Project Report - La Trobe University

How we did it Project methodology
Maria sits with the ‘tools of the trade’ beside her:
paper, notebook, pen, hip bag with voice recorder, and
a cup of very sweet, hot coffee.
Kasoy (Levemay) Abaggoy reviews the first draft of
Filluruu, the first oral story we documented in writing.
The story was retold by Kasoy’s mother, Fai (Ernesta)
Aga-id. Beside Kasoy, her son Ayfa (Edmar) Abaggoy
gives a big smile.
In terms of geographical location, we split
ourselves across the two main locations where we
needed to be to conduct the project. Maria was
based in Chananaw and Edwin in Manila, though
we both spent short stints in provincial centers like
Bontoc, Tabuk and Baguio. Also, Edwin spent a
total of six weeks in Chananaw and Maria spent a
total of five weeks in Manila. Refer to the project
schedule at Appendix 1 for further details as to
where each of us was located through the course of
the project and the general focus of our work at
each stage.
As well as managing the project overall (including
preparing all applications and proposals associated
with the project), Maria focused on working within
the community of Chananaw itself, conducting
most of the ethnographic fieldwork, primary data
collection and community engagement aspects of
the work. All of this was done hand-in-hand with
participating community members. Meanwhile,
Edwin was based in Manila to gather all materials
from external sources, to liaise with project
partners and to coordinate the input of the Ang
Ilustrador ng Kabataan artists for storybook
illustrations. However, we both helped each other
out in our respective areas of work and ‘filled in’
for each other on many occasions.
As well as being flexible regarding our respective
roles, we approached the entire project with a very
flexible, open mind – regarding timing (within the
confines of our overall five-month project
timeframe), the actual content of the project, the
people involved, communications with the various
project partners and stakeholders, and our
methods of carrying out the work itself.