IGOROT
ETHNIC GROUPS
The Cordillera region of Northern
Philippines is the ancestral domain of the Igorots. It is comprised of the six provinces of Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, and Mountain Province plus
the lone city of Baguio. The Igorots are grouped into six ethno-linguistic groups,
the Bontoc, Ibaloi, Ifugao, Isneg (or Apayao), Kalinga, and the Kankana-ey. Below are brief descriptions of these Igorot ethnic groups.
the BONTOC
Alternative/Associated Names: Bontok,
Bontoc
LOCATION: Central Mountain Province
DIALECT: Bontok
The Bontocs live in the banks
of the Chico River. It
used to be a group that was known because of its head-hunting practices.
Present day Bontocs are a peaceful agricultural
people who have, by choice, retained most of their traditional culture
despite frequent contacts with other groups.
The pre-Christian Bontoc
belief system centers around a hierarchy of spirits, the highest being a
supreme deity called "Lumawig". Lumawig "personifies the forces of nature and is
the legendary creator, friend, and teacher of the Bontoc".
A hereditary class of priests hold various monthly
ceremonies for this deity for their crops, the weather, and for healing. In
addition the Bontoc believe in the "anito" -- spirits of the dead who must be
consulted before anything important is done. Ancestral anitos
are invited to family feasts when a death occurs to ensure the well-being
of the deceased's soul.
The Bontoc social structure
used to be centered around village wards ("ato"), containing about 14 to 50 homes.
Traditionally, young men and women lived in dormitories and ate meals with
their families. This gradually changed as with the advent of Christianity.
In general, however, it can be said that all Bontocs
are very aware of their own way of life and are not overly eager to change.
the IBALOI
Alternative/Associated Names: Ibaloi/Nabaloi
LOCATION: Southern Benguet
DIALECT: Ibaloi
The Ibaloi live mostly in the
southern part of Benguet. An agricultural people cultivating
rice in terraced fields, they have some affinity in language with Pangasinan, its southern neighbor. Baguio City, the Cordilleras lone
city and dubbed as the “Summer Capital of the Philippines” is
also situated in Ibaloi country.
The Ibaloi’s major feast is
the Pesshet, a public prestige feast of the wealthy, that could last for weeks and involving the
butchering and sacrifice of dozens of animals. One of their more popular
dances is the Bendiyan Dance that could be participated in by as many as a hundred men and women
dancers.
the IFUGAO
Alternative/Associated Names: Ifugao,
Amganad, Ayangan, Kiangan, Gilipanes, Quiangan, Tuwali Ifugao, Mayoyao (Mayoyao, Mayaoyaw)
LOCATION: Ifugao Province
DIALECT: Four distinct Ifugao
dialects
The country of the Ifugao in
the southern part of the Cordillera region is best known for its famous
rice terraces, which in modern times have become one of the big tourist
attractions of the Philippines. The Ifugaos build their typical houses at the edge of their
fields. As distinctive aspect of these house post
just below the floor beams to keep rats from climbing into the house.
Aside from their rice terraces, the Ifugaos
are known for their literary traditions of the 'hudhud'
and the 'alim' . The
term "Ifugao" is derived from "ipugo" which means earth people or mortals or
humans, as distinguished from spirits and deities. It also means "from
the hill", as "pugo" means hill.
The Ifugaos’ highest prestige feasts are the
"hagabi", for the most
wealthy; and the "uyauy", a
feast for those immediately below the wealthiest.
the ISNEG
Alternative/Associated Names: Isnag,
Dibagat-Kabugao-Isneg, Apayao
LOCATION: Northern Apayao
DIALECT: Isnag
The Isneg (or Apayao) inhabits the banks of the Apayao River and
its tributaries in Northern Luzon. Like
most erstwhile head-hunters, they are slash-and-burn farmers who have
recently, under the influence of their neighbors, begun to practice
wet-rice agriculture.
As dry rice farmers, the male head of a household
annually clears a fresh section of tropical forest where his wife will
plant and harvest their rice. Isneg women also
cook the meals, gather wild vegetables, and weave bamboo mats and baskets,
while the men cut timber, build houses, and take extended hunting and
fishing trips. Often when a wild pig or deer is killed, its meat is
skewered on bamboo and distributed to neighbors and relatives. Nearly all Isneg households also harvest a small grove of coffee
trees since the main cash crop grown is coffee.
the KALINGA
Alternative/Associated Names: Linimos,
Limos; Limos-Liwan Kalinga
LOCATION: Kalinga Province
DIALECT: Kalinga, Limos
Inhabiting the drainage areas of the middle Chico River, the Kalingas are noted for their strong sense of tribal awareness
and the peace pacts they have made among themselves. They practice both wet
and dry rice farming and they have developed an institution of peace pacts
which has minimized traditional warfare and head hunting and serves as a
mechanism for the initiation, maintenance, renewal and re-enforcement of
kinship and social ties. The Kalinga are divided
into Southern and Northern groups; the latter is considered the most
heavily ornamented people of the northern Philippines.
The Kalinga society is very kinship
oriented and relatives are held responsible for avenging any injury to a
member. Disputes are usually settled by the regional leaders, who listen to
all sides and then impose fines on the guilty party. These are not formal
council meetings but carry a good deal of authority.
the KANKANA-EY
Alternative/Associated Names: Northern Kankana-ey; Sagada/Besao Igorot, Western Bontoc, Applai
LOCATION: Western Mountain Province,
Southeastern Ilocos Sur Province, Northern
Benguet
DIALECT: Northern Kankana-ey
The Kankana-ey’s domain
includes Western Mountain Province, Northern
Benguet and Southeastern
Ilocos Sur. Like
most Igorot ethnic groups, the Kankana-ey built sloping terraces to maximize farm
space in the rugged terrain of the Cordilleras. Two
famous institutions of the Kankana-ey of Mountain Province are
the dap-ay, the men’s dormitory and civic center, and the ebgan, the girl’s dormitory where courtship between
young men and women took place.
Kankana-ey’s major
dances include takik, a wedding dance and ballangbang.
References
1.
"PHILIPPINE ETHNIC MOTIFS Vol. 3" as part of the Okir project by the Product Development and Design Center of the
Philippines and
the Philippine National Museum)
2. UNREACHED
PEOPLES `81 -- David C. Cook Publishing Company
3. Cordillera Philippines
4. BIBAK NE Homepage
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