UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MINDANAO

Itneg/Tingguian
tribe

Vinsyl Jake G. Acosta

 THE ITNEG / TINGUIANS

The Tinguians “the people of the mountains”

originally referred to all mountain dwelling people.
Nowadays, it particularly refers to a cultural
minority group living in the mountains of Abra and
named Itneg.

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Tadek

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 Short History
• Nueva Era is a quiet paradise sprawling at the foothills of the Cordilleras in
the southwestern part of Ilocos Norte, richly favored by nature with rolling
hills and picturesque mountains. Inhabited by Tingguians, Isnegs and
Ilocanos, they lived in scattered settlements, later called rancherias by the
Spaniards. There were eight rancherias – Bugayong, Cabittauran, Gamaden,
Padpador, Padsan, Paor-Patoc, Tibangran and Uguis, each rancheria
faithfully keeping its indigenous traditional beliefs and culture. In 1915, the
Ilocos Norte Provincial Board decided to create a town out of these
rancherias. The new community was named Nueva Era.
• It is a traditional custom of the communities to celebrate every important
event with songs and a special ceremonial dance called Tadek. Tadek is a
unique traditional dance performed by men and women to express their
jubilation over victory, courtship, marriage, thanksgiving and other
important events. It is danced to the rhythmic beat of gongs and drums
played by the community members in squatting position on the ground.
• The Tadek was later recreated as a form of thanksgiving to their patron
saint, Saint Gabriel. It became an annual celebration after the community
was Christianized. It symbolizes harmony uniting the people as one.

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 Significant events of the tribe
• Tadek is a traditional Tingguian dance performed in
gatherings of social and religious nature. It is also a
dance to express jubilation over victories,
courtships, marriages, thanksgivings, and other
important life milestones.

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 Attires
• When dancing tadek the elderly men usually
wearing g-string called ‘baag’ and the women
are wearing the skirts called ingay.

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 Musical Instruments
• Tadek is accompanied by musical instrument called ‘gangsa’. This
instrument is made from bronze and has a shape of circular. The
sound is produce by hitting it with a piece of wood that has the
size of more or less six inches. The sound of gangsa may differ to
each other because of the size of the instrument. Though most of
the occasion the gangsa is being used for tadek but there are
instance when other musical instrument are use like bamboo,
gong drums among others.
There is a belief that playing gangsa and dancing tadek will bring
the rain so the farmers can start their farming or shower the
plants
• Gongs
• Gangsa
• Drums
• Tambor
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 Basic Movements

• There are variations to the steps of tadek

depending on the occasions and rituals of the
tribes in the regions. Men dances tadek by
stomping their feet backward while female
dancers are mostly doing it forward on their
feet.

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Balliwes

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 Significant events of the tribe
- Balliwes is a Tingguian unity dance performed
in pairs.
• Courtship/Marriage
• Peace Agreement
• Thanksgiving

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 Attires
• When dancing tadek the elderly men usually
wearing g-string called ‘baag’ and the women
are wearing the skirts called ingay.

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 Musical Instruments
• Gongs
• Tambi

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 Basic Movement
1st Step
• Raise your foot alternately at the same height
• Arm sidewards fingers are close palm are facing
east and west
2nd step
• Move side to side while performing the step 1
3rd step
• Apply kumintang

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 References
•
https://www.icbe.eu/cordillera-rituals-as-a-
way-of-life/951-tingguian-abra-rituals
• https://www.icbe.eu/consultations/140-10th
-icbe-consultation/901-culture-of-the-tingg
uians

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