Igorot Culture, Belief and Religion

Belief and Religion

 Igorots believe in many spirits and one among them is the highest and most powerful
who made the sun, moon, and the stars.
 They believe that once a person dies, their spirits and other spirits in the sky world, also
known as IKADAYA-AN.
 The Igorots’ common term for supernatural beings is called KABUNYAN which denotes
divinity and power and the highest among all gods.
 Igorots also believe in spirits called ANITOS which emanate in the underworld – that live
in the ocean, rivers, lakes, springs, caves, rocks, ravines, bushy trees, shrubs, mountains
(NANTE-ES BILIG ) and in the ground.
Culture

 All household families are obliged to give donations called supon. The collection is spent
during the wake period. It helps in the solution of some personal or family problems
such as illness, misunderstanding, anxiety - the effect may be psychological in nature.
 They practice a thing called GIMONG which means self-help or practice of sharing and
lending cooperative labour.
 Cultural elements common to the Igorot peoples as a whole include metalworking in
iron and brass, weaving, and animal sacrifice.

Igorot Clothing

 Igorots are well known for their colourful, handwoven and traditional native costumes.
 Womens clothing is composed of, with or without lace trimming, top called a KAMBAL
and a skirt-like bottom called either DIVIT or TAPIS.
 Men's clothing is composed of a G-string like skirt called a WANNES
 Both sexes match their clothes with a headband called PANJET

Igorot Language

 Igorots speak their own languages and vary from Bontoc, Ibaloy, Kankanaey, Kalinga,
and many more.

Igorot Art

 One of the most notable art pieces of Igorots is the Bulul.

  Whang-od Oggay, the “last” and oldest tattoo artist called a “mambabatok (traditional
Kalinga tattooist)”

Igorot Dances
 Banga (Kalinga Tribe), Bendayan (Benguet Province), Manmanok (Bago Tribe),
Lumagen/Tachok (Kalinga Tribe), Turayen (Gaddang Tribe), Tarektek (Benguet Tribe),
Salidsid (Kalinga Tribe), Salip (Kalinga Tribe), Ragsaksakan (Kalinga Tribe), Uyauy/Uyaoy
(Ifugao Tribe)