Ifugao

Festivals
and
Dances
 F E S T I VA L S

Municipality Annual Festival

Hingyon Gotad ad Hingyon- was organized on April 1994. It aimed to
strengthen camaraderie among community members and to preserve
cultural identity through ethnic sports and cultural events. It is
celebrated with cultural parades, songs, dances, and ethno-modern
games. An agro-industrial fair showcasing a wide variety of Ifugao
handicrafts has become a part of the celebration.

Kiangan Gotad ad Kiangan-in 1996, the gotad was integrated into the
activities of Kiangans town fiesta held annually on the first day of may.
This evolved into four-day festival featuring gottadan (ethnic parade),
chanting, tayo, rice wine drinking and public lunch

Mayoyao Igkhumtad ad majawjaw- held 3rd week of of April. it features

ethnic and modern-day sports, street dancing and agro-industrial fair.
the even is loosely based on a mythical tale of Aliguyon.
2
 F E S T I VA L S

Municipality Annual Festival

Aguinaldo Igkhumtad ad Aguinaldo- celebrates a town fiesta called igkhumtad
to commemorate Aliguyons extra-ordinary strenght and skills in
ethnic games. at the 2nd week of april, community members of this
ayangan town enjoy a whole week of ethnic of ethno-modern games,
songs, dances, and cultural performances

Lagawe Kulpi ad Lagawe- celebrates last week of of April. Highlight of the

festival are ethnic-inspired street dancing, float cintest, indigenous
games, ethnic chants dances.
Lamut Rambakan- a contemporay ilokano term for a place where sporting
events are held amidst a festive atmosphere. it showcase ethnic
games and cultural shows from different ethnic group.

3
 F E S T I VA L S

Municipalit Annual Festival

y
Asipulo Kulpi ad Asipulo- traditionally, this is performed during rice planting
in an agricultural area is completed. The native priests or mumbaki
conduct the ritual invoking the souls of dead ancestors, calling upon the
gods and dieties to accept the sacrificial offerings and bless the growing
plants for a good harvest.

Banaue Imbayah Festival and Urpih ad Banaue

Imbayah- prestige rite performed by the elite of Banaue to announce
their ascendancy to the village aristocracy.
Urpih- thanksgiving festival to celebrate the rice planting in the rice
fields.
Hungduan Tungo ad Hungduan- this is to revive the practice of tungoh.
In olden days, tungoh was a non-working holiday for rice-farming
villages. 4
 F E S T I VA L S

Municipality Annual Festival

Alfonso Ammung ad Alfonso Lista- it features ethnic games and
Lista performing arts from the different ethnic groups
Tinoc Keleng- a prestige rite to mark the villagers entry to the village elite.
It involves a lot of merrymaking, wine drinking and feasting on meat
and sweet potatoes amidst dancing and singing.

Gotad ad Ifugao- a week long province wide festival as a culminating

celebration of all the municipal festivals. Main activities includes the
ethnic parade, traditional sports, Hudhud Chanting, ethnic dances and
songs, gong beating, wine making.

5
6
 Costumes, Accessories and Gongs
-

Different kinds of Pongot (Head Dress)

7
 Costumes, Accessories and Gongs
-

Butong/Pfotong Ginutto/Abfibfi

8
 Costumes, Accessories and Gongs
-

Different design of Wanoh (G-string)

9
 Costumes, Accessories and Gongs
-

Bayyaong Kalanguyas Blanket (Gatap)

10
 Costumes, Accessories and Gongs
-

Different Designs of Attake/Banggol

11
 Costumes, Accessories and Gongs
-

Different kinds and designs of Ampuyo/Tolge

12
 Costumes, Accessories and Gongs
-

Different Designs of Blouse

13
 Costumes, Accessories and Gongs
-

Balko Gangha

14
 Dances

Every locality has its own local dances that depict its
culture. These local da could either be ceremonial or
festival depending on the occasion. Ifugao dance is
compose of many kinds but all pertains to native dances.
Different tribes perform different dances like Dinuy-a for
the Tuwali tribe, Futageh for the Ayangan,
Pagaddut/Tobab for Tuwali wedding dance, and
Tayaw/Tayew for the Kalanguya. Each dance has its
own origin and symbolic significance expressed y
language, especially in the feet and hands formations and
the costumes worn.

15
DINUY-A
- is either performed as a ritual or a festival dance depending on the occasion.
It is performed in the different places in Kiangan, Lagawe, Hingyon, Banaue, and
Hungduan although they have different versions. There are three or five gong
beaters and one lead gong. There could be more performers in the dancing area but
for the sake of a good performance, a maximum of 8 pairs is needed.

FUTAGEH
- is widely danced among the Ayangan people who inhabit the north-estern
region of Ifugao province. The Futageh dance symbolizes the social equality of men
and women among Ayangans. It recognizes the important role of the women to the
success of the men’s affairs. This dance originated as a victory dance during the
holding of the Cheta’ or challong ritual to celebrate a successful head hunting
expedition in the olden time.

16
PA G A D D U T / T O B A B
- is a wedding dance which originated in Kiangan. It has a lead dancer called Tobab. The
gong drummer is called Mambab or Inumtubab. He drums the tobab with his open palms or
with one open palm and a closed fist. The Munhibat or beaters follow one after the other in
rhythmic sequence. In ceremonial dance, there should be atleast three gongs used for beaters
and a maximum of six would be ideal.
- becomes ceremonial when it is danced during an Uya-uy (wedding of the Kadangyan or
rich people).

T A Y AW / T A Y E W
- it is a lively dance of the Kalanguya people which is commonly performed during
festivals like keleng. It is a nature based dance from a big bird called Tuldo. The tayaw is
composed of nine participants with their costumes. In the dance, the blankets worn by the
dancers represent the birds’ wings. The man closes and spreads openly his arms depicting a
flying bird. He also depicts the characters of the Kalanguya man who is freed, brave, hones,
kind, and truthful. The female depicts the character of the Kalanguya woman who is timid,
resrved, modest, kind and understanding. These characteristics of the dance express her manner.

17
 Educational Implications

This is very important aspect in education that learners should know and
understand the social-cultural significance of the Ifugao dances.
-This one powerful means of communication of human beings.
-It is one of the most expressive human languages articulated in the
movements of the body parts.
-The native dance is a very essential parts in social occasions. It lends
joyful, cheerful and festive atmosphere of an occasion. The sound of gong
beats and other musical ensembles signify and elucidate the mood for
celebration.
-Learners may have sufficient knowledge and appreciation of the
different cultures of ifugao.

18