Amazing Pinay : 104-year woman’s longevity formula: “Eating termite eggs” longer
A 104-year old woman in a remote town in Capiz has claimed that her secret formula for longevity is eating grilled termite eggs.
Lisa Castor, one of the four known remaining members of the indigenous group called Pan-ayanon who have reached the century mark, said she gets in drinking water from the stream near her ancestral home in the town of Tapaz.
On top of her termite egg diet Castor eats lots of plant food, complimented by bit of meat, fish, freshwater shells and shrimps taken from the river.
Castor said she and her group would look for termite houses to destroy and locate the ‘queen’ also known in the local dialect as ‘buk-an.’
They would skew several “buk-an” in a stick and place on top of the flame. The outer side or shell of the “buk-an” burns and the inner portion is then eaten. ‘Buk-an’ is watery and has tartness when eaten.
Castor and her cousin Mansueto Carle Jr. were among the indigenous people who trooped to the town proper of Calinog for the Panubok 2, a Binanog Dance and Costume embroidery exhibit, workshop and competition.
As a member of the indigenous people, Castor is one of the last remaining ‘binukot’, a privilege given to the fairest member of their tribe.
Men who want to marry them should give dowry to the bride’s parents. The dowry ranges from money, pigs, chickens among others.
She said a “binukot” lives like a princess. They do not toil during the day. They only go out of their room when it is time to eat and take a bath.
Before the sun rises and when the sun sets they are permitted just to breath fresh air within home lots. They are closely protected from the rays of the sun to maintain their flawless skin. They are not allowed to do hard labor.
Lisa said they wore traditional costume called “supa”. The top is embroidered and matched with “patadyong” as skirt. The “patadyong” reaches up to their heels. As “binukot” they are forbidden to show any parts of their body before being taken for marriage.
On the other hand Prof. Randy Madrid of the University of the Philippines in the Visayas Center for West Visayan Study, said that Lisa could be just like an ordinary “angoran”, an old woman in their community.
Anybody could just claim they are already 100 years old, he said.
It is possible that Castor is a centenarian as she claims she is. It might be also that there are other people in the barangay who are much older than her, Madrid said. The area is hardly reached by means, said Madrid.
The town of Tapaz is a remote area in the province of Capiz hardly reached by land transport.
On the belief that eating termite’s egg extends one person’s life, Madrid said there are studies that ants are rich in Vitamin E and salicylic acid. However, there is no scientific explanation that eating termite eggs prolong the life of a person.
Madrid said “it is the first time that I have heard of such testimony from among the members of the Panay Bukidnon.
”The kinds of food Lisa have eaten probably helped in adding years to her life,” he added.
The UP professor is among the number of people involved in the programs in preserving the culture and traditions of Panay Bukidnon.
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