Igorot cañao of gongs and flags

An Igorot festival, the East Coast Grand Cañao will be held at Chetham Naval Annex, Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia July 24-26. The annual festival will be attended by around 500 Igorot immigrants living in the East Coast area of the US. The cultural celebration is organized by five East Coast based Bontoc-Ifugao-Benguet-Apayao-Abra-Kalinga (BIBAAK) organizations and hosted by BIBAK DC. This gathering of Igorots fuels camaraderie and fellowship among Igorots living in this part of US, and others worldwide who wish to attend. Camping, ball games, golf, and cultural programs fill the event.

Not to be forgotten is a parade with gong playing and flags with attendees in cultural attire. The Igorot gangza (gong) is a cultural symbol of fellowship and unity among Igorots, an ethno linguistic tribe in northern Luzon, Philippines. An ecumenical mass is also observed. Some Igorots are Romans Catholics, Episcopalians and some belonging to fundamentalist sects.

Igorots worldwide converge in clustered gatherings in different countries and continents. Though an annual Igorot Global Organization (IGO) gathering makes them come together and collectively renew the fellowship.

For those who want to attend the event, you may link here at BIBAK San Diego Guestbook and get to know more about the event. Or log into BIBAK San Diego Multiply and send your message here.

Lang-ay in Mountain Province

Yes, yes yo! The crowd drawing Lang-ay Festival of Mountain Province is now being celebrated in this capital town of the province from March 29 to April 7. Now In its 5th year, the culture-rich event is observed with performances from five ethno-linguistic tribes of the ten towns of the provinces. Dances and songs cap presentations fromthe the ethnic tribes- Applai from Sagada, and Besao; Kankanaey from Bauko, Tadian, and Sabangan; Baliwon from Paracelis; Balangao from Barlig and Natonin; and the Bontoc tribe from Bontoc and Sadanga.

As early as March 29, coronation of the winning contestants for the Anap di Bangan de Montanosa (Search for Ms Mountain Province) was observed. In tune with the culture of the place, the coronation is a resemblance of the cultural ceremonies in the western part of the province where Bangan in her red - striped “gateng” (local woven skirt) is the first to plant the rice seedlings to start rice planting before folks follow.

The celebration of the culture-studded event also includes the holding of an ecumenical mass officiated by newly installed Episcopal Bishop Brent Alawas at the Provincial Plaza grounds. While some few remaining elders of this province chose to remain unbaptized, some 95% of the people are either Roman Catholics or Episcopalians which shows the strong influence of the Roman Catholic influence in the late 1800s and the American Episcopal Missionaries in the early1900s. Some are Baptists and some are with charismatic fellowships including the Free Believers.

The event is not only about showing the people’s culture on dances and rituals though. It is also about promoting its basic source of livelihood from agriculture and locally made products such as woven materials and wines. The agro-industrial fair opened with the judging of Pinaka (best) among the agricultural products displayed in booths by delegates from the ten towns supervised by the agricultural unit of the provincial administration.

Rice, roots crops, highland vegetables (potatoes, tomatoes, cabbage, onions) and fruits (citrus and bananas) are among the major crops planted here. Coffee is now strongly promoted with its promising economic returns. Sagada Coffee Arabica is famous for its exotic aroma. Coffee drinking is available at the provincial grounds and especially promoted on April 1.

And so with locally made fruit and rice wines. Lang-ay wines are best known to come from Bauko. Though other wine entrepreneurs are now doing the home made product in almost all over the ten towns of the province.

Woven products shall also be specially promoted by the Governor’s spouse, Ms Cecilia Dalog. In Lang-ay weaves and Designs on April 4. This event showcases fashion trends on the province’s finely made woven products including the traditional tapis and G-string for men, bags and purses in varied sizes and designs.

The culture-rich province sees the spectacular performance of ethnic tribes during the street dancing event during the culminating day on April 7. As Governor Maximo Dalog said, the Lang-ay Festival shall be relevantly observed with the basic and usual presentation of culture and tradition. Although for this year’s event, the participation of children and youth is more pronounced. It is also expected that people from Mountain Province who went to other places and now categorized to belong to the 11th municipality will have visible presence during the event.

The Lang-ay Festival now is expected to draw more than 30,000 people to include visitors and residents. Be one among the 30,000 plus participants. Join and enjoy the Lang-ay Festival!

For recent pics, go to Lang-ay Mountain Province

Sagada Town Fiesta

Coronation of Bangan di Sagada, a clergy choir, and an indigenous musical contest and music jamming with local talents and invited musicians highlighted this town’s fiesta which started January 31-April 2. The town fiesta is usually held jointly with the celebration of the Christian calendar’s “Presentation of Jesus Christ in the Temple” which is Feb. 2.

Gracing the event was a street dancing and a civic parade January 31 followed by cultural presentations at the community court, with theme “Cultural renaissance for a better Sagada”.

Regular ballgames, the traditional tug of war was participated by delegates from the 19 barangays of the municipality. Also, a quiz bee and an essay writing contest were attended by secondary school students.



The Philippine National Police Band did a special rendition on last night during the coronation of Bangan di Sagada (Search for Ms Sagada)

A children ‘s song was shown followed by a choir rendition of clergy from the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Philippines and Cathedral on the night of February 1st at the Church of Saint Mary the Virgin.

The indigenous musical contest featured original compositions focused on themes of peace, environmental protection, justice, and health shown Feb. 2 followed by community jamming with local talents.

Gov. Maximo Dalog in his message said, “May the fiesta celebration be another time to highlight the positive features of our culture.”

Former Sagada mayor and now Presidential Assistant for Cordillera Affairs said the fiesta theme is “timely and significant that should grow with the consciousness of the community. It is in fact an invaluable part of our character that should not be eroded by time and the various influences that affect our values and our way of life. Sagada would not have been what it is without our strong cultural foundations.”

Sagada mayor Edward Latawan noted changes in local traditions yet culture persisted which continues to be valued.

Bontoc fiesta and am-among

The Bontoc Fiesta is celebrated every September 16th with cultural presentations, street dancing and community gathering called am-among.

The Bontoc am–among is a traditional practice where Bontoc tribes north of the PhIlippines take rest after the rice fields have been planted. Traditionally a practice among clans, the practice have been extended to the whole community as a town occasion.

Assigned persons kindle a small fire in nearby rice field and cook inasin( salted pork). Rice wine is offered to Kabunian (God) and prayer is said for good harvest.

On the second day, male members trek to the river to catch kachiw (river fish) while the women collect koti ( shells). These are brought home, cooked with meat, and partaken by family members and relatives.

The fourth day usually is the proper rest day where men and women will not work in the fields and children either stay at home or bathe in the river.

One of the products indigenous to the place is finely interlaced apparel for women called the tapis and wanes for men. These products which are woven the backstrap way include bags and blankets by Samoki weavers . These brightly colored attires in strong reds and stripes of black of dark green show a rich strong culture of cultural pride and interdependent of the tribes.

Rattan made products called sangi are still used by women and men and sold in the Poblacion market. These backpacks are culturally woven and used to carry packed lunch when one goes to farm or get firewood for fuel.

RELATED LINK

Am- among in Bontoc

Ato in Bontoc, Dap-ay in Sagada

Ato are men’s tribunals in Bontoc. The ato serves as the traditional seat of government of the Bontoc tribe and still plays a vital role in settling community disputes. Elders here plan for a chomno (fiesta) or settle conflicts within or outside the tribe where tribemates are involved.

The ato is traditionally thatched with cogon grass. Most atos now however are replaced with GI sheets. The front yard display carabao horns the number of which reflect the stature of the hierarchy of the ato with neighboring atos. The more horns displayed, the higher is the stature of the ato.

There are at least 10 tribunals in Bontoc Ili. The seat of indigenous politics, the ato then served as the ceremonial site where the heads and jaws of enemies taken by avenging Bontoc warriors are hang in totem poles as signs of victory and courage.

Just like the dap-ay of neighboring Sagada, the ato traditionally serve as sleeping quarters for boys and single male members of the community.

There are at least 10 dap-ays in Poblacion Sagada. Six are located in Demang barangay and one in Barangay Ambasing. The celebration of the begnas for one, takes place in a host dap ay where selection of the dap-ay is based on what the elders agree on.

The dap-ay is the seat of rituals. It signifies political unity and social belonging in the community. With this, it emanates that cultural attitude of inayan, a guiding belief of not doing any harm to one, lest harm shall befall one or his/her family members.

The celebration of the begnas is a three-day ritual festivity observed in the dap-ay before the planting and harvest season. The festivity is done on the months of March, June and October usually before the phase of the moon changes. Men, women, and children gather in the dap-ay and join in a festive thanksgiving for a bountiful harvest, or in a ritual which seeks good luck and good harvest.

Photo Credit: Sagada elder

Photo credit: Dap-ay in Sagada

Ifugaos celebrate harvest ritual

Among the Ifugaos of highland Philippines, rice harvest is celebrated in a ritual called Bakle, observed by the cooking of rice cakes called binakle. The indigenous peoples here, go from house to house to partake in eating the rice cakes and drinking tapuey (rice wine). A festive celebration is observed to give thanks to Kabunyan (God) for good harvest in the month of August. The ceremony is complete with the butchering of a hen and a rooster. Gloria Tuazon of Northern Philippine Times writes in her column,Trails up North, her travel to Mayoyao, Ifugao, to witness the ritual. (Two photos by Glo Tuazon)

RELATED LINKS:

Pfoto' ad Majawjaw 2008 (Rice Harvest Tour in Mayoyao 2008)

Rites and rituals

Where is Ifugao

Ifugao is located in the Cordillera region of the Philippines characterized by a rugged and mountainous terrain. It borders Benguet to the west, Mountain Province to the north, Isabela to the east, and Nueva Vizcaya to the south. Ifugao locates Banaue Rice Terraces, a major tourist attraction of the province. The famous rice terraces was declared as a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1995. Ifugao can be reached via Bontoc, Mountain Province or straight from Manila.

Rock throwing ends harvest in Bontoc, as rains mar fruit fest in Kidapawan

Here in this cultural town of Bontoc, north of the Philippines where rituals are part of the daily lives of the residents, the end of harvest time is observed with stone throwing called fagfagto.

Fagfagto is annually performed by the Bontocs in Mountain Province when the harvest of the first rice crop is almost over in the month of August.

Chaze Falag-ey, a native of Bontoc said that traditionally, young boys stationed on two opposite fields of Kidlaa and Churya across the Chico river allow for fagfagto. The boys throw stones at each other every after noon until the declaration of the lesles, or rest day.

The rest day allows for each household to perform the mangmang, a ritual done for the butchering of a pig or chicken in thanksgiving for a bountiful harvest. In fagfagto, it is believed that the more one gets injuries as a result of stones hurled at him, the bigger camotes or sweet potatoes, he will gather.

The planting of camote happen after rice harvest to let crop diversification and replenish lost nutrients. Camote is also planted in fields not planted by rice. Now it is another story as most young boys are not doing this ritual but most of them instead are found in computer shops playing video games.

Fruit Fest
Meantime in Kidapawan City, south of the Philippines, the annual fruit festival supposedly held every August was postponed to October due to the scarcity of fruit harvest.

Affected by continuous rains, thousands of hectares of fruit-bearing trees such as durian, lanzones, mangoosten and rambutan were destroyed. Insects also attacked 1,500 hectares of lanzones trees, Mindanao News reports say.

Called Timpupu Festival, annual highlights include eating fruits displayed along a three kilometer stretch, street dancing, float fruit parade, fruit preservatives display, fruit show contest, search for Lakambini of the event for Miss Fruity Gay, and Mount Apo Adventure race./ginadizon@yahoo.com

Ganging on the gongs

BANGLADESH -- If there is one thing which brings Indigenous Peoples together, it’s the playing of the drums and gongs. And so it is manifested during wedding celebrations, victorious exploits, and agricultural festivals when the community members come together and join in the celebration of the event. It is during this time that relatives, friends and the community join in the celebration and feel the spirit of what cultural togetherness means.

In contemporary times, we have been witness to the conduct of the Lang-ay festival among the people of the Mountain Province come every April 7 in commemoration of the celebration of the province’s foundation when residents from the ten towns come together and share the diversities of their respective culture.

The Adivay Festival among the Benguet people also do likewise during their foundation day. A moment of togetherness is also witnessed among Ifugaos during their Tungoh or Imbayah festival in June.

It is interesting to note that even hostile tribes come together and take part in such celebration as noted among the feared Basao tribes during the laglagsak ya ab-afak (fun and contest) Unoy Festival in Tinglayan Kalinga. Such an effective way to bring warring tribes together which is seeing progress.

Similar activities happen during this festivals- a display of cultural attires, cultural presentations, indigenous games, photo exhibits, and the conduct of a cultural ceremony to grace the occasion.

Among the Adivasi- Santals of northwest Bangladesh, while they conduct the above, they hold the festival to discuss issues which are vital to them. In a Baha (Spring) festival for one, some Santals here at Godagari of northwest Rajshahi came together and talked about their land- related problems in workshops specially held for the purpose.

Much as they held discussion workshops among themselves, speakers also delivered their thoughts and perspectives on dealing with the current land problems of the indigenous peoples here.

Some 90 percent Adivasis here are landless due to land grabbing committed by non-Adivasis. Even their sacred graveland of their forefathers have been turned into khas land (land open for application) by the government of Bangladesh .

Likewise, with the issue of autonomy and other issues as well which hound the Cordillera, festivals could play a big role in coming up with collective insights on how development could be seen in this very timely occasion. While it may be considered a time to play and enjoy, it is also a time to come together and talk.

The celebration of Cordillera Day for one, which is held every April 24 by the militant Cordillera Peoples Alliance makes it a point to discuss issues which are of vital importance to the economic and political life of the Cordilleran.

Autonomy is one lingering issue which had been given many attempts at making it happen. Letting it tested and discussed during these provincial festivals or during a Cordillera festival for one could be one way to know if such is a feasible idea. How consultative the discussion-participants would be though is a major consideration so that it would not end up as a gathering of power-hungry politicians or a roundtable of development technocrats.

In much the same way, other issues which grab the limelight of Cordillera concerns pertain to graft and corruption especially where it concerns infrastructure projects. Just how open and transparent government would be in finding a schedule and discussing these issues during a festival which usually lasts to a maximum of 7 days, is something to think about.

That elusive quest for unity, peace and development among Indigenous Peoples does not seem that elusive after all when festivals happen and the playing of the drums and gongs begin./ginadizon@yahoo.com