Common Senses of the Talaandig Tribe: A Key to the Foundation

and Maintenance of their Local Knowledge

The knowledge systems that the Talaandig tribe have access to, as well as by the
utilization of their common senses, have helped them to survive through the flow of time.
Moreover, they lay the groundwork for the social, economic, political, and spiritual
conditions affecting their traditions and sense of self as individuals belonging to an ethnic
group. Knowledge is explained in the Talaandig community using the framework and
principles of the planet, the human body, the family, the neighborhood, or the tribe. These
structures are what they refer as “Agpangan”. Knowledge defined through the Agpangan
can be expanded horizontally or vertically from a simple to a complex idea or situation.

Local knowledge of the Talaandig tribe is unwritten, perhaps , expressed and passed
through oral traditions. The community also owns it as a collective possession . Local
knowledge is significantly associated with nature. It is somewhat practical and dynamic in
form and substance. It goes with change and, therefore, provides an appropriate response
to the present situation. The practical knowledge about land, water, food, wildlife, wind, etc.,
for instance, do not need to be written. Hunger, cold, walking, talking, sleeping, smelling,
feeling, seeing, hearing, thinking or remembering does not need to be written as well.
These are simple and practical exercises of the human senses. All these things does not
necessarily need to be written through documents or other form of records, perhaps. By
that being said, common sense plays a very vital role in keeping the local knowledge of the
Talaandig people.

Moreover, the intimate relationship of the locals to nature has enabled their local
cultures to survive for long period of time amidst threats of change. The common sense of
the local people to respond to the present conditions in the environment provide the
dynamic characteristics of the local cultures. The common misconception about local
knowledge is that it is anti-science, backward moving and disgusts change or development
in the modern world. The worst thing is that, local knowledge is often associated with
poverty. All of these thoughts are basically incorrect, because even modern science has
practically evolved and depended much on the existence of local knowledge. In fact, the
first teachers, architects, or scientists did not undergo any formal education that
characterizes knowledge in the modern world. Local knowledge is rich is rich and vibrant.
Disgustingly, human manipulation and exploitation destroyed the riches of creation that
results to the degradation of local knowledge as well.

To sum up everything, indeed, common sense for Talaandig tribe is very essential
when talking about the foundation and maintenance of their local knowledge, perhaps the
global science as well. It served as their natural and built-in ability to respond to the present
condition of the environment in a very efficient manner. It is passed down through oral
communication and tradition. Somehow, we dream of these things to survive through time.
In that way, the future generations might be given a chance to appreciate and witness the
local knowledge of the Talaandig people.