TOURISTS SPOT
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TARSIER IN BOHOL |
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UNDERGROUND RIVER IN PALAWAN |
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BANAUE RICE TERRACES |
THE ISLAND OF BORACAY
CULTURES AND TRADITIONS
This article refers to the tradition of the natives of Ifugao in the
Cordillera Mountain ranges (Philippines) particularly the “Tuwali” tribe
for an adult who had died of illness. Persons who have died of violence, drowned or otherwise the death is not due to illness are accorded different specific rituals. Different type of ritual is also given to dead Infants and women who had died while giving birth. The burial traditions of early Ifugaos have several variations. This is due to the fact that early farming villages are separated by the vast mountain range and rice fields. It is literally the kinship system that keeps a distinct family or clan in one abode or adjacent farming villages. Hence, intermarriages within the village or adjacent villages are not remote. It
is further aggravated by warring communities which hampers the free
travel to other villages or hamlets without the worry of being harmed or
a chance target of headhunting expeditions. This
explains also the fact that the “tuwali” dialect alone, not mentioning
the other Ifugao tribes, differs in dialect terminologies, jargons and
intonations. While there are several variations on how the tradition is practiced, it practically emanated from one ethnological group.
MANSAKA TRIBES
The Mansaka tribes are found in the provinces
of Davao del Norte and Compostela Valley, the tribe of Mansaka
specifically dwells in the areas of Manat Valley, the Maragusan Valley,
the Hijo River Valley, and the seacoasts of Kingking, Maco, Kwambog,
Hijo, Tagum, Libuganon, Tuganay, Ising, and Panabo. The etymology of the
name “Mansaka” is derived from the words “man” meaning “first” and
“saka” meaning “to ascend”. Therefore, Mansaka means “the first people
to ascend the mountains or go upstream”.
Generally
with fair with bridged noses, brown hair, and oval faces, some scholars
have classified the Mansaka as a distinctive subgroup of Mandaya. In
1972 the population estimate of the Mansaka was around 4,000. The
Mandaya-Mansaka group of languages is often classified under the Manuvu
linguistic group. This includes the dialects of the Tagacaolo of Davao
del Sur, Davaoeno of Davao City, Mansaka or Mandaya of Davao del Norte,
and Isamal of Samal Island, linguistically speaking.
The
Ati, a Negrito ethnic group, are mostly found in Western and Central
Visayas. Large concentrations are found in Aklan, Capiz, Antique, and
Iloilo on Panay Island, and the biggest group is in Iloilo. There are
also Ati populations on the islands of Guimaras and Negros (comprising
Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental). Few Atis still speak their
traditional language, as it has been replaced by Kinary-a, which is
spoken in Antique and some parts of Iloilo.
Atis
cultivate a variety of crops for their livelihood. Tobacco is bartered
for the products of their Visayan neighbors. During September and
October, they work at the sugar plantations of Christian landowners.
Other means of subsistence are hunting, fishing, handicrafts, and
bow-and-arrow making; working as household help and midwives; and
practicing herbal medicine as herbolarios.
FOODS
PANSIT
BALOT
LUMPIA
LECHON BABOY