TRADITIONAL

CULTURES OF
THE
CORDILLERANS
TRADITIONAL
CULTURES OF
ABRA

Judy an Dayag - Reporter

Abra weaving
Their traditional fabric
called “piningitan” or
“bankudo” is a heritage
craft, an intricate
weaving style that takes
months to finish.
PINILIAN or BROCADE WEAVE

Pinilian or brocade weave is

a grid style weaving pattern
which uses sticks inserted on
selected warp threads to
create designs that appear
floating on the threads or
fabrics.
BINAKAEL
It is characterized by
an interlocked
geometric pattern of
squares and
rectangles.
THE BAMBOO SPLIT
WEAVERS

 The Tingguians, also

called Isneg, are engaged
in various crafts.

 The most important of

which is bamboo crafts
production.

 It is for this reason that

Abra is aggressively
positioning itself as the
“Bamboo Capital of the
Philippines”.
THE NATURAL DYE
MAKERS
 Norma Agaid, a
Tingguian elder and the
sister of the ‘Father of
Philippine Natural Dyes’
Luis Agaid, explained
which plants yield what
kinds of colours:
The malatayum plant produces the Brewing narra barks in this earthenware
produces the colour brown sap.
colour indigo.
Mahogany for red. Jackfruit and Ginger for Yellow.
DAPIL FESTIVAL
  Basi or Wine Vinegar
 Dapil is derived from
the word “Panagdapil”,
the traditional method
of extracting juice
from sugarcane.
 Molasses Muscovado

 Sugarcane is one of
Abra’s main
agricultural
products. 
KAWAYAN
FESTIVAL
Kawayan festival means
Bamboo Festival.
It is the fiesta celebration of
the provincial government of
Abra.
Abrenians tagged their fiesta
as Kawayan Festival because
of abundancy of bamboo’s in
their region.
ARYA ABRA FESTIVAL
 Arya Abra Festival is a celebration of the province of
Abra’s individuality.

 The cultural festival “Arya Abra” has become a

traditional yearly festival which is aimed not only for
outsiders but also the natives of Abra.

 The Arya Abra festivity is a week-long great exercise,

not just for attracting tourists but also to enlighten all
Abreños to take pride in the heritage and rich culture of
their province.
TINGGUIAN FESTIVAL
Tingguian Festival features rich and colorful dances, rituals and
songs of the Tingguian tribe.
MARRIAGE
 The Itnegs’ marriage are arranged by the parents and are
usually between distant relatives in order to keep the family
close-knit and the family wealth within the kinship group.
 The parents select a bride for their son when he is six to eight
years old, and the proposal is done to the parents of the girl.
 If accepted, the engagement is sealed by tying beads around
the girl's waist as a sign of engagement.
 A bride price (pakalon) is also paid to the bride's family, with
an initial payment and the rest during the actual wedding.
 No celebration accompanies the Itneg wedding and the guests
leave right after the ceremony.
CLOTHING
 The women dress in a wrap-around skirt (tapis) that reaches
to the knees and fastened by an elaborately decorated belt.
They also wear short sleeved jacket on special occasions.
 The men, on the other hand, wear a G-string (ba-al) made
of woven cloth (balibas). On special occasions, the men
also wear a long-sleeved jacket (bado). They also wear a
belt where they fasten their knife and a bamboo hat with a
low, dome-shaped top.
 Beads are the primary adornment of the Tingguians and a
sign of wealth.
 HOUSING
 The Tingguians have two
general types of housing.

 The first is a 2–3 room-dwelling

surrounded by a porch and the other
is a one-room house with a porch in
front. 

  Their houses are usually made of 

bamboo and cogon. 

 A common feature of a Tingguian

home with wooden floors is a corner
with bamboo slats as flooring where
mothers usually give birth.
TATTOOS
 Among the Itneg people,
tattoos are known as burik.
 Tattooing is commonly
practiced by both men and
women, who were among
the most profusely tattooed
ethnic groups of the
Philippines. 
 Burik traditions are extinct
today.
CUISINE
 Rice is extensively grown by the Itneg.
 There are two types of practices for rice cultivation namely wet-rice
cultivation and swidden/kaingin.
 Corn is also planted as a major subsistence and as a replacement for
rice.
 Other products consumed are camote, yams, coconut, mango,
banana and vegetables.
 Sugarcane is planted to make wine usually consumed during
traditional rituals and ceremonies.
 Pigs and chickens are consumed for food or for religious rituals
while carabaos are killed during large celebrations.
 Hunting wild animals and fishing is also prevalent.

 Eel and other freshwater fish such as paleleng and ladgo (lobster)
are caught to make viands for most families.
WEAPONS
 The Tingguians use weapons for hunting, headhunting,
and building a house, among others.
 Some examples of their weapons and implements are the
lance or spear (pika), shield (kalasag), head axe (aliwa).
 Foremost among all these weapons and implements is
the bolo which the Tangguians are rarely seen without.
TRADITIONAL CULTURES OF
MOUNTAIN PROVINCE

JUNALYN GANIMA - Reporter

BATANGAN SYSYTEM
itis an indigenous tradition
of forest management.
THREE TYPES OF BATANGAN
 Komon di omili
 Saguday di dap-ay

 Saguday di pangapo

 recognized by the Department of

Environment and Natural as a
sustainable Traditional
Indigenous forest resources
Management system and
practices program
 -recognized for its sustainability,
fairness and longevity
2. DAP-AY AND EGBAN
SYSTEM

 dap-ay served as sleeping quarters for male adolescent

and elders while the egban was for the female adolescent
and elders.

  the quarters are divided into two section: the outer open
structure and the enclosed sleeping area.
SLEEPING AREA

outer part
 the outer part had seats made of rocks
formimg a circle and fire pit at the center.
 -the sleeping area is made of wood
 -dap-ay and egban also function as a center of
learning and socialization.
 -served as an institution for community affairs
 - also the head quarters of the village warriors.
3. NGILIN, PODONG (THE IGOROT INDIGENOUS
LOCKDOWN OR COMMUNITY QUARANTINE)
 it is observed during a
community mourning or
after a community tragedy
for the community to
cleanse, heal and recover,
spiritually and emotionally.  
 -to signal a ngilin,
PUDONG’S are
conspicuously place at every
entrance of the village.
4. INNAYAN SYSTEM
Innayan System
  is a lexicon in the
kankanaey language, which
is spoken mainly by the
kankanaey ethnology
inhanitating the western part
of the mountain province.
 - the fear of a supreme deity
called kabunian (god)- who
forewarns or dissuades one
from doing anything
harmful to others.
Sagada and besao kankanaey
tribes
 inayan embodies all virtues and
morals of tribal members.
 “inayan, the Tenet for the Peace”
by Rhonda Vail G. Leyaley
 -the peace loving igorot
 -poeple are influence by their
belief that they they are
answerable to kabunyan in
whatever they do towards others.
 -they strongly believed that it is
only when everyone is in harmony
with man and nature that kabunyan
will bring blessings to their life.
THE USE OF INAYAN STUDIED BY
LEYALEY
 It is Inayan to commit adultery because whatever actions you have done,
might also happen to the children or the grandchildren might be the ones who
will suffer the consequences of the act. 
 It is Inayan not to help other people because we always need others. Most
especially, you must know how to help your neighbour because they will be
the first people to help you in times of need. 
 It is Inayan if we don’t listen to the advices of parents and elders because they
know what is best for their children. 
 It is Inayan to curse because your curse might happen to the family instead. 

 It is Inayan to say bad words against your parents most especially when they
are already old and they have unpredictable behaviours because you might be
worse than them when you will be of their age in the future. Another thing,
according to one of the respondents, we are just counting the minutes, hours
and days before they will be taken by our maker. 
 It is Inayan to look down on others. You should always think of what might
happen in the future. Like what if the children of both sides will get married. 
 It is Inayan for couples to fight in front of their children. The children might
not show respect towards the parents. 
5. LANG-AY FESTIVAL
 the  foremomost festival of Mountain Province,
celebrated annually in Bontoc, the capital town.
 -has the largest festival on the said province, showcasing
the best of the their cultural heritage.
 -lang-ay festival serve as a unifying occasion,
strengthening peace and harmony among them.
 -it is celebrated every first week of April, featuring street
dancing, native chants and songs, traditional culinary
specialties and many more.
Cultural Floats Traditional Booths

 Every municipality  Proceed to the Bontoc Plaza and

showcases parade floats
made of indigenous
materials. Most floats
represent replicas of
native houses. A
distinguishable float
comes from Barlig in the
form of the Philippine
Eagle.
here, you’ll find booths made of
indigenous materials such as
cogon grass, bamboo, and
wooden poles. Every
municipality features a unique
design and showcases their
primary products or agricultural
produce. Among the common
products displayed are heirloom
rice, soft brooms, traditional
textiles, native snacks and
delicacies, wines, beads, and
many more.
Street Dancing Competition
 This is one of the
highlights of the Lang-ay
Festival, wherein, cultural
groups from the different
municipalities showcase
their performances on the
street. Each performance
usually features a folk
story unique to the place.
Native Chanting/Singing
 The different tribes of Mt.
Province were able to
preserve much of their
traditional songs and
chants. These are
portrayed during
competitions as part of
the Lang-ay Festival.
 Choral Competition Native Culinary Displays

 Experience indigenous
 Oh yes, the people of
snacks such as Patopat,
Mountain Province are
Linapet, Tinudok, and
also talented singers.
many more. Don’t forget
Hear them during the
to complement these with
choral competition while
traditional wines made of
in full indigenous attire.
locally-available
ingredients such as
bugnay.
INDIGENOUS
ARTWORKS
 The people of Mt. Province are skilled artisans and
craftsmen.

Traditional Attires and Ornaments

6. BEGNAS
 is a community rite in Mountain Province with series of
rituals performed in accordance with certain indigenous
beliefs anchored on the existence of the Almighty
generally referred as Kabunyan.
 - begnas is performed among the Applai in the Mountain
Province and termed Fhegnas in Sadanga  as part of
socioeconomic way of life.
 -a community feast that two or three (2-3) days
following certain procedures.  
 -is viewed as playing of gongs, dancing and chanting,
sharing of food and wine.
The performances of Begnas are for certain purposes
such as: 
 (1) Spiritual healing of an individual who is mentally
imbalanced. Through the Begnas, the bad spirits are
exorcized or cast away;  
 (2) Community cleansing from any community dilemma
or catastrophe; and 
 (3) Thanksgiving for a bountiful harvest. 
 TRADITIONAL
CULTURE OF
IFUGAO

Grail Taysan - Reporter

 Ifugao culture values
kinship, family ties,
religious and cultural
beliefs. Ifugao are unique
among all ethnic groups
in Mountain province for
their narrative literature
such as the hudhud, an
epic dealing with hero
ancestors sung in a poetic
manner.
WOODCARVING ART
 Rice granaries (alang) are
protected by a wooden
guardian called a
BULUL.
 The bulul sculptures are
highly stylized
representations of the
ancestors of the Ifugao
and are through to gain
power and wealth from
presence of the ancestral
spirit.
TATTOOS
 One of their tradition,
because it symbolize the
bravery and reputation of
their society.
CLOTHING
 Women wear a
wraparound skirt
(ampuyo, also known as
tapis)
Men wear a loincloth (wanoh)
RICE WINE
 Ifugao's traditional
ptoducts
 It is the best known in
Ifugao and is widely used
during ceremonial
occassions like wedding
and dyring harvest time.
MOMA OR BETEL NUT
 Considered as a common
practice in the Northern
part of the Philippines
and oart of Southeast
Asian tradition and
culture.
 A tradition of chewing
moma is chewed not only
the elders but also by
youngers people.
PROVINCE OF
BENGUET

Jessa Tellio - Reporter

CLOTHING
 “BAHAG”
/LOINCLOTH-
Worn by the
tribesmen.
 “TAPIS” – Worn
by the women.
ARTIFACTS
“GANGSA”- Percussion instrument used
in the Cordillera region during
gatherings, celebrations, and even rituals.
“WATWAT” – Slices of boiled meat that you receive
when you visit a neighbor/relatives canao.
“SHOYO(IBALOI) /DOYO(KANKANA-EY) –
Small wooden bowls
 DIALECTS
-The Indigenous People of Buguias are
Kankana-ey speaking. However, some
parts of Benguet speak KALANGUYA
and IBALOI. Though, some speak the
three dialects known as “MANDEC-
EY”.
 BELIEFS
-Above all the gods/goddesses, there is the
KABUNYAN, the most high.

-Spirit and supernatural beings exist who are

responsible for bestowing blessings and bounties
when they are pleased and honored, as well as
inflicting pain and suffering when they are
displeased and not heeded.
 TYPES OF CANAOS:
-SANGBO- A canao performed to become rich
-PESHET - an offering of thanksgiving to Kabunian
who gave them the material blessings that they enjoy.
-PALIS- A canao to bring back the spirit of a sick
person taken by the tinmongao.
-PASANG- A canao to pray for a couple to have
children.
 LAWS
-A COUPLE WHO WISH TO DIVORCE
DUE TO INFERTILITY OF EITHER
ONE OF THE PARTNERS IS
ALLOWED BY THE LAW.

-A HUSBAND WHO DIVORCES A

WIFE WITHOUT ANY VALID
REASON WILL HAVE TO LEAVE ALL
PROPERTIES TO THE CHILDREN
AND THE WIFE.
MORES
 FUNERAL
-BENGUETS – Blindfold the dead and then sit it on a
chair placed next to a house’s main entrance.
- The arms and legs are tied together in the
sitting position.

-BANGIL RITE – is performed by the elders on the

eve of funeral.
- during interment, the departed is
directed toward heaven by hitting bamboo sticks
together.
 MARRIAGE
-KAISING – Parental arrangements
- perform “SECYAB” where two
pigs, a male and a female were butchered.
 TABOOS
-Taboos for the natives to display image in their
homes for purposes of worship, except for the
love of art.

-Celebrating a thanksgiving, for instance, when

a neighbor is mourning.