Land and Life: The Tumandok People of Panay and their Struggle

The photo-essay is made up of three parts. The first part features the material and intangible artifacts of Panay’s indigenous people. 

The Tumandok, such as their everyday language, epic chants, ritual performances, their traditional attire and practical household wares.

As markers of difference these artifacts demarcate their identity from anthropological perspective; yet unwittingly, nay, unfortunately they became ingredients of their exoticization. To view Tumandok as exotic people 

is to view them as unfamiliar and unusual, of exciting differance, Jacques Derida’s proliferation of significations, vis-à-vis those in the mainstream. Tumandok’s pudong headgear, binanog dance, tubok embroidery, epic chanting and tales of binukot are deracinated from original context now to be displayed as objects of dillentante gaze. Alas, the current exoticization of the Tumandok is the exploitative attention they had not asked for nor they unjustly deserved.

Land and Life photo-essay suggests an urgent shift in attention, the needed pivotal insight.

Published by the Iloilo Legal Assistance Center (ILAC)
Pp. 52 including front and back covers. Brand New