Aired (June 22, 2024): Hindi lang sa Hagdan-hagdang Palayan kilala ang Ifugao. Mayroon din silang yaman at tradisyon na pinanday nang matagal na panahon. Isang sining na minana pa mula sa mga ninuno na humugis ng kasaysayan. Pero sa pagkaunti ng nagpapanday sa kanilang komunidad, mabuhay pa kaya ang kultura nilang ito?
Panoorin ang pinakabagong dokumentaryo ni Kara David para sa #IWitness, ang #AngHulingPanday!
#iBenteSingko
‘I-Witness’ is GMA Network's longest-running and most awarded documentary program. It is hosted by the country’s top documentarists— Howie Severino, Kara David, Atom Araullo, Mav Gonzales, and John Consulta. ‘I-Witness’ airs every Saturday, 10:15 PM on GMA Network.
Subscribe to youtube.com/gmapublicaffairs for our full episodes.
Panoorin ang pinakabagong dokumentaryo ni Kara David para sa #IWitness, ang #AngHulingPanday!
#iBenteSingko
‘I-Witness’ is GMA Network's longest-running and most awarded documentary program. It is hosted by the country’s top documentarists— Howie Severino, Kara David, Atom Araullo, Mav Gonzales, and John Consulta. ‘I-Witness’ airs every Saturday, 10:15 PM on GMA Network.
Subscribe to youtube.com/gmapublicaffairs for our full episodes.
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FunTranscript
00:00The foundation of the ancient civilization is fire and steel.
00:16It was this balance that led to the first weapons, tools, and inventions.
00:24But as time passed, the ancient tradition continued.
00:40In a remote place in the heart of Banaue Rice Terraces, this sound can be heard every day.
00:49At the home of Tatay Himanggo, the last rice terraces of Cambulo.
00:54We are now going to Barangay Cambulo in Banaue.
00:59This is where you can find one of the oldest rice terraces in Ifugao province.
01:05In other words, the centuries-old tradition of rice terraces is still alive in this place.
01:14Aside from being a UNESCO World Heritage Site,
01:21the people of Ifugao are also known for their courage and bravery in the battle,
01:27using their steel weapons.
01:32That is why in ancient times,
01:34steel weapons were one of the most important members of the Cordillera culture.
02:05Are you Tatay Himanggo?
02:07I am Kara.
02:09Thank you.
02:12How are you?
02:14Good.
02:15Are you strong?
02:16Medium.
02:19Where do you work?
02:21Here.
02:26Where is the fire?
02:28We put the fire there.
02:31Then you put it here?
02:33Yes.
02:44He is the founder of Usok, or Himanggo, in Ifugao.
02:48This is the home of Pedro Pinay-An.
02:51He has been a panday for more than 50 years.
02:55His hair is white and one of his eyes is bulging.
02:59But he continues to make knives, knives, and weapons.
03:05When I was young, I was forced to work as a panday.
03:20I was forced to work as a panday.
03:26I was forced to work as a panday.
03:33A tradition passed down from our ancestors,
03:37due to the ability of the panday, or the use of steel,
03:41its shape is historical.
03:45Steel for agriculture,
03:47for war,
03:48or for hunting.
03:50None of these can be used by the ancient Filipinos
03:53if not for the existence of our communities of panday.
04:00Himanggo was only 14 years old when he learned how to make a panday.
04:04He was able to reach a time when the community
04:08of his ancestors, like him, also made weapons.
04:14But this quickly changed when the youths lost interest in making panday
04:21and left Himanggo alone.
04:24Were you fond of knives when you were young?
04:30Yes, I was fond of it.
04:34If you make a panday like that,
04:37you can make one here and one there.
04:42My son wouldn't make a panday.
04:47Why?
04:48I don't know.
04:49He wouldn't be able to do it.
04:51He's afraid of fire.
04:55According to Himanggo,
04:57the quality of the knives he makes is of a first-class quality.
05:04But his work is not a joke.
05:06To make a knife like this,
05:08you have to endure the heat of fire every day
05:12for three weeks or more.
05:16This is the material used by the panday here in Banawe
05:20to make itak.
05:23This is actually scrap metal.
05:26This is what you see underneath jeeps,
05:29or what they call molye.
05:31Who would have thought that this scrap metal
05:34could become an art piece like this?
05:40It's beautiful, isn't it?
05:42This handle was made by Himanggo for three months.
05:48It's a double-edged blade.
05:51It's an ancient tradition of the panday for a long time.
05:57It's beautiful.
06:07In spite of the modern times,
06:09Himanggo continues to use an ancient tool.
06:22The steel is burned several times in the fire
06:26to make it sharp.
06:31Unlike other itaks that have a wooden handle,
06:35the itak of the ifugao is made of pure steel,
06:39from the handle to the handle.
06:43Is it hard to make panday?
06:45It's really hard.
06:47Why is it hard?
06:49It's hard because of the fire.
06:51You have to look at the fire.
06:57The fire is really intense.
06:59You have to be careful not to get burned.
07:02You have to be careful not to get hurt.
07:05You have to be careful not to get hurt.
07:13The steel is constantly hammered
07:15until the itak is smooth.
07:20The longer you hammer it,
07:21the sharper it gets.
07:28At first,
07:30I was afraid to do it.
07:33I didn't know if it was okay.
07:38I didn't know if it was okay or not.
07:41I didn't know if I could do it.
07:44I didn't know if I could do it.
07:49It's been a long time?
07:56It's been a long time.
08:01It's just that it's good to see.
08:04It's not just for show.
08:09Once the steel is smooth, it will go through a process called quenching.
08:15The steel is then poured into the kiln to harden.
08:22After this, they will hold a rod that will be used as a handle.
08:32Tatay Himanggo is meticulous with her knives.
08:37Each one needs to be tested to see if it's strong enough.
08:42I'm holding a Kalabaw rod.
08:46It's said to be harder than wood.
08:49We will test if Tatay's blade is really strong.
08:55Tatay Himanggo and Tatay Himanggo test their knives.
09:07If the knife is not sharp enough, it will break or break.
09:14Yes, it will break.
09:17It's still straight.
09:19I'm the only one who does this.
09:24It's still straight.
09:26It didn't turn.
09:32Because of technology, there are many new ways of making knives today.
09:37Most of the time, it's faster and more people can do it.
09:42But Tatay Himanggo doesn't give up on the old style.
09:46You have to work hard to make a good knife.
09:54If you don't work hard, you won't be happy.
10:03So you have to work hard.
10:07If you don't work hard, you won't be happy.
10:11Even if you are poor?
10:13Yes, even if you are poor, you have to work hard.
10:18If you don't work hard, you won't be happy.
10:25You have to work hard.
10:33Compared to other knives that can be bought in markets and souvenir shops,
10:37these knives are made meticulously.
10:43They are handcrafted and carved according to the old tradition.
10:50Each knife has its own style of making a blade.
10:56But there are ways to find out how polished the knife is.
11:02If you buy a knife in Ifugao province,
11:07you will immediately find that the handle should be made of steel.
11:10That is the standard of Ifugao province.
11:12It means that it is made of steel.
11:14From the blade to the handle, it is made of steel.
11:18There is no risk that the blade will come off the wood.
11:22What they do is, they wrap it with cotton.
11:26And look at this blade.
11:28The cotton handle is very fine.
11:33It is very beautiful.
11:34Between the handle and the blade,
11:37this is called the heart of the blade or navel.
11:41You can also see here how good the handle is because it is very symmetrical
11:46and the workmanship is very polished.
11:48Of course, if you look at the blade,
11:51you will see if it is straight and not curved.
11:56Even here, if it is straight and symmetrical,
11:59the workmanship of the blade.
12:01This blade that I am holding was made by Father Himango.
12:05He said that the secret of his knives
12:08is that he tested the whole blade in the field.
12:12That is why it is very strong and smooth.
12:15Not only here on the edges,
12:18it is very strong and smooth
12:20up to the inside of this blade.
12:24It is really different when it is handmade.
12:27The workmanship of these knives is not simple.
12:38Here in Banawe,
12:39you can find some of Father Himango's most beautiful works.
12:45Each one is strong and beautiful,
12:48no matter how long these knives are.
12:54The workmanship of these knives is fully handmade.
12:58It was really persevered, Ma'am.
13:01As mentioned by Father Himango,
13:04a blade is not just made for a day or two.
13:10It is really given attention and time,
13:14and the knife is really persevered.
13:16For me, I can see the sacrifice of a knife.
13:19I want to preserve our Ifugao blades
13:23so that in the next generations,
13:27they will see the beauty of an Ifugao blade.
13:38For Father Himango,
13:39the craftsmanship of knives
13:43is not just a means of earning a living or a job.
13:49It is also a part of their culture
13:52and a part of their tribe.
14:12Father Himango is now 70 years old.
14:15If he will not pass on the talent of the craftsmanship,
14:19the legacy of the ancient tradition
14:22will remain for a long time.
14:26Until when will you continue to make Itakas and knives?
14:30Actually, I can only make the basic ones.
14:35I can't do it by myself.
14:37I can only make five of them.
14:41I don't know.
14:43Maybe I can't do it for a year.
14:46But I can do it.
14:54Conrad is Father Himango's second son.
14:58When you were a child,
15:00did you also dream of becoming a knife maker like your father?
15:04No, ma'am.
15:05I don't want to become a knife maker.
15:08I saw that it is hard.
15:10I am trying to help him.
15:13It is really hard.
15:14That's why I dream of studying.
15:16I don't want to become a knife maker.
15:18I want to grow up.
15:22According to Conrad,
15:23aside from being hard to become a knife maker,
15:25there is another reason why many young people
15:28are not able to enter this field.
15:32For others,
15:34here in our village,
15:36not all of them think highly of you.
15:43They think that you are just a knife maker.
15:45It is hard to earn money.
15:48It is hard to make a living.
15:52They look down on you.
15:53Yes, they look down on me.
15:54In the past, knife makers were very important.
15:57With the advent of modernization,
16:00their talent was gradually lost.
16:06That is why instead of continuing what his father taught,
16:09Conrad left Manila to help others.
16:14I am a knife maker.
16:16I am a knife maker.
16:18I am a knife maker.
16:20I am a knife maker.
16:22I am a knife maker.
16:30But a few years later,
16:33when he learned that his father's body was getting weaker,
16:38Conrad went home to continue his father's legacy.
16:45In my job,
16:47I can earn a lot of money.
16:49Yes.
16:50I also want to give back to my father.
16:53Yes.
16:56I want to give back to my father.
16:59Why is it important for you to give back to your father?
17:02I don't want him to lose what he started as an artist.
17:09Yes.
17:10At least we can learn from him.
17:12Conrad continues to enhance the talent of his father.
17:17He hopes that one day,
17:20the tradition of his ancestors will be respected again.
17:26What do you feel when you hear that?
17:29You said earlier that you were being mocked.
17:32Yes.
17:33That's all.
17:34It's not for me.
17:35It's okay.
17:36That's how it is.
17:39I don't have a problem with that.
17:41Even if that's what they think of me,
17:43it's important.
17:44I will do what I want.
17:46Of course,
17:47no matter who they are,
17:49they don't want to lose that tradition.
17:52Those who started our ancestors,
17:56I don't want them to lose it.
17:59Because it's important.
18:02But is there still hope for the survival of our ancient culture?
18:07After Conrad and Father Himangko,
18:10will there be a next generation?
18:32In a small place in the town of Aguinaldo,
18:35a familiar sound can be heard every morning.
18:46But when I enter the place,
18:49it's not old,
18:51but it's a familiar sound.
18:54It's the sound of a bell.
18:58But when I enter the place,
19:01it's not old,
19:03but it's a familiar sound.
19:10At the age of 14,
19:12Eric is the youngest panday in the town of Aguinaldo.
19:16He only learned it last year,
19:19but he can now make simple knives and forks.
19:24Is it hard to be a panday?
19:27It's hard.
19:29My hands are like this.
19:32When you enter,
19:34it's hot.
19:37Even my eyes get hot.
19:39Even your eyes?
19:40My eyes.
19:41Ah, your eyes get hot?
19:43Yes.
19:44The steel falls,
19:47and it gets into my hands.
19:51It gets into your hands?
19:55Yes, ma'am.
19:58Of course, it's painful.
20:01So what do you do when you enter?
20:04I don't do anything.
20:06I just endure.
20:10According to Eric's father,
20:12he has long forgotten how to be a panday in their place.
20:15But when the pandemic happened,
20:18and no one could leave the house,
20:20they were forced to look for a job.
20:27The Tagaritos brought back the old tradition,
20:30no matter how hard the work is.
20:32Why do you need to help your father to be a panday?
20:36To save money.
20:40Why?
20:42For what money?
20:44For food,
20:48because it will help me study.
20:52Now, Eric's whole family is in the business of panday.
20:57Eric and his father make itak,
21:03while his mother grinds ratan.
21:09Compared to the works of his father,
21:11who has been working for many years,
21:14the works of Eric's father are not simple.
21:18But he also buys it from markets and souvenir shops.
21:26Aside from Eric's family,
21:28the interest in panday in the neighborhood of Alfonso Lista
21:31is slowly returning.
21:37It started with the 80-year-old panday,
21:40father Odjina.
21:42But instead of making panday,
21:44he chose to farm.
21:48When farming became a part of his life,
21:51he was forced to go back to making panday.
21:54When I started making panday,
21:57I had to buy rice.
22:00I also had to buy hay.
22:03I had to buy hay to plant.
22:09When I started making panday,
22:11I had to buy hay to plant.
22:14I had to buy hay to plant.
22:20Now, his children continue to make panday.
22:24Soldiers and the police usually order itak for them.
22:40Conrad continues to teach and inspire
22:44the people of Banawe to embrace the tradition of making panday.
22:50He hopes that through teaching,
22:53the culture of their ancestors will remain alive.
23:03But is it enough to pass on knowledge
23:06so that the culture of their ancestors can continue?
23:15Before we left Ifugao,
23:17I asked Eric about his dreams.
23:20I was surprised by what I heard.
23:24What is your dream in life?
23:26To become a police officer, ma'am.
23:28Why don't you want to become a panday?
23:30Why do you want to become a police officer?
23:33How can you use what you've learned?
23:38When you finish school, you should have a dream.
23:42It's hard to become a panday.
23:47You can't dream of becoming a panday?
23:49Yes.
23:52I remember what Conrad told me.
23:54Even if he wants to continue what his father started,
23:58if his view of them remains low,
24:02is there still a chance to pass on the culture of their ancestors?
24:15At first glance, it's easy to think that
24:17these are just common knives and forks.
24:22But more than being strong and sharp,
24:25each master's work carries an important history.
24:33A culture that was strengthened by fire.
24:37A tradition that was passed down for a long time.
24:42A wealth that was passed on to many generations.
24:51It's a waste if we don't value it.
24:56It's a waste if we let it be forgotten.
25:03It's a waste if we don't support the last signs of our society.
25:13I am Cara David, and this is Eyewitness.
25:25Eyewitness
25:50Thank you for tuning in to Eyewitness, Kapuso.
25:53What can you say about this documentary?
25:56Comment below and subscribe to the GMA Public Affairs YouTube channel.