Culture and Practices: The Kalinga Ethos

There are so many cultures and practices that seem unusual in the province of Kalinga. Some ethos that the local tribes molded of what they are now. It still exists and difficult to break down the beliefs despite the changes in the modern world. The old practices had been preserved and continued to pass on from one generation to another.

Bain

It was interpreted as “feeling shame.” The act of showing respect to other people as a fellow human being. It has a similar meaning to the virtue espoused by the saying of Confucius: “Do not do unto others if you would not like others to do unto you.”

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Ngilin

It is strict adherence to taboos regarding social and economic activities. It also involves compliance with certain rituals to protect oneself and the members of the family from illness or harm. It dictates avoidance to what is offensive to “kabunyan” or Kalinga god to one’s own kind. “Mangngilin ka” means avoid doing evil is a common advice of the elders.

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Paniyaw

The Kalinga people believe in a god called “kabunyan” who is the creator of all things and the master of life and death. “Mampaniyao” is the restriction on oneself acts looked upon as degrading, immoral and punishable by the mighty “kabunyan.” The Klaingas strongly abhor wicked acts such as “Ba-ug” (the killing of a stranger in the village where he has been given food to eat or water to drink).

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Aawao

It is a very degrading and shameful actuation of a person. “Akaw” or theft leaves are more or less permanent stigma on the personality of the culprit and upon the repulsion of his family. A thief who stole animals such as pigs, carabaos or dogs will have bad luck and can never have it in the future. Most of the crops will never be of good quality.

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Sug-sug

This act is considered wicked, inciting a person against another when there is an existence of misunderstanding between two parties. It can be a situation whereby the clan against another with trivial differences.

Dagdagas

It pertains to the relationship between a man and woman without the intention of getting married. It sounds like happening in the modern society. However, this is not considered evil and dishonorable within the context of Kalinga society. It doesn’t apply to a married man and woman. The punishment is the frequent death of one’s children.

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Apos

It can be termed as envy in the English language. Being maliciously envious on the other people such as cursing them evil to have failures in prosperity. In short, they are cursing a person not to prosper whatever ventures he or she wanted to try.

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Chatum

The old practice had been lost in the modern society. “Chatum” is a festivity by which a young warrior accepted to be brave after participating in a bloody man-to-man combat.

Pattong

The “pattong” consists of six or more men beating the “gangsa” or gongs in unison to produce rhythmic sound and dance in a semi-circular formation. The young and old females dance freely in front of the men while beating the gongs. The beating of the gong refers to “pattong” and the act of dancing refers to “tadok.”

Tupayya

“Tupayya” is a wedding festival. Six or more men are kneeling down with the gongs suspended upon their laps. With the open palm of both hands, they beat the gongs in unison to produce peculiar rhythmic sounds. By the usage of “allap”, a piece of brightly colored cloth; a pair of female and male were designated to dance and act of picking the dancers are called “mangallap.”

Salidummay, Dan-dannag or Sus-suray

These are songs composed extemporaneously with melodies differ from one tribe to another. It expresses jubilation and a way of communication by young and old local tribes.