Esporlas, Camille Jane R.

ENG_3
BSBA-MM_4th Year June 23,2020

1. Based on the documentary, how is a Binukot chosen and what are their
responsibilities?
Binukots are chosen by their families or tribes at an early age, Lola Isiang was
chosen when she was only five years old. The chosen Binukot the most beautiful
woman amongst their tribe. Most of them are from the royal or noble families of
Datus. They are not allowed to go outside, walk on their own feet, and to be
exposed in the sun. Their only work was to learn their traditional dances and
memorize and sing their hours-long epics which they were responsible to pass it
down to the next generation.

2. How do you feel after seeing a glimpse of the life of a Binukot? Are there
advantages and disadvantages of living as a Binukot?
I felt sad because the Binukots has no freedom, she did not get to pick how to live
her life. She was bathed, combed, and served only with the best food, just like a
princess which are some of the advantages for being a Binukot. But along with her
eunuch life, she was never allowed to play or be sent to school for an education. But
I pitied her when she said that she is alright to be a kept from the outside world
because her family said so. She has no sense of independence and she cannot
make her own decisions. Binukots are frail and weak because they were forbidden
to do any physical work. Another disadvantage on being a Binukot is that they are
not truly happy with their life. When Ms. Kara David asked Lola Isiang if she is
happy, she could not answer with a simple yes and just laugh it off instead.

3. The origins of Binukots are traced back during the pre-colonial times. What
do you think is their role in the modern-day Philippines?

The Binukots role in the modern-day Philippines is that they are the living
testament that we already have an existing culture and tribes before the
Spaniards and other invaders came in the Philippines. They are also the ones
who are keeping this said culture alive, since they are the ones responsible to
pass down our pre-colonial literature to the next generations which will be also
be passed to the future generations after us.
4. In your opinion, what does the future hold for the living Binukot(s)? Will the
tradition be carried over for new princesses or will the tradition die due to
other reasons? Explain your stance.
As a modern-day Filipina, I think this culture is already obsolete and will die
down because as a woman I think this culture is sort of degrading towards
women because they are being forced to be a Binukot at an early age just
because of their beliefs, They might be treated as princesses but there are many
consequences on being a Binukot, a Filipino version of Rapunzel who’s caged
and locked in her tower. It is like illegal detention because clearly there is an
unlawful deprivation of liberty and restriction of personal freedom that is
sugarcoated with the word princess. It is like they are being manipulated by their
families and being forced to be a Binukot just to preserve this culture with the
expense of their independence and own freewill which could affect their mental
and emotional state.
The Binukots are also forced to be married to the highest bidder in an auction, to
a man that they have not met yet, which does not sit right with me as a modern
Filipina and a feminist it sounded like unlawful for a city girl like me who knows
the law and her rights because the Binukots doesn’t have the right to say no.
I know this is a part of our culture as a Filipino but with the way women of today
are exercising and fighting for their equal rights, I think that a lot of women might
think the same as me. The only thing worth preserving in their culture is the
passing down of the stories and epics to others just like Tata Pedring on the
documentary he is not a Binukot but he knows and he’s spreading these dances
and epics to the youth.
The Binukot tradition and culture might die down but if persons like Tata Pedring
exist and teach the young ones about our own pre-colonial literature then there
will still be a hope to preserve our own stories, dances, and epics.