By: FRANCO VIVIANI
In the tradition of Renato Rosaldo, an anthropologist who underscored the significance of emotions and subjectivity in research and the narrative dimension of analysis, as exemplified by his seminal study of the Ilongot people of the Philippines, the author retraces his journey, both physical and emotional, among the Igorot of Sagada, Philippines. Sagada has gained notoriety for its hanging coffins, a traditional form of burial that remains in use today. The author had visited Sagada a couple of decades earlier as a physical anthropologist. He discovers a location that starkly contrasts with his memories, yet above all, he feels the conspicuous absence of Valentina, his guide who had previously provided him with an intricate understanding of the complex cultural nuances of Igorot society. This absence effectively translates into the discovery of the woman’s mysterious disappearance and an attempt to shed light on her death.
