What is Fotad and why the shouting?

Tabuk City, Kalinga –A video which circulated over the social media in Kalinga showing some people shouting after the death of a tribal member caught the attention of people and earned mixed reactions with some calling it a questionable behavior.

The situation prompted police response. Little did they know that the act was tied to a tradition which is called Fotad.

What is Fotad? And why did the tribal members shouted when their member gave up the ghost at the Kalinga Provincial Hospital?

Before that, let us get a background of what happened at the KPH.

What Happened at KPH?

According to Kalinga Police Provincial Director PCol. Davy Vicente Limmong, a patient was rushed to Kalinga Provincial Hospital on February 9 and the attending physician tried to revive her as she didn’t have blood pressure, cardiac rate, and respiratory rate.

Unfortunately, the patient died which made the tribal members shout.

Moreover, as per protocol, the patient was subjected to Rapid Antigen Test wherein the result was reactive.

“So suspected Covid case. Tatta adu napan kabagyan na ket madi da kano paseal dyay bangkay,” he said.

Initially, the relative refused to have their deceased loved one be sealed; however, he said, they later agreed to have the dead body sealed before they took it home to be buried.

Interview with Mayor Gumilab

In an interview with Tinglayan Mayor Sacrament Gumilab, he said the people in the video are yTinglayans who are residing in the city.

“Taga Malin-awa, Tabuk City dagiay ngem kakailyan tayo nga taga Tinglayan dagiay. Adda kanu iti napan kasla nagraep ket natumba ket intaray da jay hospital ngem natay gayam. Siyempre nakastrek ijay hospital ...ngem adda met iti protocol iti hospital tayo nga dapat nga suruten tayo diyay iti haan da nga nagkinaawatan iti KPH ken dagitoy kakailyan,” he said.

“Ngem nai-sealed kanu met metlang jay natay ket inkabil da metlang ijay lungon santu nga inyawid da. So sumurot met dagiay kakailyan tayo,” he said.

Why is the shouting and flock of individuals during this emergency?

Gumilab explained that the reason why many tribal members went to the hospital and the reason behind their shouting when the patient died is what they call Fotad.

Fotad is a call for ‘bayanihan’ from the community. If there are incidents such as funeral, tribal conflicts, accidents, if someone gets lost or drowned, or if something bad happens, the people will shout ‘fotad’ so the community will be ‘mabtad’ or be united to act as one to help and show support.

“Normal lang ta ugali tayo gamin nga Fotad ngay, isu nga kasjay nga adu iti tattao nga mapan ta ugali tayo garud. Nu adda emergency talaga kasla nga umarayat iti tattao, kasla ngay nga isu iti obligasyon tayo gamin nga agrescue nga umili,” he said.

Additionally, on the shouting the people made, “talaga nga agpukkaw da ta adda garud iti iyawid da nga natay kasjay talaga iti ugali gamin,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Provincial Inter Agency Task Force on February 10 agreed to conduct Information Dissemination Campaign on the proper handling of the body of Covid-19 suspect, probable, and confirmed cases.

“Dapat suruten tayo dagiay patakaran nga dapat nga masurot ngem diyay garud ta ugali lang gamin nga umarayat iti nagad adu ngem iti importante suruten da talaga dagiay protocols,” said Gumilab.

Kalinga is indeed rich in live culture, a culture that is still being practiced but which could actually be dying if not kept or written down for the future generations.

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