‘Bagani’ posts high ratings despite backlash

CHED, IPs continue protests against use of ‘hallowed’ term

AS “La Luna Sangre” drew near its conclusion and trailer of its replacement fantaserye was aired, viewers and stakeholders of the education and cultural sectors actively engaged on social media about the implications of “Bagani” and its faithfulness to Filipino heritage.

The term bagani may be alien to people in Luzon, but is widely used in Visayan-speaking regions and the indigenous tribes of Mindanao.

It means warrior – and not just one who holds bolo, spear, arrow or any other weapon to protect oneself, family or community – but a person who has killed at least 10 human threats to the community or ancestral lands or one who has killed 100 snakes (as 10 snakes killed is equal to one human), explained Melchor Umpan Bayawan, a staff of the House Representatives who comes from the Manobo ethnic tribe of Mindanao.

Members of the Indigenous Peoples ( IPs) group, including artists Bayang Barrios and Melissa Claire Icdang Barrera, protest the use of the term in the teleserye as it “does not even pay proper homage to real baganis, an outright disrespect to the history and [ethnic] culture when the use of the term contradicts the very essence of what it [actually] means.”

“Being a bagani does not only mean to ‘to have an exemplary defend the people from colonizers and entities who are robbing us of our identity attached to our lands culture and heritage. So when you use the term bagani for a teleserye that is devoid of historical and cultural context, you are actually lambasting the memoirs and integrity of our warriors,” Barrera said.

She added that the artistic license cannot be claimed as the network airing the program is “using the indigenous culture for a different agenda, a classic case of cherry picking for the sake of - ing [ethnic] narrative.” The Network explains that 'Bagani' is first and foremost a fantaserye albeit with Filipino touches—it is neither a historical nor a cultural representation of the country

Barrios, speaking in a press that our culture that is very sacred be respected.”

Two weeks before the airing and while taping in the sand dunes of Ilocos were ongoing, netizens had hot exchanges of comments that the actors—led by Liza Soberano, Enrique Gil and Matteo Guidicelli—were not Filipinolooking at all—contradictory to what the story was supposed to represent, the evolution of the Filipino race based on folklore.

Soberano answered a ne - not Pinoy? My father is full Filipino. I was raised by two Filipinos since the age of 4. I loooooove sinigang, Pinoy can get.”

Although the post elic- ited more comments about not looking Filipino enough, there were those who said that they understand that the show is what it is—a fantaserye no less, incorpo a historical or cultural representation at all.

On March 5 on the day of its first airing, ABS-CBN Corporate Communications head Kane Errol Chua sent a rejoinder to The Manila amid the statements issued by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) that the show is violative based on IP perspective.

feature warriors, protectors, and heroes who espouse Filipino values and beliefs.

“The production team did intensive research to determine a distinctly Filipino term that embodies a champion his tribe or family—somebody who is good-hearted. In the end, the team recognized that the term and concept that the program wants to highlight.

to malign or to disrespect beliefs of - ties, but instead hopes to propagate the values, morals, and ethics that - pino warrior, protector, and hero.

- serye does not purport itself to be a historical account of Philippine history or culture. The program has always maintained that it has created an alternative fictional universe with elements of Filipino mythology and folklore that simply serves as an avenue to creatively deliver and highlight Filipino values, beliefs, and heroism,” the statement read.

So as not to violate the Indig 8371), the IP group suggests that a disclaimer be placed in the

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