56 Papa and Ayta Mag-indi Community and the declaration of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), took the initiative to put up checkpoints in both their communities to screen and monitor the entry of non-residents. They also discouraged the Aytas from leaving their communities unless extremely necessary. Health workers, both Ayta and unats (lowlanders), however, were allowed to go in and out of the communities and were depended on to be the first responders should there be cases of illness, such as COVID-19 or others. Just like in any other underprivileged and marginalized community, the declaration of the quarantine had adverse and tragic effects on their daily lives, much more than from the pandemic itself. Understanding the COVID-19 pandemic Indon Saguin, an Ayta Mag-indi elder, shared his understanding of COVID-19: Ang intindi ko, ‘yang COVID-19 virus, sakit ‘yan na may kinalaman sa panghihina ng baga. ‘Yang mga ganyang sakit, ang tawag namin ay “bungabong.” Katulad ‘yan ng tuberculosis, pneumonia, bronchitis. Ang tawag sa amin d’yan, “ipay”—sakit na mahirap gamutin. Pero ang sabi ng mga lola at lolo ko sa akin, ang lupaing ninuno, hindi kinakapos sa halamang gamot. Kaya hindi kami natatakot sa sakit na ‘yan. (As I understand, COVID-19 is a virus that causes illness that has something to do with the weakening of the lungs. We call that “bungabong” in our language. That would be similar to tuberculosis, pneumonia, and bronchitis. These are illnesses that are hard to cure. We call them in general as “ipay.” But according to our ancestors, our ancestral lands will never lack herbal medicines. That is why we are not afraid of this virus.) Without timely and relevant information on the pandemic, the Aytas were left on their own to understand the pandemic given their past experiences and knowledge that were passed on to them by their ancestors. To augment their indigenous knowledge, they have asked the younger generation adept with the use of modern technology to research on pandemics. According to Benny Capuno, culture master of the tribe: Natuklasan po namin na mayroon nang sampung uri ng pandemya na sumaklob sa mundo mula pa noong panahon ng mga Kastila. Kasama na rito ang Spanish flu. Sabi doon sa binasa [nina Norman (referring to a youth leader)], ‘yung Spanish flu ay marami ring pinatay. Nahirapan din silang maghanap ng lunas dito. Pero nakita