DISCOVERING, HONORING AND DOCUMENTING LOCAL KNOWLEDGE

Victoria N. ApuanMiriam College

Recent Developments in the Social Sciences-Philippine StudiesConscious effort to “decenter”

the sources of knowledge (e.g. away from “imperial Manila”)

Focus on the less dominant discourse, the muted and marginalized

Methods of Anthropology, ethnographic studies,

Perspective and methods of Sikolohiyang Pilipino

Celebrating what one discovers/recovers

Phases of cultural domination by the West

a. Denial and withdrawal of what was considered “local”, “native” (e.g. deities) b. Destruction and desecration (e.g. burning manuscripts, desecrating burial grounds) c. Denigration and marginalization (e.g. cultural forms, indigenous healing practices) d. Redefinition and token utilization (e.g. surface appreciation and utilization of indigenous cultural rituals, traits) e. Commercialization and commodification (e.g. rituals performed for tourism’s sake, commercializing the genetic diversity of indigenous plants, appropriating herbal knowledge)

What is local knowledge?

Local

Knowledge

Totality of perceptions,

beliefs, understandings

& skills

Gender-based

Age-graded

Varied Lens

Use valueSocial

Embedded in practices,

institutions & relationships

What is Local

Knowledge?

Popular?Local?

Native?Indigenous?

Local

Knowledge

outside

emic etic

local contex

t

global univer

se

external

internal

inside

objectivist

phenomenologi

cal

experience-near

experience-

distant

Local Knowledge: a question of purity

outside

emic etic

Local context

Global universe

externalinternal

inside

objectivist

Phenome-

nological

Experience-near

Experience-

distant

My experience with the Aytas of Pampanga

• A wealth of knowledge exists in their communities …

• Ethnographic research requires that one comes in with very little preconceived notions …

• Sikolohiyang Pilipino prefers that they speak for themselves …

What could we find out?

(participatory listing)

Myriad facets of the cultureDeities, Beliefs and RitualsDances Diet and foodMarriage practicesJustice system, local political

structuresGender relationsIllness and healingDisasters (e.g. eruption of

Pinatubo)Evolution of the above (then and

now)

More importantly: how do we undertake the process of discovery/recovery?(participatory listing)

Methods of ResearchBasic respect Ethnographic tools (observation,

partici-pant observation, interviews, etc.)

SP – patanong-tanong, pakikipamuhay, pakikipagpalagayang loob, pakikipagkapwa

Sensitivity to language and verbal/non-verbal expressions, procedures

Informed consentVerification, validation

techniquesAs much as possible, keep

process “fun”, “light”, even if subject is serious (space for humor and laughter)

Key informants – oldest residents

The local healersClick to edit Master text styles

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Females, mothers, grandmothers

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Farmers

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Males, fathers, formal leaders

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Political structuresClick to edit Master text

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The focus group discussionClick to edit Master text styles

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Research partners – help gather, verify & process data with you

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Implications for the academeLocal knowledge enriches

academic/ professional knowledge

Students shall be given a more holistic view of society

Local wisdom shall be promoted

Integrating local knowledge in the curriculumSubjects that lend themselves

most to the integration of local knowledge: History/herstory – “My Hometown” project

Sociology – process documentation of beliefs, rituals, practices, food, crafts, material culture, behavior of selected groups, emerging trends, subcultures, best practices in community development

Philosophy – profile of philosophers, process documentation of the basis of certain move-mentsLiterature – oral culture

Science – process documentation of production of products

Students as co-researchers“Start where they are, build on

what they have”Tapping their interestsImproving their research designs,

research methods (especially ethical guidelines re: relationships with key informants), providing advice on technicalities

Providing a system of recognition for outstanding outputs

Facilitating mechanismsCommittee at school level can

facilitate research and documentation

Funding support from AUDRNIT structures should be in place

Thank you!