Kankanay Ceremonies (American Archaeology and Ethnology)

Part 2

Chapter 23,679 wordsPublic domain

Buyon, Sabat, Anap For divining cause of sickness and its Bakno cure by standing stick or egg on end, by swinging stone, or by looking into liquid mirror. Manoni Manman Divining future by looking at gall of chicken. Bindayan Bindian Originally a head-taking celebration. Now given to cure or prevent sickness, or in compliance with a promise made while sick. Pachit Mandit Originally a peace celebration. Now given to cure or prevent sickness, to obtain long life and good luck, and to enhance the prestige of the giver. Chawak Dawak A pachit or mandit on a small scale, and given for the same purpose. Bayog Basit dawak A very small chawak or dawak. (The prayer in mandit is called bayog.) Batbat Batbat Against sickness. Saad Saad A small batbat. Kapi Kapi To prevent sickness of which one has been warned in dreams. Amdag Amlag To secure release of the soul when it has been imprisoned by the amlag. Tawal Lawit To induce a soul which has wandered away to return. Tingiting Tingiting To cause return of souls which have flown away with the fire and smoke of a burning dwelling house. Palis Palis Against witches. Sagausau Palis To cause harm to befall an enemy or to avert harm from the giver. Buang Buang Against deafness. Nansaang Mayilutlutkan Against headache. Palis chi Palis di Against toothache. Also against headache kabunian kabunian by the Nabaloi. Dosad, Sigop Mantuis bilig, Against diseases of the lungs or chest. Bilong, Mayodosan, Manbating Kolos Liblibian Against diarrhoea or pains in the abdomen or stomach. Basil Ampasit Against sexually caused diseases. Sabosab, Diau Dayau To cure sores. (Nabaloi ceremonies also Chuntog, celebrated after a quarrel so that Diau Kasib sores will not result.) Tamo Tamo Against insanity. Pasang Pasang Against sterility. Abasang Abasang At the birth of children. Sibisib Sibisib To cure wounds. Kaysing Gaysing Betrothal ceremony given by parents. Kalon Galon Betrothal ceremony given by betrothed. Mangidin Mangilin Marriage ceremony. Pansijanan Mansiyanun Divorce ceremony. Siling Siling Funeral ceremony. Okat Pugas Ceremony held immediately after a corpse has been put into the coffin or buried. Tabwak Kiad To induce the soul of a person who has recently died to go away and not cause sickness. Kosday Kosde To cause agricultural products to grow. Tawal ni payu Bugid To increase water for irrigation. (Tawal ni payu also against sickness caused by spirits living in rice fields.) Pungau Pungau To cause the rice to increase when harvested. Bakak Bugak To prevent sickness caused by eating new rice. Salchi Saldi To prevent sickness caused by eating animals which have fallen or died of disease. Kiad Against sickness caused by mountain spirits called kakaising. Ampasit Against sickness caused by timber spirits called ampasit. Pasang ni Against sickness caused by air spirits Mansakit called pasang. Timungau Against sickness caused by water spirits called timungau. Gangau To cure rheumatism. Padad To foresee and avert death. Bilig Against sickness caused by spirits of the same name. Dagas Against sickness caused by house spirits called dagas. Laglagiwin Against sickness caused by a guardian spirit. Tanong Against sickness caused by the souls of ancestors. Sagausau For luck before starting on a journey.

LEPANTO KANKANAY CEREMONIES [6]

A. Generally distributed through northern and central Lepanto:

Begnas or pakde, for the general welfare; made two or three times a year, before or after the planting and the harvesting of rice. Similar to the Ifugao honga, the Benguet Kankanay kosde, and the Nabaloi kosday.

Bayas, made by the rich to emphasize their station; also against sickness. Made after marriage "every four or five years," or, "three times during one's lifetime." Similar to the Ifugao bumaiyah, the Benguet Kankanay mandit, and the Nabaloi pachit.

Bakid, variously described as "for the dead," "against ditches going dry," and "part of other caƱaos." Similar to the Benguet Kankanay bugid; and the Nabaloi tawal ni payu.

Ubaya, divination, "for finding out." Similar to the Ifugao ubaya, the Benguet Kankanay anap, and the Nabaloi buyon, sabat, and bakno.

Palis, against witches. Similar to the Benguet Kankanay palis and the Nabaloi palis.

B. Mentioned only in the reports from this or that township:

Pasang, against sterility. Similar to the Benguet Kankanay pasang, and the Nabaloi pasang.

Keslei, against sickness.

Tobag, against sickness.

Tonkala, in accordance with a vow rendered during sickness.

Bagaoas, for the rice crop; against mice and drouth.

Sepesep, nature and purpose not clear.

PARTICULAR CEREMONIES [7]

BINDIAN

The bindian, called by the Kabayan Nabaloi bindayan, is celebrated in Buguias, but in no other Kankanay town. The ceremony is held to cure or to prevent sickness, or in compliance with a promise made while a person is sick.

In general, the celebration is similar to that conducted in Kabayan; but in Buguias instead of the dummy head being carved to represent the head of a person, it represents the head of a snake. In the bindian song for Buguias, the deeds of the heroes who went to Legleg and succeeded in killing two large snakes which had been responsible for the death of a large number of people, are commemorated. The olol, instead of representing the takers of human heads as they do in Kabayan, represent the persons who killed the snakes.

As among the Kabayan Nabaloi, hogs are used for sacrifice, and the dancing is the same in the two towns. The prayer is also similar. As a rule the celebration is not conducted on so large a scale in Buguias as it is in Kabayan, and fewer people attend.

I do not know whether or not this ceremony is given in any of the Lepanto Kankanay towns, but I have seen a dance in Bagnen which is similar to the bindian dance. The Igorot farther north have their head-taking celebrations, of which the bindian seems to be a survival.

MANDIT

The mandit of the Kankanay corresponds to the pachit of the Nabaloi. The Nabaloi use the word manchit, meaning "to celebrate the pachit." The Kankanay always substitute "d" for the "ch" of the Nabaloi.

However, there is a difference in the purpose for which the Nabaloi and the Kankanay of Kibungan and surrounding towns celebrate this ceremony. In Kibungan it is given neither to cure nor to prevent sickness, but only to cause the person celebrating it to become rich and to be honored by the people. In the Kankanay town of Buguias it is celebrated to cure or prevent sickness as well as to enhance the prestige and to increase the wealth of the giver.

The following is an account of a mandit which I saw on the 3rd and 4th of October, 1916, at the house of Damadan, a rich Igorot living in Kibungan:

The ceremony began about nine o'clock in the morning. The mambunong took a cocoanut shell filled with tapuy, and squatted in front of the house. He then prayed as follows, while holding the tapuy in his hand:

Sikayao ay pinading ay kayilinganmi, ipitikenmi dakayos nan tapuy ut makikan kayo; ut adayo golgolidan di pakanenmi.

You, the pinading living near us, we are giving you tapuy and food to eat and drink with us; so do not permit what we feed to have a skin disease.

The old men then squatted around in a group and sang the bayog, which is as follows:

Linmayad si Taydak, linmayad si Dakodak; Ginmosad si Soyaan, linmayad si Taydak; Ginmosad si Balitok, Balitok nay masobok. Tadyonay manyokayok dalingyos bintauwanyo, Linmoboi di baboiyo, inmingyap di manokyo, Ganakyoi sauwaswoo. Siya say isongdoyo Linan inmananito. Ginmosad si Aponan, ingosadna baboina Siay intayawanda sinan boi di mansina. Siya sat matoganda mobalung ya ipidwada Tamonmasinop nan litagua way panamtamangan un dayida. Ginmosad si Maodi balitok nay masodi, Madili ay babayi, dalingyos bintauwanyo, Liniboi di baboiyo, inmingyap di manokyo. Alanyat i songdoyo si bomooi ay nayo. Balbalungmo matago, ipidwanas bungbungo Ut maad adotako. Ginmosad si Angtan; galinay kinadangian. Tanbanos di baknang ingosad ni baboiyo Ay inbayogunyo.

Became happy Taydak, became happy Dakodak; Came down from the sky Soyaan, became happy Taydak. Came down from the sky Balitok, Balitok who was kind. The wooden dishes being carried in and out will be seen in your yard, Will become fat your pigs, will increase in number your chickens. Your children born will be eighteen. That is why you will mourn the death of the one celebrating the ceremony. Came down Aponan, bringing hogs So that there would be dancing at the house where the mandit was celebrated. So that they would know when they did it next, He called together the people that they might see everything. Came down from the sky Maodi, gold-shining. Growing fat are your pigs, increasing in number are your chickens. Admit you will mourn the death of the giver of this ritual. If you live, do it again in the future That we may increase. Came down Angtan; his blankets were those of a rich man. The greatest of all the rich men brought down your hogs, Singing the bayog.

After singing the bayog, the people danced and drank tapuy until noon, when twelve hogs which were to be killed were tied and put in a row in front of the house. Just before the first hog was killed the mambunong prayed the prayer which is called batbat in Kibungan. It is as follows:

Lumawig un Kabigat, si Pati, si Soyaan, si Amdoyan, si Wigan, si Bintauan, si Bangan, si Bogan, si Obongan, si Obung, si Laongan, si Singan, si Maodi, si Kolan, si Moan, si Angtan, si Gatan, si Angban, si Mantalau, si Balitok; minyaan midakayos, yan tagoundakami. Idauwatmoi masangbo, tamo matagokami pangiyaan di ibamin dakami; tamo dakayo ay kabunian waday pangiyaan min dakayo; tamo anakmi waday matago ya waday pangiyaan min dakayo.

Mopakenmi adadoenyo, tauaday piditenmi. Mo manokmi abu, matago tauwaday panbiagmi. Mo mansamakmi, abu, mataguay; batong mataguay, din togi mataguay; ta waday panbiagmi. Mo mansamakmi, abu, si pina, ya kapi adadoi bagasna, ta waday ilaukami, ta waday iami sigalimi.

Lumawig and Kabigat, Pati, Soyaan, Amdoyan, Wigan, Bintauan, Bangan, Bogan, Obongan, Obung, Laongan, Singan, Maodi, Kolan, Moan, Angtan, Gatan, Angban, Mantalau, Balitok; we are giving this to you that we may live long. Work for us to become rich so that while we live there will be the giving of meat to us by our companions; so that you the gods will have things given to you; so that our children will have life; so that there will be gifts for you.

What we feed increase, so that there will be celebrations of ceremonies again. Cause our chickens also to live to be for keeping us alive. Make what we plant also to live; beans to live; camotes to live; to be for keeping us alive. Make what we plant, also, pineapples and coffee, to have much fruit, so that we may have it to sell, that we may have something with which to buy blankets.

The hogs were then killed, and after the meat was cooked the same prayer was repeated. After the people had eaten, they began to dance and sing again and continued to do so throughout the night; but only a small number of those who were present during the day remained. The majority went home, taking with them part of the meat which had been left.

The second and third days were similar to the first; but fewer people attended, and fewer hogs were killed.

The mambunong stated that, if after a person has celebrated the mandit, a stone should become detached from the hillside and roll down near his house, or if there should be a slide near, it would be necessary for him to kill another hog, and have the mambunong pray the following prayer:

Sika ay napolug ay bato nay ay okaamka, ut bomaknangak ut adakna bitbitbitug. Mataguak abu ta maobananak.

You, the falling stone, I am giving you this so that you will make me rich and will not make me poor. Cause me to live also until my hair is white.

While this ceremony corresponds in general to the Nabaloi pachit, the song and prayer are entirely different. In the pachit the prayer is addressed principally to the souls of dead relatives, while in the mandit the hero deities are addressed. The prayer and song resemble more closely those for the Nabaloi bindayan than those for the pachit. It is not improbable that when the bindayan or its equivalent became obsolete among the Kibungan Kankanay, a part of it was incorporated in other rituals.

The corresponding Lepanto Kankanay ceremony is variously designated as the bayas, bagnas, and daaus. The corresponding Ifugao ceremony is called bumayah.

DAWAK AND BASIT

The dawak is a small mandit, and corresponds to the Nabaloi chawak. A very small dawak called basit dawak corresponds to the Nabaloi bayog.

BATBAT

The batbat is given in all Benguet towns, by the Kankanay as well as the Nabaloi, to cure or prevent sickness and to bring riches and long life to the giver. The ceremony is held for the same general purpose by both tribes, but the manner of celebrating it is different.

In the Kankanay towns from one to twelve hogs may be used for this ceremony. The number varies according to the wealth of the giver. Unlike the Nabaloi they do not pretend to deceive the spirits by tying hogs which are not to be killed. The following story regarding this difference was related in Legleg, [8] a barrio of Kapangan:

Ud nabaon si Lumawig winatwatun ifugau gudu ta siay aduum si okana. Gomosad pay sin kayilokoan, ay mankadu si gudu adida donongun. Isakayatna pay sin Nabaloi; inamtada di nangia si esa ay yatdaum adadu di indawatna. Sin nangi bagaana sin Kankanay pay yaanda si adadu.

Sia say gapona ay iwud diidawat si Iloko sin batbat, mo din Inibiloi ya anda si usaloi, mo di Kankanay pay yaanda si adadu.

Long ago Lumawig gave the people hogs so that they would give some of the increase. When he came down from the sky to the Ilocano country and asked for hogs, they did not comply. He asked the Nabaloi; they knew how to give him one and pretend that many were given. When he asked the Kankanay, they gave him many.

This is the reason the Ilocanos do not celebrate the batbat; why the Nabaloi give one (hog) only; why the Kankanay give many.

Before each hog is killed, the mambunong prays as follows while holding a cup of tapuy in his hand:

Kabigat ay maybungan, Lumawig ay maybungan, Buliwan ay maybungan, Pati ay maybungan, Gatan ay maybungan, Dulo ay maybungan, Bintawan ay maybungan, Balitok ay maybungan, Ubang ay maybungan, Bangon ay maybungan, Bugan ay maybungan, Singan ay maybungan, Ubagan ay maybungan, Kolan ay maybungan, Angtan ay maybungan, Soyaan ay maybungan, Amdoyaan ay maybungan, Wigan ay maybungan, Mantalau ay maybungan; mo wada pay di sangbounda ya bomaknangda ut ta mapno di dapatanda, ya mapno di kuboda, ya magabay sinanak, ya gamun ya salon, to wada pansosokubantayo si tapin di agou. Bomangan sin sasakit.

Kabigat to whom prayer is offered, Lumawig to whom prayer is offered, Buliwan to whom prayer is offered, Pati to whom prayer is offered, Gatan to whom prayer is offered, Dulo to whom prayer is offered, Bintawan to whom prayer is offered, Balitok to whom prayer is offered, Ubang to whom prayer is offered, Bangon to whom prayer is offered, Bugan to whom prayer is offered, Singan to whom prayer is offered, Ubagan to whom prayer is offered, Kolan to whom prayer is offered, Angtan to whom prayer is offered, Soyaan to whom prayer is offered, Amdoyaan to whom prayer is offered, Wigan to whom prayer is offered, Mantalau to whom prayer is offered; since there is praying here may it cause them to be rich so that their yards will be filled with pigpens, and may they be lucky in having children and money and cattle pasturing, so that there will be our eating and drinking together some other day. May the sick be cured.

After the hog has been killed, the mambunong takes the stick with which it was stuck, and swings it while praying as follows:

Sika pay ay wikibuyak ta dakami di omanda ya bomaknang, nakasnatna, tan onmandakami, ta isakladmi di puogmi ya malipunan kami si anak, gamung, ya salon.

You, the stick, are swung so that we shall live long and become rich, so that we shall live long, so that our legs shall be as horn, so that we shall have many children, much money, and many cattle grazing.

The prayer recorded above is used in Legleg and all the other Kankanay barrios of Kapangan, but in Kibungan the prayer recorded under the mandit is also used for batbat. In Buguias the souls of the dead and the malevolent spirits as well as the deities are addressed, and the prayer as a whole is probably more similar to the Nabaloi prayer for batbat than to the one recorded above.

Dancing the tayo forms a part of this ceremony in all Benguet Kankanay towns.

The ceremony may last from one to three days, and is generally more expensive than the batbat of the Nabaloi. As a rule more hogs, tapuy, and rice are used.

It will be noted that in the prayer used by the Kankanay for batbat only the deities are addressed, while the Nabaloi not only relate a sacred story, but also petition the souls of ancestors, the pasang, and some of the constellations.

In some respects the Lepanto ceremony called keslei resembles the batbat.

Among the Benguet Kankanay as well as the Nabaloi the term saad is used to designate the batbat on a small scale.

KAPI

Kapi is celebrated by the Buguias Kankanay in compliance with dreams, or a vow made during sickness.

A hog, tapuy, and rice are necessary. Just before the hog is killed, the mambunong prays, addressing his prayer to the deities, the souls of the dead, and the malevolent spirits. They are asked not to cause sickness, but to give good luck, riches, and long life.

After the hog has been killed and cooked, the prayer is repeated. There is no dancing, but the people generally remain all day and spend the time drinking tapuy.

I have never seen this ceremony in any of the western Benguet Kankanay towns, but have been told that it is sometimes celebrated in Kapangan. It is celebrated in all Nabaloi settlements, and in the township of Mancayan in Lepanto.

AMLAG

The amlag is a ceremony celebrated in all Benguet Kankanay towns. Its purpose is to cause the release of the captured soul of a living person.

A chicken, some rice, and a collection of tools are necessary for sacrifice. The mambunong holds the chicken in one hand and squats beside the tapuy and rice while he prays.

He begins his prayer by addressing the amlag of the various settlements from the coast town of San Fernando, La Union, to the place where the ceremony is held; and then requests that if any of them have captured the soul of the sick person, they release it in exchange for the food, tapuy, and tools.

This ceremony is celebrated for the same purpose as the amdag of the Nabaloi; but no sacred story is told by the Kankanay mambunong, nor are the deities addressed. The ceremony is celebrated in the Lepanto town of Mancayan, and probably in other Lepanto towns.

LAWIT

Lawit is a ceremony celebrated by the Benguet Kankanay to cause the return of the soul of a living person which has wandered away. One of the Kibungan mambunong said:

Mo iitauum ay wadaka's adaway sin buuina, ifugau, sia amona aydin ababiikna tinaymana.

If a person dreams that he is far away from his house, he knows that his soul has left him.

The mambunong takes a plate of rice from which tapuy has been fermented and holds it in one hand, while holding a chicken in the other. He turns his face toward the sky and says the following:

Sika ababiikna ----, omalika, mo sinoi inmoyan, sinan buuitaka, tan inayan nanbuui di kakading. Mo ituum isa matika, ut ungay adika mangan sinan ilagbuam.

You, the soul of ----, come back if you have wandered away from our home, because it is dreadful to live in the home of the souls of the dead. If you stay there you will die, and you will not eat what you have earned.

The lawit is celebrated in Kibungan, Kapangan, Bacun, and Ampusungan; but I do not know whether or not it is celebrated in any other Kankanay towns. It corresponds to the Nabaloi tawal and to the Bontoc ofat.

TINGITING

The Buguias Kankanay celebrate a ceremony called tingiting to cause the return of the souls of the persons who have occupied a house which has been burned. It is believed that the souls fly away with the fire and smoke.

One of those who has occupied the house holds some dried meat in his hand, while he calls the names of all the sky deities he can remember, and asks that they send the souls to earth again.

This ceremony is celebrated by the Nabaloi, and in the Lepanto Kankanay town of Mancayan.

PALIS

The palis is celebrated by the Benguet Kankanay against witchcraft, and also to cause injury to befall an enemy.

Tapuy, cooked rice, and either a chicken or a dog are necessary for sacrifice.

The prayer is addressed by the mambunong to the amlag. They are asked to dissolve their alliance with the witch and take the side of the people, or to visit the enemy and cause him bad luck, in consideration of the tapuy and food which are furnished.

As soon as the prayer has been finished, the people present sing the angba, a song in which the deities are called by name and asked to witness the palis.

One man then dances and waves a spear as if he were attacking an enemy, while some of the people keep time by beating together wooden sticks.