GEE 006
PHILIPPINE INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES
LESSON 4
MRS. GINA S. GILI
IBALOY
 Occupy the Southeast of Benguet (municipalities of
Kabayan, Bokod, Tuba, Itogon, Tublay, La Trinidad,
Sablan, and Atok)
 They speak Nabaloy – linguistic sound nearer to the
Pangasinanse
 They are peaceful, hardworking and hospitable
tribesmen.
 Generally fair complexion and have well-developed
bodies, usually standing 4 – 5 feet above in height.
They have medium and narrow noses and some have
broad flat noses. They have deep-seated brown and
black eyes. Most of the women have straight and long
hair although some have curly hair.
 They are predominantly farmers.
 Rice is the main crop of Kabayan and other Ibaloy
munipalities where irrigation waters from rivers and
streams to the rice fields through constructed canals
allow two croppings a year.
 They also raise livestock.
 They may also be gold panners (panejew)
IBANAG
 Also known as Ybanag, Ybanak or Ibanak
 Are concentrated in the provinces of Cagayan, Nueva
Viscaya, and Isabela and are among the minority of
people that live along the banks of the Cagayan
River.
 They are the most assimilable and adaptable among
groups of the Filipino people.
 They are agricultural and clanish people.
 They are reputed to be the tallest of all the ethno-
linguistic in the Philippines and are often distinguish
themselves by the color of their elbows.
 Marriage customs are made simple by shouldering all
the expenses by both parties.
 Umune-ca (dowry) and maginterga are still part of the
traditions.
 Couples without children are deemed unlucky and are
believed to be punished because they place a great
value on children.
 Lutung – a wooden container from a bark of a tree
wherein a small piece is taken from it, pulverized,
burned and mixed with coffee and will be served to an
expectant woman on a full moon with chanting of
prayers.
 The Ibanags still practice their traditions and customs
especially in the far-flung barrios.
 Other are already educated and blended with the
cultural majority.
IFUGAO
 Inhabit the rugged terrain of the extensive Cordillera
Mountain ranges of Central Northern Luzon.
 They called themselves “i-pugao” or inhabitants of the
known earth.
 Burnay and Banaue are the two known dialects.
 Agricultural terracing is their principal means of
livelihood along with farming.
 Hingot is the bethrothal ritual which announces the
union of two families marriage among the Ifugaos.
 Amung is a sacrificial ritual wherein the gods and the
family’s ancestors are asked to make a body healthy,
the mother well and strong and the family wealthy.
 Ketema is a ritual intended to identify the spirit who
caused a certain sickness.
 Ayag is a ritual performed to identify the evil spirits
who caused an illness.
 Kolot is a ritual for the first cutting of the child’s hair.
 Hudhud (narrative literature) - epic dealing with hero
ancestors sung in a poetic manner.
 Bulul also known as bul-ul or tinagtaggu, is a carved
wooden figure used to guard the rice crop by the
Ifugao
 Hagabi are traditionally large ceremonial benches
carved for wealthy Ifugao families as a symbol of
wealth, power and prestige.
 Houses were well-built, characterized by as a square
with wooden floors, windowless walls, and pyramidal
thatch roofs. Elevated from the ground by four sturdy
tree trunks, they feature removable staircases that
were hoisted up at night to prevent entry by enemies
and/or wild animals.
 wanno or g-string for men; there are six types of
wanno which are used depending on the occasion or
the man's social status.
 Ifugao women, on the contrary, wear tapis, a
wraparound skirt; there are five kinds of skirts worn,
depending on the occasion and/or status of the
woman.  
IKALAHAN
 The term Ikalahan is derived from the world Kalahan
which refers to the type of forest trees growing in the
area. Prefix I denotes residents.
 They are short people, fair complexioned, black round
eyes and black straight and silky hair. Noses are fairly
developed. They are shy and they live in far flung
areas, unreached by any type of transportation.
 Ikalahan economy is basically agricultural. Swidden
gardens is the primary source of agriculture.
 Raising pigs and chickens is an important part of
Ikalahan economy.
 Handicrafts such as making brooms, baskets and
backpacks are seasonal industries in Ikalahan
homes.
 Gongs, Gangsa, guitar or galdang, pakgong, and ko-
lin (low harp) are the musical instruments.
 Nangkaama- or the elders are the person in authority.
 Tongtongan is the highest arbitration body in the
Ikalahan society. It is composed of the elders acting
as judges and counselors at the same time.