prices), an unusually large amount. The pardon was issued by the chief of Tundun, who was of higher rank than the other chiefs who witnessed the document and whose names and respective areas of jurisdiction are listed. The last sentence on the copperplate is incomplete, indicating that there was at least one more page to the document. Unfortunately, none has been found so far.
Placenames mentioned in the LCI
Placenames The placenames mentioned prove the Philippine connection of the LCI. The names are still recognizable today although almost eleven centuries have passed since the document was issued. The placenames are Pailah (Paila), Tundun (Tundo), Puliran (Pulilan), Binwangan (Binwangan), Dewata (Diwata), and Medang (Medang). The first four places are near Manila but Dewata and Medang pose a problem. They could have been personal names but more likely "Dewata" was Diwata, a town near Butuan, and "Medang," Medang in Old Java or Sumatra. Both these places must have been connected politically to Tundun and the other settlements in 900 A.D. Diwata is important because in addition to the silver strip mentioned earlier, there are reportedly some other artifacts with undeciphered ancient inscriptions that have been found in the Butuan area. Shamefully, like many other artifacts they are in private hands and unavailable to scholars. Since the LCI was found in Laguna de Ba'y, Postma first thought that Pailah was Pila, Laguna and Pulilan was the southeastern area of the lake because that was what the place was called in the old days. Pila was then a part of the area known as Pulilan. However, he opted to take Pulilan and Paila both along the Angat River in Bulacan as better candidates because the document clearly referred to two separate places, not one inside a larger jurisdiction. A look at the map would show that his choices are correct since they are more conveniently connected to each other by the usual river and coastal travel routes than if he had picked the Laguna area. Another possible connection to this Bulacan riverine area is the village of Gatbuca that exists today. Bukah, son of Namwaran, is mentioned in the document. Gat was a title used for important persons and has found its way into many contemporary family names (e.g., Gatbonton, Gatmaitan, Gatdula, etc.). It is possible that the town was named for Bukah when he rose in position later. Significance Just how significant is this incomplete document that ends in midsentence and contains only ten lines? - It means, as we have discussed earlier, that the edge of history has been pushed back 621 years, giving the Philippines a documented existence among the ancient kingdoms of Southeast Asia like Shri-Vijaya (Sumatra), Angkor (Kampuchea), Champa (Vietnam), Madjapahit (Java), and others that existed before the 10th Century.
- Ancient Chinese records with placenames like P'u-li-lu, which was thought to have been Polilio (but didn't make sense), will have to be reevaluated. Placenames mentioned in the LCI will have to be given more importance when evaluating ancient records that contain similar sounding names.
- From porcelain finds, Manila was thought to have been settled as late as 1200. It now appears that an earlier date was more likely. Certainly, a search for other means of dating Manila's first settlements is needed. A search for artifacts in the places mentioned in the LCI might also prove fruitful.
- Earlier historians thought that the Philippines was part of Shri-Vijaya or even Madjapahit. Their theories have been largely discredited in recent times. It is now time to reexamine the possible connection.
- Historians believe that the Muslims who ruled Manila were the first to establish more sophisticated forms of government in the area. They also believe that the Muslims started the trade with Borneo and other points south. It is possible that the Hindus were in Manila before the Muslims.
- The Tagalog script is so rudimentary that it cannot even completely record the sounds of its own language. Three centuries before the Tagalog script's emergence, the Manila area used a script so rich and sophisticated that great empires were ruled through its use. How did this happen? How could a less sophisticated script have supplanted a better one?
Many interesting scenarios can be created to explain some of the above puzzles. During the era of the LCI it was not uncommon for settlements to disappear. They flourished for some time, even for centuries, but things like natural catastrophes, epidemics, emigration, pirate raids, war, etc. made them disappear. It is also known that Muslim culture pushed Hindu influence in Indonesia out of most areas, leaving Bali as the only place where Hindu culture has survived. Any one of these things could have caused the early settlements around Manila to disappear. The disappearance of the earlier people who settled around Manila may explain why the Kavi script was lost and a lesser one introduced later. But how did the placenames remain? If a few people remained to maintain a continuity of their settlements and placenames, how did they lose their knowledge of the Malay language and the Kavi script? At this time, everything is conjecture. Many more questions will be asked, answered, and refuted; other questions will be asked again. Little by little, we will know more about the Philippines as it was before the Spaniards came, thanks to a little piece of metal dredged from the sand. A different version of this article appeared in the September 1994 issue of Filipinas Magazine.
More on the LCI - Download LCI graphic. 6.85" wide @ 300 dpi, 67K file.
- Download map showing LCI placenames. 7" wide @ 300 dpi, 41K file.
- Transliteration of the LCI text. Check this out if you understand the Library of Congress romanization scheme for Devanagari as applied to Southeast Asian scripts like Kavi.
- Transcription of the LCI text. It does not use special symbols or diacritics like the above romanization. It is more readable because you can read and pronounce it just like English.
- Postma translation. This is Antoon Postma's December 1992 translation.
- Santos translation. This is Hector Santos's April 1995 translation.
- Ask about Sulat sa Tansô if you are interested in digging more into the mysteries of the LCI. It is a newsletter devoted to ancient Philippines.
- Back to A Philippine Leaf, your introductory page to ancient Philippines.
To cite: Santos, Hector. "The Laguna Copperplate Inscription" in A Philippine Leaf at http://www.bibingka.com/dahon/lci/lci.htm. US, October 26, 1996. | |
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Please send me your comments. I would love to hear from you. Hector Santos <hectorsan@bibingka.com> Los Angeles
Last modified: Wednesday, July 28, 1999
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From the Modern Drunkard Magazine The 86 Rules of Boozing: There’s more to it than tipping a glass and acting foolish 1. If you owe someone money, always pay them back in a bar. Preferably during happy hour. 2. Always toast before doing a shot.
 3. Whoever buys the shot gets the first chance to offer a toast. 4. Change your toast at least once a month. 5. Buying someone a drink is five times better than a handshake. 6. Buying a strange woman a drink is still cool. Buying all her drinks is dumb. 7. Never borrow more than one cigarette from the same person in one night. 8. When the bartender is slammed, resist the powerful urge to order a slightly-dirty, very-dry, in-and-out, super-chilled half-and-half martini with a lemon twist. Limit orders to beer, straight shots and two-part cocktails. 9. Get the bartender's attention with eye contact and a smile. 10. Do not make eye contact with the bartender if you do not want a drink. 11. Unacceptable things to say after doing a shot: Great, now I’m going to get drunk. I hate shots. It’s coming back up. 12. Never, ever tell a bartender he made your drink too strong. 13. If he makes it too weak, order a double next time. He'll get the message. 14. If you offer to buy a woman a drink and she refuses, she does not like you.  15. If you offer to buy a woman a drink and she accepts, she still might not like you.
16. If she buys you a drink, she likes you. 17. If someone offers to buy you a drink, do not upgrade your liquor preference. 18. Always have a corkscrew in your house. 19. If you don't have a corkscrew, push the cork down into the bottle with a pen. 20. Drink one girly drink in public and you will forever be known as the guy who drinks girly drinks. 21. Our parents were better drinkers than we are. 22. Never talk to someone in the restroom unless you're doing the same thing—urinating, waiting in line or washing your hands. 23. Girls hang out, apply make-up, and have long talks in the bathroom. Men do not. 24. After your sixth drink, do not look at yourself in the mirror. It will shake your confidence. 25. It is only permissible to shout 'woo-hoo!' if you are doing a shot with four or more people. 26. If there is a d.j., you can request a song only once per night. If he doesn't play it within half an hour, do not approach him again. If he does play it, do not approach him again. 27. Learn how to make a rose out of a bar napkin. You'll be surprised how well it works. 28. If you can't afford to tip, you can't afford to drink in a bar. Go to the liquor store. 29. If you owe someone twenty dollars or less, you may pay them back in beer.  30. Never complain about the quality or brand of a free drink.
31. If you have been roommates with someone more than six months, you may drink all their beer, even if it's hidden, as long as you leave them one. 32. You can have a shot of their hard liquor only if the cap has been cracked and the bottle goes for less than $25. 33. The only thing that tastes better than free liquor is stolen liquor. 34. If you bring Old Milwaukee to a party, you must drink at least two cans before you start drinking the imported beer in the fridge. 35. Learn to appreciate hangovers. If it was all good times every jackass would be doing it. 36. If you ever feel depressed, get out a bartender’s guide and browse through all the drinks you’ve never tried. 37. Try one new drink each week. 38. If you are the bar's sole customer, you are obliged to make small talk with the bartender until he stops acknowledging you. Then you're off the hook. The same goes for him. 39. Never tip with coins that have touched you. If your change is $1.50, you can tell the barmaid to keep the change, but once she has handed it to you, you cannot give it back. To a bartender or cocktail waitress, small change has no value. 40. If you have ever told a  bartender, “Hey, it all spends the same,” then you are a cheap ass. 41. Anyone on stage or behind a bar is fifty percent better looking. 42. You can tell how hard a drinker someone is by how close they keep their drink to their mouth. 43. A bar is a college, not a nursery. If you spill a beer, clean it up. If you break a glass, wait for a staff member to clean it up, then blame it on someone else. 44. Being drunk is feeling sophisticated without being able to say it.
 45. It's okay to drink alone. 46. After three drinks, you will forget a woman's name two seconds after she tells you. The rest of the night you will call her “baby” or “darling”. 47. Nothing screams 'nancy boy' louder than swirling an oversized brandy snifter. 48. Men don't drink from straws. Unless you're doing a Mind or Face Eraser. 49. If you do a shot, finish it. If you don't plan to finish it, don't accept it. 50. Never brood in a dance bar. Never dance in a dive bar. 51. Never play more than three songs by the same artist in a row. 52. Your songs will come on as you're leaving the bar.
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