Igorotdo: The Enlightened Warrior Within by Rexcrisanto Delson

by Rexcrisanto Delson

The first Fiction Novel ever written about the indigenous highlanders of the The Igorots. Also, the first Fiction Novel ever written by an Igorot author.How important is your ethnic heritage? For Alex, it can mean worlds of difference. Since immigrating to the United States as a child, his yearning to fit into American society has led to a total disconnect from his Igorot ancestry. Like many immigrants, his true ethnic identity has taken a backseat to the pursuit of the American Dream. Alex's dreams eventually turned into he became a successful businessman, and began living a lifestyle filled with fame, fortune, and women. Despite his achievements, however, an inner void eats away at his soul that is, until unforeseen events send him on a collision course with his estranged heritage. An inheritance catapults him into the worlds of Igorots, soldiers, and samurais. Can his encounters with the Igorots become more than just lessons about the lineage of indigenous Filipino highlanders that precedes him? Will his perilous encounters with them, American soldiers, and Japanese samurai help him find true happiness? How can the events that unfold fill the void, while bringing new meaning and purpose into his life? Unbeknownst to Alex, an enlightened warrior dwells within him, waiting to be discovered.

Genres: Historical Fiction

Paperback

First published October 1, 2011

About the author

Rexcrisanto Delson is the first Igorot author to have ever written a fiction novel. His debut novel "Igorotdo: The Enlightened Warrior Within" also happens to be the first fiction novel ever written about the indigenous Igorot highlanders of the Philippines.

Mr. Delson was born in Bauko, Mountain Province, in the Cordillera Mountains of the Philippines. During World War II, his grandfather adopted the name "Delson" from an American officer bearing the last name Nelson, thus creating surprising and curious reactions from people who meet the current Mr. Delson for the first time. Although he's lived most of his life in America, Mr. Delson remains connected to his Igorot heritage, and enjoys learning about other cultures, particularly the Japanese.

Mr. Delson's background is a mélange of experiences, which span the financial services arena, Japanese gardening and cuisine, landscape architecture, Japanese Chanoyu, the U.S. Marine Corps, sales and project management, interreligious dialogue, and writing. All have taught him the importance of the need for inspirational things and people. Because of this, he's drawn towards things that inspire people to become the best they can be, especially writing, music, movies, and athletes. Some of his favorites include the book Blind Courage by Bill Irwin, the band U2, the movie Braveheart starring Mel Gibson, and football hall-of-famer Roger Staubach.

When not writing, he enjoys spending time with his family, fishing, sports, bicycling, and increasing his culinary skills, particularly when it comes to sushi. Having grown up in Ernest Hemingway's hometown, Oak Park, Illinois, he now lives in the Chicagoland area with his wife and three children.

Reviews

[Rexcrisanto Delson · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the Author:

Through Igorotdo: The Enlightened Warrior Within, I hope to inspire a selfless purpose-driven outlook on life and encourage others to take stock in their ancestral heritage, regardless of what it is. Both purpose and cultural heritage are cornerstones in life. They are also the book's two main themes, which I hope readers will take away.

Although this is fiction, the majority of it is inspired by actual events. One should not, however, take too much stock in any historical or factual inaccuracies so as not to miss the important messages. On a side note, this is the first fictional novel ever written by an Igorot (indigenous Filipino highlander)about Igorots. The Igorot culture is one of the least known indigenous cultures of Asia, yet one of the most misunderstood. I hope to introduce this dichotomy to world in an entertaining and meaningful way.

[Daniel Daly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew I bought a book worth reading the moment I read the opening quote by U2’s lead singer, Bono. It was the “red guitar, three chords, and truth” lyrics that Bono added to their “All Along the Watchtower” song during their 1987 “Save the Yuppies” concert, which I attended in San Fran.

Prior to reading, I thought an Igorot was an American Indian tribe (fooled by the cover). I never heard of Igorot people. It turns out that these indigenous people are like the indigenous people of other countries who aren’t very well known because of the dominant people of their country (like in Brazil, Peru, Australia, Africa, etc) who tend to discriminate and sweep their indigenous tribes under the rug. Apparently the Philippines isn’t any different. It claims to be a historical fiction, but it could easily fall into other genres (Adventure, Mystery, Inspirational, Fantasy, etc.).

This is a story about Alex, an Americanized Igorot who is no longer in touch with his Igorot roots, and a magical tribal blanket that transports him through time to discover his purpose in life and reunite with his Igorot roots. It is hard to compare with other books because of its uniqueness, but I’ll attempt it here because of my fascination for its one-of-a-kindness. The first thing that comes to mind is Dan Millman’s Way of the Peaceful Warrior: A Book That Changes Lives in that its portrayal of a “warrior” is someone who fights to become a better person. A good person. An enlightened person. Its fast paced action, battle scenes, and struggle to save ones culture against outside threats remind me of Randall Wallace’s Braveheart. Interestingly enough, its inspirational messages shares a similar vein as Wallace’s other books such as The Touch in that it breathes the importance of using our skills to help others. The book’s focus on the importance of cultural roots, has striking similarities with Alex Haley’s classic Roots: The Saga of an American Family. Also, the indigenous theme of the book echoes a bit of Robert Bolt’s screenplay of “The Mission,” which became the movie starring Robert Dinero. This is especially true when Dinero’s character experiences the lifestyle of tribal people and comes to love them in the end, something Alex experiences with Igorots. Lastly, I’ll go out on the limb to say that its use of imagery, symbolism, and fantasy are akin to C.S. Lewis’ The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe and That Hideous Strength, as well as J.R.R Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings because it too, visits magical realms (though more historic than fantasy) in which battles are fought between the forces of good and evil. I also find that like Lewis & Tolkien’s works; it also deals with the Christian themes of sin, people’s fall from grace, and redemption, even though Delson’s book isn’t labeled a Christian book.

It is written in a contemporary voice, making it very relevant to me. Unlike most books I read, I had no idea what was coming next nor did I have the faintest inkling of how it would end. It was a constant rollercoaster ride of newfound culture, emotional swings, surprises, mystery, and adventure, to name a few. For being the first novel ever written by any Igorot person, Rexcrisanto Delson does his people proud with his debut novel. I find it interesting how it falls into the Goodreads category list of “Books White People Need to Read” – something I agree with.

[Floyd Largent · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes a book, no matter how well-written and easily read, is hard to pigeonhole. Is it a philosophical novel? A spiritual mystery? A fantasy? An examination of what it means to be human?

Rexcrisanto Delson's Igorotdō: The Enlightened Warrior Within is all of the above and more -- a many-faceted character study of the value of cultural heritage and, ultimately, what it means to be a good person. It's an easy and fascinating read, which entertains as it broadens your mind. Alex, the main character, is a Filipino-American businessman who has lost touch with his native culture. Having been brought to America as a child, he's so thoroughly Americanized that he barely remembers his origins as an Igorot, one of the mountain people of central Luzon who were never conquered by the Spanish -- or fully assimilated by the Americans who took the Philippines in the Spanish-American War.

As the story opens, Alex is reeling from a series of personal blows. His relationship with his girlfriend is strained. The financial services company he founded has taken a beating in the Great Recession, and he has no choice but to lay off a large part of his workforce -- many of them long-term employees he considers friends. He's had to sell his luxury homes in Florida and California, and can no longer afford his two yachts. His extended family in the Philippines treats him as their own personal ATM, taking offense when he doesn't provide for him in the way they believe he should.

Alex is lost, unsure of himself and desperate to get his life back on the rails. So when his grandfather in the Philippines passes away and leaves him an unspecified legacy, he immediately goes back to the islands to claim it, hoping it will be something financial that will help him rebuild his company -- and his self-esteem. He's surprised to feel a sense of belonging when he meets his extended family for the first time, and it's almost enough to make him forget his troubles.

But Alex remains fixed on obtaining his legacy. When he does, he's disappointed, because it's nothing like what he expected or wanted: simply an antique woven blanket with mystic symbols along the edges. But after the blanket catapults him into a metaphysical adventure through the lives of his ancestors and other historical figures, he finds that it's exactly what he needs, and has needed his entire life.

His grandfather's legacy unlocks the enlightened warrior within him, a persona dedicated to giving to society rather than taking away. I won't reveal Alex's adventures here. Suffice it to say that they track key times in the lives of the people he lives through, teaching him about what really matters; and the character who launched him on his odyssey will remain a mystery to the reader until the very end.

Alex's voyage of self discovery appeals to the Igorot in all of us, in that it appeals to the American search for our heritage. We're a young melting pot country, not yet old enough to have completely established our own cultural identity; and yet many of us derive from people of so many heritages that we're not sure what to call ourselves except "American." Add to that the fact that so many of our ancestors deliberately suppressed their origins in the effort to assimilate, and many of us feel lost at a deep level.

Igorotdō is the story of a man who finds out who he is and where he came from, and thus fulfills the universal American need for ethnic identity. Along the way he discovers his dō, the Japanese term for a way of life. In his case, it's the Igorotdō, the acceptance of his ethnicity with all its benefits and flaws, along with the inspiring, honorable way of the enlightened warrior, who fights to help rather than harm.

It's something we can all aspire to.

[Rkazmierski · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Filipino friend recommended this novel knowing that it would appeal to my fascination with different world cultures. She knows me too well because I really love this book. The book is about a westernized Igorot's journey of reconnecting to his long forgotten cultural origins. First of all, I never knew of the Igorots highlanders in the Philippines. I thought all Filipinos were at one time conquered and colonized by Spaniards, but this is not the case with Igorots. The author does a spectacular job introducing this little known tribal culture by telling of their fortitude to preserve their indigenous culture, their contribution to the American victory over Japan during WWII, their sad experience of being living exhibits at the World's Fair in St. Louis, the discrimination they endure from fellow Filipinos, and even their contribution to one of America's favorite foods - hot dogs.

Alex, the main character goes to the Philippines to claim his inheritance from his deceased grandfather, but finds himself jumping back in time into the bodies of an Igorot boy, an Igorot adult, a American soldier, and a Japanese samurai. This clever and ingenious aspect of Delson's story reminds me of the BBC television series Life on Mars where the main character goes from one body to another while transporting into different dimensions of time. Throughout his journey, he discovers his inner identity and realizes there is much more to life than accumulating material wealth.

The book, which could easily be a movie, cleverly mixes mystery, suspense, adventure, and a heavy dose of action with some romance. The outcome is a morale tale that beckons the reader to think twice about their cultural origins and their purpose in life. For a debut novel, Delson does a commendable job and deserves high praises for creating this very "unique" and "other-than-ordinary" spellbinder. I highly recommend it to people who appreciate world culture. Hopefully, there will be a sequel.

[Tmac Daoey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a culturally inspiring book for people looking for a great story with inspiring messages. It takes the reader through a journey of rediscovery by telling the story of an Igorot in America who ran away from his cultural roots. Through the help of a magical native blanket, he experiences the lives of past Igorots, a American soldier, and a Japanese samurai. Each of these experiences teach him lessons that bring him closer to discovering his true identity and eventually a different perspective on his purpose in life. It's a book that can have one reconsider whether their present job or career is their true vocation, like I found myself doing.

I relate to this story mainly because I am also a Igorot who never knew about my roots because I was adopted. At the age of 18, with the help of my Irish/Scottish parents, I traced my roots to the indigenous Igorots of the Philippines. The author does a spectacular job introducing the Igorot people to the world. To my knowledge, we are not well known. Here in Hawaii where I was raised, there are plenty of Filipinos, but nobody seems to know about the indigenous Igorots.

When not working, there is nothing I'd rather do than surf. Once I began reading this, I kept wanting to read so much that I missed an entire week of surfing. I was always captivated by the authors story telling craft. It appears that this is the first book of fiction ever written by a Igorot. It deserves to be read by all people who appreciate diversity in our world.

[Francis · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was amazing,we all need to be the enlightened warriors.we have lost contact with our heritage. we need to be humble,peaceful and fight for honor(honorable fight). I love this book because it shows how we get lost in the now and for get who we really are.

[beenis · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an Igorot (Kankanaey and Ibaloi), this book started a flame in me which I’ve never felt before. I am beginning to have interest in my culture, and this was a step forward in learning about it. If you are an Igorot, or less specifically a Filipino, this is a great read. The story starts a bit slow and moves quicker towards the end, but the read is definitely worth it.

[Koichi Amasaki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pack your proverbial bags and get ready for a great adventure with meaning and substance. Be prepared to find out how connecting to cultural roots can turn a self centered person into a selfless person out to better the world. Travel up winding and treacherous mountainous roads and feel what it’s like to stare down the precipice of a road that has no safety railings while riding in a car knowing you could fall hundreds of feet at any moment. Experience the life of native-indigenous-tribal people before and after the failed attempts of Spanish colonization. Find out what it feels like to be put into a human zoo to be exhibited like animals by Americans. Discover prejudices and discrimination brought on by mainlanders just because you are indigenous. Grimace at the making of heroism and courage during World War2. Feel what the blade of a samurai is capable of and learn why love is greater than any sword.
These are just a few of the things I experienced reading this book. It’s a very unique book. One that I haven’t read anything similar to it. I particularly love how it addresses the growing concern that too many people living away from their ancestral origins are losing touch with their cultural roots by adopting new assimilated cultures. Finally, a great book that doesn’t rely solely on sex, violence, and cheap pleasures, but rather, it uses cultural importance and positive life lessons to make it more than worth reading.
My favorite part is Alex’s encounter with Japanese soldiers during the WWII conflict in the Philippines and with the samurai during the transitional period between the Heian and Edo periods of Japan. As a Japanese, I am not particularly proud of the dark blotches scattered throughout our history (WWII and Nanking to be precise), but I feel it necessary for us to remember these such events so we never resort to the nationalistic premises that led us there in the first place. Too many modern and young Japanese no longer have a sense of patriotism because they discard the lessons of our past and delve in what is current and popular (anime for example). This book features a swatch of our history that needs to be remembered. One great thing about the book is it also reminds us of our Bushido past, but creatively portrays it in a sort of inspirational lesson to live a life for others. I felt like it had many similarities to The Seven Samurai and Other Screenplays and even The Last Samurai movie.
I hope this gets translated into Japanese so that more Japanese can learn about it.

[Reynaldo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This deserves a 4.5 star rating. I found it hard to put down and read it in less than 3 days. Very easy read. I must admit, I don't know whether to classify it as inspirational, historical fiction, or fantasy. Regardless, it is worth the read because behind the nice storytelling and interesting cultural backdrop, there are several great morals in it. This is what compelled me to buy it in the first place.

I first learned of it via its facebook ad, but shortly after I discovered it while flipping through my Flipboard app. Its Flipboard magazine primarily posts cool content about the book's attributes like courage, bravery, virtue and the like. If these things peak your interest as it does with me, this book will be a treat.

Bottom line: Native Igorot warriors, samurais, World War2 soldiers, and bunch of action topped with a good moral as the icing - you won't go wrong. I wonder though, is it really the first fiction about Igorots as claimed? If so, wow.

[Zeph Agayo · Rating 5 out of 5]

The amusing parts and the author's impressive writing prompted me to give a high rating. Some parts give inaccurate impressions, though, especially chapter 11. This chapter would probably confuse uninformed readers as to what Baguio is really like. I understand that this is fiction so I don't wanna complain. I hope the author would write another book which portrays the real Baguio.

Reading the novel is like watching a box office hit movie. I can say that most parts are well-researched. I read documentation authored by Albert Ernest Jenks about Bontoc's lifestyle, history and culture and I read literature about the 66th infantry; the said writings can attest to the true-to-life accuracy of some parts of this book.