Stories of princess were part of childhood memories. You perhaps dream of becoming one during those times. But in Tumandok tribe in Tapaz, Capiz, Philippines, there were women, who were treated like a princess. They are known to be the binukot.
Binukot, a Hiligaynon term means "confined, secluded or restricted" is a Filipino cultural practice that secludes a young woman with the expectation that seclusion will result in a higher value placed on the individual by marital suitors in the future. The practice originated in the preHispanic Philippines but continues to this day. It was most recently practiced by the Panay Bukidnon people—including indigenous people (IPs) of Tapaz, Capiz— who keep women from the public eye beginning in childhood. [1]
The binukot (woman undergo the said practice) is isolated by her parents from the rest of the household at 3 or 4 years old. She is not exposed to the sun, not allowed to work, and is even accompanied by her parents when she takes a bath. This results in a fair, frail, fine-complexioned, and long-haired woman. As she stays at home most of the time, her parents and grandparents entertain her with various oral lore and traditional dances. This makes the binukot excellent epic chanters and repositories of their history. [2]
Tradition persists that the binukot must not be seen by any man from childhood until puberty. Only the family members and the female servants, called apid, may come faceto-face with her. In order to keep her away from men’s eyes, as well as shield her from the sun, she bathes in the river in the evening. A makeshift enclosure may also be made for her in the river for this purpose. No man would dare to look at a binukot as there is a threat of punishment by death to anyone who violates her by looking. [2]
When a Binukot is ready for marriage at 13 or 14, or even younger, her parents ask for a high pangayu (bride price or dowry) from the family of the suitor. Jealously and zealously guarded, the maiden, with her beauty and high pangayu, brings prestige to the family and livestock. Even when the suitor visits her, the parents do the entertaining and she is kept inside her room—but she can show the tip of a fingernail. However, though very occasionally, she is brought by her parents to big gatherings such as weddings where young men could appreciate her beauty and she could perform a ritual dance. [2]
From various historical sources American anthropologist, William Henry Scott gives the general impression of the binukot as a lady or a royal princess who is secluded and inaccessible. [2] Binukotan (plural for binukot) are describe in epics and tales using metaphors such as, visage of the sun, appeared like the sun, shone like a star, pale as the moon, and incomparably beautiful, which suggests that the binukot is a standard of aesthetic beauty. [1] The binukot of Panay-Bukidnon wears jewelry made from Spanish coins that are strung together and called biningkit. A waistband of coins is called a wagkus, and a headdress of coins is known as a pundong. [1]
Tapaz is one of the biggest town in the province of Capiz with 58 barangays (28 of these within ancestral domain or land of the IPs known as the Panay Bukidnon). It is strategically sheathed at the central part of Panay Island. Its neighboring towns are Jamindan in the North; Calinog, Iloilo in the South; part of the mountains of Antique and Libacao, Aklan in the West; and a portion of Dumalag and Bingawan, Iloilo in the East. Tapaz is noted of its mountainous terrain and its virgin forest and wildlifes are preserved by the natives. [3]
In the I Witness documentary show titled "Ang Huling Prinsesa", Reporter Kara David and her team treeked deep to one of mountainous village in Tapaz to search for the tribe’s last remaining princesses called the binukots. Kara David reaches the community of Rizal Sur, a village that looks just like any other isolated community, where the tumandoks (natives) living in traditional huts and survive on whatever nature provides them. In the midst of this community, she meets one of the last remaining binukots, 73-years-old Lola (grandmother) Isiang. Lola Isiang lives in an old hut, just like everybody else in the community. However, she has stayed inside a room in the house ever since she was five years old, living in isolation—as her family chose her to be the binukot of their tribe. [4]
Similarly, Kapuso Mo Jessica Soho TV show also featured on 2016 another binukot in Tapaz, namely Sulpicia "Feliza" Castor from Brgy. Tacayan of said town . Asked if she feel happy being binukot, Lola Feliza admitted,
"Hindi ako masaya na naging binukot ako dahil masama ang pakiramdam ko na hindi ko nagagawa ang mga gusto kong gawin..."
More so, in said show it was revealed that most of young women in their village don't desire anymore to inherit binukot tradition. [5] This is because binukot life is a "life in prison". Women in village already widening their perspective in terms of selfindependence—that they have the free will to opt something good for their life and don't be mere restrict by such practice. Young women aim to exercise the very essence of their childhood life (i.e, schooling, playing outside, etc.) [6]
Further, during Japan colonization the town of Tapaz was one of secluded places forcefully accommodated by Japanese. Natives panickly leave the area and the binukots unable to escape easily—due to virgin feet and modest move, thus they were raped and slain by colonizers. Starting that time, most of parents don't let anymore their daughter to be into binukot practice. [6]
An article of Efren Domingo titled "Ang Paghahanap Sa Huling Prinsesa: Ang Kalagayan Ng Mga Binukot Sa Bayan Ng Tapaz, Capiz" states:
"Ang pagbibinukot ay masasabing patay na sa lugar ng Tapaz, Capiz. Sa kasalukuyan may mga buhay pa ring mga huling binukot sa kani-kanilang lugar at pamilya, sa tuwing may bisita o dayuhan sa kanilang lugar ay doon na lamang nila inaawit ang kanilang mga epiko. Matatanda na ngang maituturing ang mga huling binukot, ngunit bakas pa rin sa kanilang balat ang palatandaan ng pagiging isang prinsesa, kakikitaan sila ng mga tattoo na larawan ng pagiging maganda at makapangyarihan.
Patuloy pa ring namumutawi sa kanilang mga memorya at salita ang laman ng kanilang makasaysayang epiko. Sa kabila ng nagbabagong panahon at pagkawala ng pagbibinukot, patuloy pa rin namang nauunawaan at nakikilala ng mga Tapaznon ang isang kulturang naputol sa kanilang kasaysayan. "
Binukot tradition is alarmly disappearing due to the changing mechanism of the world. However, this practice hopefully not to entirely go extinct. While these kept maidens are often physically weak, they serve an important function in keeping their traditions alive. Through them, they preserve the ages-long epics such as Hinilawod and legends of their tribes. The binukot is also the embodiment of the culture and tradition their ancestors have worked so hard to practice and perpetuate for decades. [7]
References
1. ^Wikipedia (2021). https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Binukot
2. ^The Aswang Project (2017). BINUKOT: Women Secluded And Veiled In Philippine History https://www.aswangproject.com/binukot-philippines/
3.^Tapaz Tourism Office FB Page (2018). History of Binukot in Tapaz https://www.facebook.com/269108543804706/posts/269197327129161/?app=fbl
4. ^YouTube. I Witness: Ang Huling Prinsesa (2018) https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Jv1YtbWqmXo&t=4s
5. ^Kapuso Mo Jessica Soho Segment (2016) https://m.facebook.com/watch/?v=10154055596671026&_rdr
6. ^Manila Today (2020). Ang Paghahanap Sa Huling Prinsesa: Ang Kalagayan Ng Mga Binukot Sa Bayan Ng Tapaz, Capiz https://manilatoday.net/ang-paghahanap-sa-huling-prinsesa-angkalagayan-ng-mga-binukot-sa-bayan-ng-tapaz-capiz/
7. ^Rappler.com (2017). "Rosita Caballero, a kept maiden from Panay Bukidnon, dies" https://www.rappler.com/moveph/binukot-panay-bukidnon-death
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