INTERVIEWER:  There are some cultural differences between the Americans and Filipinos.  They even know that this is _____. MELCHOR:  Yeah. INTERVIEWER: There are some cultural differences that the Americans might not understand like anybody else here in the Philippines and one is the custom of dog eating.  Is that something that is illegal here?  Is it legal for the tourist to come and be a part of that custom? MELCHOR:   Yes.  Actually, when tourist is coming, especially from other countries, we entertain them regarding our dances and even, they can also visit some areas. It is the _____ customs already.  And then there are Americans who have been writing about the culture in the province of Benguet. INTERVIEWER:  Okay. MELCHOR:   They have been going around. INTERVIEWER:  So… MELCHOR:   They have come to _____.  There are students also from Netherlands now.  They are here at the… at Bineng, that is part of Trinidad, learning the cultures. INTERVIEWER:  Okay.  Can we… with… with regards to eating dogs in particular.  This is something that we Americans still do not understand or although I can say that I’m a big fan of it. Is that anything… is it illegal to do that? MELCHOR:   What the… INTERVIEWER:  To eat dogs. MELCHOR:   To eat dogs? INTERVIEWER:  Yes, sir. MELCHOR:   Oh, yeah. INTERVIEWER:  What is that?  It is legal. MELCHOR:   It is a… actually, it is illegal.  There was a… I think a Presidential Decree prohibiting the cruelty to animals here in the Province of Benguet, in the Cordillera.  Looking at it, a dog is a delicious food.  This is being used during the time of… during a ritual for somebody who died and this is a part of… to be butchered, which is… INTERVIEWER:  Right. MELCHOR:   Part of it as a culture. INTERVIEWER:  So it is still very much being practiced. MELCHOR:   Yeah, it is okay. INTERVIEWER:  So is it pretty much tolerated or the law is… MELCHOR:   No, it is not much tolerated.  It is only done in that. INTERVIEWER:  Oh.  So that is not something that let’s say a tourist will come by.