How to translate: "Laughter is the best medicine"?

Ethnic humor can be taken in so many ways, one of which is a positive and pleasurable light: however, it can also be taken in an unproductive and negative way, a means to disparage a group or community.  We have grown up with mostly-harmless snides about Ilocanos, Visayans, Tagalogs, Pangasinenses (just who coined the word “Pangalatot”?)  And elsewhere: the Italians ("wops"), Chinese ("Chiinks") , Irish ("Micks") , Latinos ("Spics"), Filipinos {"Flips")  - just about everyone on this earth: are subject to such ribbing.

Here are excerpts from an article on humor about Igorot and Igorot sub-groups.  Having grown up in Baguio, we can appreciate the energizing effects of such humor, and to translate or interpret this to others takes away the crispness and flavor of the humor!

btw, how do you say in Ilocano or Tagalog, ,  "Laughter is the best medicine"?

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A POPULAR aphorism in the Cordillera about three hungry tribal folk who got lost and wanted to eat in a lone hinterland house goes like this:

The Ibaloi stood from a distance but left after his shyness overcame him. The Kalinga did not eat as water was not offered to him. But the Kankanaey made himself at home. He went straight to the kitchen, served himself with food, proceeded to sit on the host's favorite armchair, and crossed his legs with a cup of steaming hot coffee in his hand. 

Notions about Cordillera folk, right or wrong, still persist to this day. Tourists or lowlanders who visit the region may find themselves in situations or cultures they may find strange but actually mirror a tribe's peculiar traits.

In the tourist town of Banaue in Ifugao, site of the famed rice terraces, a sign in a roadside comfort room goes like this: ''He or She But Not Together.''

The Ifugaos, particularly from Kiangan town, are popular in the region for their irreverent jokes and humor.  If one is traveling in Kalinga, the first thing he should ask for is a glass of water if he does not want to be harmed, according to Gus Saboy, a Kalinga native and former director of the Cordillera Executive Board.  ''This signifies that the host family has accepted the responsibility of protecting the visitor who drank the water while he is still in his place. This means, he won't be harmed by tribesmen,'' Saboy said.

For the Kankanaeys and Applais of Sagada, Mt. Province, old-timers say it is considered a good trait if a visitor does not wait for the host to serve him. They say if the visitor finds out that food hasn't been cooked yet, then he should do it himself. He should also wash the dishes. Residents, however, said this cultural trait is not being practiced much by educated folk. They don't just barge inside a house and eat a family's food. They also now serve their visitors like lowlanders do.

Former Mt. Province Rep. Alfredo Lam-en took the Igorot's cause against discrimination in style to the shame of his detractors.  The flamboyant and good-looking Lam-en delivered a privilege speech in Congress while wearing a g-string. He berated former Foreign Minister Carlos P. Romulo for saying that ''Igorots are not Filipinos.'' ''The only difference between me and Romulo is that he wears his tie on his neck while I wear mine below,'' he said. His peers and admirers have nicknamed him ''John Wayne of the Cordillera'' for his similarity to the hero of western movies.

Some anthropologists like Scott went on to debunk some biased notions against Igorots. But according to government officials like those of the Cordillera Regional Assembly and the Cordillera Regional Board, discrimination and ignorance about the Igorots, their customs and traditions were responsible for the misinformation against them. Sagada old-timers still recount with glee the story in the 1960s of a Manila lady who asked a male resident in the town to show him his tail. In perfect English, the young man deadpanned: ''Pardon me lady, but I cannot show you my front tail unless you marry me.''

Benguet is home to the Ibalois. They are the butt of jokes among the more aggressive tribes for their perceived timidity and shyness, according to observers. Some Ibalois dispute these attributions and some stabbings and maulings have resulted in pub drinking bouts even in Baguio City due to taunting.  Ibalois like Ceferino Willy, Baguio station manager of PTV 4, who is half Kankanaey and half Ibaloi, say the Ibalois' timidity is apparent in weddings or wakes.  ''The one who is usually at the background is an Ibaloi and you may quote me on this,'' he said.

 

http://www.travelsmart.net/ph/inquirer/issues/jan99/jan12/features/fea_2.htm  Who is an Igorot?  By Alfred Dizon