Summary
Highlights
Before newspapers and books, history and epics were passed down through songs, poems, and stories. The Binukot were young women secluded by their parents, kept beautiful and protected like princesses. They were not allowed to step on the ground or be seen by others. Their significant role was to serve as custodians of culture, memorizing the Sugidanon (epics and history of their tribe) through song and dance, passing it to the next generation.
The tradition of Binukot began to decline after World War I, when many Binukot allegedly became victims of the Japanese. By the 1950s, more schools opened in the provinces, leading parents to send their daughters to school instead of isolating them as Binukot. Lola Teresita, at 88, is one of the last living Binukot from Capiz and Iloilo, as many of her peers have passed away.
Lola Teresita was secluded for eight years, confined to her room and not allowed to be seen. She recalls being considered the most beautiful in her tribe. When she was 12, she was married off to a man she didn't know, in exchange for pigs, alcohol, and rice. She had three children and remained home-bound. After her husband's early death, she had to support her family by selling produce and pawning her ancestral jewelry, including antique coins from Mexico, to raise capital. She chose to educate her children, breaking the cycle of Binukot.
Lola Teresita sometimes reminisces about her youthful beauty and wonders what would have happened if she had pursued an education. The documentary concludes by posing a critical question: with the tradition of Binukot fading and no new Binukot emerging, who will preserve the ancient songs, epics, and dances that these princesses carried, and who will be the channel of history and culture for future generations?