Erlindo Ocay's Site

“Samoki ili ay kalalagsakan, Samoki khawis si il-ilan, ulay filig fayfay ento umayam, Samoki anan ili ay adi kalichungan……….”

                Some say you can easily distinguish where a person hails from by simply listening to the lingo he speaks. This may be true in a society like ours especially in the Cordillera region, and more importantly in our very own Bontoc abode.   Include the speaker’s accent/intonation and indeed, you shall discover he is from SAMOKI, the land of gentle people.

                Gentleness and tenderness, these are the celebrated trademarks of Samoki people especially when they speak. The listener can feel the love, kindness and compassion of the one speaking because words are said slowly in a careful manner that eventually touches the heart of the listener.

                I was not born nor am currently living in this village, but I was raised here. And my dear mom, Angelita Engngeg-Agwilang is a native of Samoki. Coming home from the province of Zambales, I was four years old then when I began to live the “Samoker” way as in “naknar nan talar ad wangar” – a favorite jest that contemporaries from Bontoc Ili and former teachers used to tease us in school.

                Samoki is and had been known as “Kidlaa.” It is divided into three main sitios: Khefa, Khawa and Sadlan. Khefa which is located at the far-left end part is subdivided into the four smaller sitios of Pawek, Marivic, Khakhangar and Salin while Khawa, into three: Attor, Tochey, and Engab. Sadlan covers the five smaller sitios of Fano-oy, Fangyaw, Kalonglong, Finew and Tangachag. Because of the increasing population and construction of hotels, private residences and other business establishments along the once-beautiful green fields, other sitios have yet to be identified later.

                Yes, the once-beautiful green fields of Samoki are now fields of mansions and hotels. And agree or not, this is now Bontoc’s little Makati.  Tracing back my memory of Samoki in my tender years, we used to play “fagfagto.” This is a kind of hobby taken part between young men of neighboring areas ie. Khefa vs. Sadlan, Khawa vs. Khefa done through exchanges of flying stones. Now it is impossible to have fun playing the fagfagto because you will surely have a bitter taste of the ire of people once you hit their window panes. How I miss the days when I build my own shield using blocks of “finangkag” (dried mud) to protect myself from the flying stones aimed at me by my playmate-enemies. Gone are the days when I savor the fresh aroma of the growing palays as my tiny bare feet walk along the muddy “faneng” or rice paddies.

                Blame not the people involved for the loss of the green fields, but the consequence brought about by modern civilization. Presently, there are only a handful of rice fields left, and hopefully fellow Samokians would have the heart to preserve what is left for the sake of the beautiful memories of the village.

                 Samoki is proud to have produced people who have contributed to the beauty and heritage of the land of our beloved Bontoc. The late Pedro Chinalpan is a true Samokian who composed the lyrics of the popular song “NAN LAYAD NEN LIKHATAN” sang in all kinds of festivities inside and outside this country and even during funerals.  We have other gifted individuals who have shared their talents in the field of music, education, health, community services and peace and order which I will name a few of them.

                Mrs. Victorina Requino, former math teacher of Bontoc Central School and now Math Supervisor composed, translated and arranged a lot of hymns for our general use. One of her popular works is the Bontok version of the Litany of Saints where she adapted the traditional “ayyeng” as its music. A younger contemporary in the field of music is my good friend, Mr. Loy Fanged, also a music freak who has his original composition of the songs “Ifontok” and “Samoki.” 

                Other successful Samokians who in one way or the other shared their faculties for the greater glory of Samoki are: Ms. Josephine Masegman, Ms. Virginia Akiate, Ms. Teresita Daweg(+), Mr. Felix Falag-ey, Ms. Pacita Longi, Ms. Agustina Paspas, Ms. Daniela Chumacog and Ms. Encarnacion C. Layao for Education; SPO4 George Saipen Sr. and Retired police officer Robert Awichen for peace and order; Lola Lubfid, Lolo Falingway(+) and Fernando Saleo-an Sr.(+) for social services.

                Let me end this written piece with a great song which very well speaks about the land of Samoki and its people.     

ILI AY SAMOKI

(Lyrics and music by LOY W. FANGED

English translation by DAPHNE MARIE FALAG-EY)