I once thought, I was cursed for being born an Isnag. I grew up in a place where my kind was marginalized and misjudged. We were seemingly branded with infamy--and I was a firebrand to many. Every streak of anger, which came through me, was an allusion to my Isnag badge of ferocity. Those times, I wanted to deny my heritage.
But it was during those times that I knew I could not. There was no way out of it. The distance did not spare me from the tribal wars, clan clashes, family feuds which were brought to our doorsteps by Apayao kins to bring us the news. Sometimes, it felt like the upshots were being served on a platter for us--especially when kiths and kins were ...