Horizontal Communication

This girl gives us a smile - Clark Kent and I, in a later conversation, thinks she's one of those fund raisers, out to ask for money - asks us, instead, if there's anything that frustrates or bothers us about the world - and if we could write and add that to the list she's holding. Clark Kent writes: Buses running late.

Because Clark Kent is curious, she answers it's part of a class project. Members of their performing arts class were to position themselves in the different subway stops, and do what she just let us do. She explains it provides a way for people to talk to each other, and people get to have a glimpse of other people's minds by reading all the rest of the items in the list. Horizontal communication, I think that was what she called it.

Chloe, that was her name, then asked us if we could hand the list to another friend of hers in the subway station where we were going to get off. She said her friend will be easy to find - and we only need to look out for someone who's holding the same sign she was holding - "underground communication."

And we did see the friend, who was also named Chloe (and it was not part of their performing arts thing - they were just both named Chloe) - waving the sign frantically over her head when we got to the station where we were to get off. Chloe 2 gave us a warm thank you and generously obliged to have her picture taken.

We thought it was an interesting interaction.

Cordillera Nonsense Rhymes and Children's Songs

Credits to my colleague, Helen Magata for providing the text of the following Cordillera rhymes.
I would appreciate additional contributions so we could come up with a more definitive list and ultimately a reference. Comments on source and other information is also welcomed.

Duldullanis
Duldullanis, saluppakin utanis
Umud-udong gutib ti bado isto.

Issallat, duwallat
Tamtamang en mab-uwang
Buambayang

- Helen says this is a game that they play at home back in Paracelis, Mt. Province where they sit and an "IT" taps the players' laps. The lap which is tapped at the end of the song is retracted or hidden.


Kulunged
Kulunged tanged tange
Tanggayom nan dinuple
Dinuplen palluyapoy
Palluyapoy nungippo
Nungippon naminhula
Naminhulan katiti
Katitin bumangiwa
Bangiwaom nan bugan
Nan bugan biklayugan
Layu layu layugan

Kong Kong Kong
Kong kong kong
Pakgong ko'y mankongakong
Is-islong ko ed bakong
Ta umeyak ed num-a
Ta umeyak mensadak
Sin igtok sinan lagbak

Kong kong kong
Pakgong ko'y mankongakong
Ta nu wada'y lames na
Sin ube ay kanan da
Ta isaak ed baey
Ta way kanen ungung-a

Kong kong kong
Pakgong ko'y mangkongakong.

Bagbagto
Bagbagto, bagbagto lambik
Tolambik, tulambawikan
Bawikan, bawikalanay
Kalanay, kalana punay
Napunay, napunayagta
Nayagta, nayagta kumpa
Takumpa, takumpayaaw
Payaaw, paya-astibaw
Astibaw, astibalangaw
Balangaw, balangawisdan
Gawisdan, gawis tannabo
Tannabo, tannabugaoy
Bugaoy, buga papayos
Papayos, papayudtiken
Dyutiken, dyutika mek-en
Kamek-en, kamek chiyungas
Chiyungas, chiyung asa-as
Asa-as, asa-as binyas!

- Bagbagto is probably the most popular nonsense ryhyme in the Cordillera. Nobody has claimed yet to know what it means.

I was asked whether I am infringing the copyright properties of my ancestors by publishing these rhymes online. But I think that in this modern times where indigenous languages are facing threats of extinction, I would rather have these rhymes available - than forgotten.