HISTORY AND ORIGIN (IBALOI TRIBE)

In Ibaloi mythology, this group’s origin is traced back to a couple in Mt. Pulog
who survived the great flood that Kabunian sent to punish the wicked people. This
couple bore many children who intermarried, multiplied and descended to the fertile
valleys of Benguet, including Tinek, to become the ancestors of the present-day Ibalois.

The Ibaloy are an ethnic group indigenous to Baguio and the surrounding
environs, which include the majority of Benguet, the Pangasinan mountains, La Union,
and Nueva Vizcaya. The Ibaloy coexist with the Kankanaey and, to a lesser extent, the
Kalanguya in this area.
"Ibaloy" is formed from the prefix i which denotes an ethnic group or people, and
baloy, which translates as "house," and thus refers to "those who dwell in houses." In
the Ibaloy language, i denotes origin or location, while baloy refers to a specific location
within the area.
Thus, the word also refers to "people from Baloy." Ibaloi, Inibaloy, Inibaloi, and
Nabaloi are variants. In Ilocano, "Ibaloy" also means "the language of outsiders"; thus,
Inibaloy is the "language spoken by the Igorot" from the Ilocano perspective. However,
the Ibaloy language incorporates aspects of Ilocano and Pangasinan.
The Ibaloy people are strong, robust, and often fair-skinned. There is no
evidence in the traditions or historical records that these people were descended from
Limahong's invading armies, as some researchers hypothesize. The Ibaloy population
was estimated to be 15,000 in 1908.

BELIEFS/CUSTOMS/PRACTICES

To some extent, rice terracing is practiced in the lower reaches of the drainange
systems. Sweet potato and taro are planted dry in areas that cannot be irrigated. The
terracing technology is at present applied to middle latitude vegetable growing. Rice is
the principal and ritual food. Animal husbandry is practiced, although meat is
traditionally limited to ritual consumption.The group has a long history of gold and
copper mining.

The traditional Ibaloi religion centered on ancestor worship. Traditional feast Ibaloi have
their traditional feast, certain noted traditional feast and rituals such as the kosdey a rite
for the fertility of the soil that is observed when the rice blooms in the field. This rituals is
done when moon rises in the month of May.

Other feast such as the tehungas, a purification rite with a ceremony held to avenge the
ghost of the enemies who killed their people in the past, signifies the purification of
those whom they have avenged.
 One of the major feasts of the Ibaloi is the pesshet. It is a public feast mainly sponsored
by people of prestige and wealth. It lasts for weeks and involved the butchering and
sacrifice of the dozens of animals.

Dance Bendiyan Dance- is one of the popular dances of the ibaloi which is participated
by hundreds of males and females. Belief Kanyao is simply “festival” or ceremony or
liturgy or service or rite/ritual, of offering.

It is a generic term. “Witchcraft” would be too limited to off the mark describe it. A
kanyao” may be performed for thanksgiving for the health of the community, there could
be a kanyao (petionary/intercessory) for bountiful harvest; a family kanyao maybe
performed for healing such as a very simple ritual of “seedy” with the use of water and
prayer; a “grand kanyao” has the focus of entertainment, cultural shows and festivities

An Ibaloi wedding celebration is held at the bride’s house.

Kosdey -A rite for the fertility of the soil that is observed when the rice blooms in the
field.

Tehungas -A purification rite with a ceremony held to avenge the ghost of the enemies
who killed their people in the past, signifies the purification of those whom they have
avenged.

Pesshet -It is a public feast mainly sponsored by people of prestige and wealth. It lasts
for weeks and involved the butchering and sacrifice of the dozens of animals. Bendiyan
Dance -Is one of the popular dances of the ibaloi which is participated by hundreds of
males and females.

Kanyao -May be performed for thanksgiving for the health of the community, there could
be a kanyao (petionary/intercessory) for bountiful harvest.

Kaising -Is an arranged marriage. Engagement happens between the parents of the
couple. The marriage is arranged as early during the childhood days of the couple.

Kalon -A marriage that has a “mediator” or someone that arranges the marriage. Ngilin
or arol -Is the wedding ceremony that last for eight days at least.

Arts crafts

WEAPONS

This hinalung type blade came mounted as a spear point on a pole. The double edged
leaf shaped blade has an integral socket formed essentially from a wide tang wrapped
around to form a flattened cylinder. A few bands of woven rattan cover either end of the
socket/handle. The diamond shaped hollow seen at the base of the blade is continuous
with the socket. 20th century. Overall length, blade and socket: 34.2 cm. (13.5 inches);
blade length: 35.5 cm. (13.9 inches).
TATTOO Ibaloi – (Southern Benguet) tattooing is usually rare among the menfolk and in
few men, the tattoos differed according to individual whims and no common or
identifying pattern would be determined. The women, on the other hand, adorn their
arms from elbow down to their arms from above the elbow down to their knuckles with
elaborate and extensive designs (criss-cross, horizontal, vertical and curved elements).
HOUSES, generally scattered in fields or on hillsides, are raised about two meters on
posts and covered with a pyramidal thatched roof. Subsistence is based on wet rice,
tubers, beans, and maize, supplemented occasionally with the meat of pigs, dogs,
chickens, water buffalo, horses, and cattle. Descent is bilateral. There is marked
differentiation between the rich and the poor, with a considerable concentration of
power and influence in the hands of the former.

CLOTHES. In olden times, both men and women used bark cloth to cover their private
parts and, until the Spanish colonial period, wore batek (tattoos). The ink used is made
of pig’s bile and biyog (soot). The favorite design was the lizard figure, the Ibaloy
symbol for the anito (ancestral spirit). Originally meant to identify one’s tribal origins,
tattoos now have a purely ornamental purpose.

NECKLACE. The akon includes complex necklaces adorned with coins from the
Spanish and early American periods, tabing (earrings), karing (bracelets), bideng or
anas (beads), and shekang or chakang (mouthpiece), which is made either of gold or
copper hammered into shape to fit the teeth. The ling-ling-o is a gold, silver, or copper
ornament that is formed like an almost closed C and worn as a pendant on a necklace
or an earring. An Ibaloy variant has been found which depicts a pair of human figures
facing each other in a seated position, with their knees bent up and their hands on their
knees.

BASKET. Basket weaving is done by the men. The women’s favorite basket is the
kayabang, (see logo of this article). Made of closely woven bamboo or rattan strips, it is
conical. Its base consists of four sticks tied together with rattan. The epid or rope or
finely woven band is inserted into holes near the opening so that it can be strapped
against the forehead and the basket can be suspended at the back. The men’s bamboo
or rattan basket is the pasiking, which is trapezoidal and has a lid. The finely woven
strap is slung around the shoulders so that the basket is worn like a knapsack.
WOOD CARVING. Ibaloy wood carving is utilitarian, hence plain and simple. The
palting is a wooden pouch with an elliptical base and smoothly curving sides. It is slung
over the shoulder with a braided fibrous material. The top of the cover is curved
downward so that it fits snugly under the armpit. The plainness of the pouch is broken
by a simple border design carved on the rim of the cover.

IMPOTANCE
The Ibaloi inhabit the southeastern part of Benguet Province. The area is rich in
mineral resources like copper, gold, pyrite, and limestone. Plants and animals are also
abundant in the forests and mountain areas, and there is an extensive water system
that includes the Bued River, Agno River, and Amburayan River. Mount Pulag, the third
highest mountain of the Philippines, is found in their territory and is a culturally important
area as well, considered the place where spirits join their ancestors.

REFERENCE:
https://www.yodisphere.com/2022/04/Ibaloy-Ibaloi-Tribe.html?
fbclid=IwAR2SOfNASkCduVTx5SMlNbQ1UHZbGnIkQydo_7MWlwod1ZdrSFjhF4u7ndQ
(PAKIBAWASAN NALANG KUNG MASYADO MADAMI, THANKS)