One of the elders of the Panay Bukidnon indigenous peoples (IP) group in Barangay Garangan, Calinog, Iloilo succumbed to COVID-19.
Leopoldo “Tay Polding” Caballero died on Monday, August 30, while undergoing treatment at the Western Visayas Medical Center in Iloilo City.
From the Dr. Ricardo S. Provido Memorial District Hospital in Calinog, the 79-year-old master chanter of the Panay epic was transferred to the hospital in the city after his condition worsened.
Caballero’s two brothers, two sons, and some grandchildren, also tested positive for COVID-19, according to the Panay Indigenous Culture Advocacy Group (PICAG).
“During the pandemic, the culture bearers have high risk of being infected by COVID-19 because most of them, if not all, are already old,” PICAG said in a statement.
As of Aug. 29, Calinog has 478 confirmed cases of COVID-19, of which 346 have recovered, seven have died and 125 are considered active cases.IMT/ Photo by Elsie Padernal
