Lesson 2
Baliwayway
Isnay refers to a group of people who lived in the pre- Spanish period and occupied Nueva Vizcaya.
After the capture of Manila in 1572, the Spaniards entered Cagayan Valley on the North Coast, the Spanish conquistador made contacts with the natives of the religion whose major economic activities were agriculture, fishing, and domestication of animals. The conversation of Isnay to Christianity was not an easy task. The Spaniards were met with pierce attack and resistance especially from the wider tribes occupying the central and the one most position of Cagayan Valley.
Soon the Isnay were “reduced” like the Isneg, the Itave, the Kalinga, the Ibanag and the Gaddang who had been previously settled in ranchers or elements or in larger pueblos.
The Isnay also raised cattle and goat. Tabbaco cultivation is still important to the economy of the region. They also manufactured wood and wood products, textile, wearing, apparel, leather, food and beverage and tobacco. Parents were responsible to choosing spouse for their children. This practice is called “purung”. The announcement of purung was accompanied by the ritual attended by parents, relatives, and friends. In this gathering , guests would offer a prayer to the soul of the dead relatives of their host.
Before the conversation to Christianity, the Isnay believed in spirits which inhabited their material and spiritual worlds. Banix the spirit equivalent to the Karangat of the Gaddang, appeared in several forms; as a ball, as a jar, or as a headless man rolling on the ground. Itirong looked like a human being but had a long tail. It fought with peopleand ate the bodies of the victims. Bruka was a spirit which appeared wit the red skin and the red clothing. It possessed a man or woman or took the from of human being as a disguise to eat its victim. Mangkokolam, like the asuang of the Gaddang, was a spirit which looked like a human being with cat’s eyes. It had a thin, hairline tongue which was very long and which was thrust into the victim’s body to eat its live.
The Christianized Isnay believed in the after death- the good souls go to heaven while the bad souls go to hell. Those who die without being baptized enter the dark purgatory, which they refer to as “kinto limbo” or fifth limbo.
Lesson 3
Dimolat
Ilongot is more commonly used Ihan “Bunkalut,” a self designation, which applies to the entire ethnic group. “Abacca” to the Qabeik river settlers. “Italon” to the Talon River settlers, and the “Ibalao” or “Ivilao” coined by lowland converts. Proto- Malay, close to the Ibanag in Cagayan.
The non- Christians raided the missions and attempted to dissuade their brothers from assimilation; thus the settlement of Guinayongnagan was abandoned in 1747.
The provincial government to Nueva Viscaya used education and pacification as tools for civilization. Japanese aggression in June 1945 killed one third of the tribal population. 1960s Ilongots were surrounded by uplanders such as Ibaloy and The Ifugao who had been dislocated by public works project. Martial Law in the 1970s created a remarkable change in the Ilongot society. Head Hunting ceased for fear or the repercussions under the new order. Ilongot are sustained mainly by fishing and hunting.
Ilongot men wear in loin cloth held around the waist by a cagit or either a bras, wire or rattan. Women weave cloth embroidered skillfully and make cotton tassels which they tie on their horse hair ornament.
Lesson 4
Laji
Ivatan are the people of Batanes, a group of ten islands in the northern most part of the Philippines. Itbayat the largest island where Basco, the capital lies, and Sabtang, seven km, southwest of Batan. Ivatan is the language spoken in the islands of Batan and Sabtang. Initbayat is another language spoken mainly on the islands of Itbayat.
Eruptions of Mt.Iraya on Batan Island were responsible for the geologic features and fertile soil of Batan Island. Ivatonic are sea faring people who lived by fishing, hunting, and cultivation of root crops, bananas, and sugarcane from which they produced palik.
Pre- colonial tribal community was headed by a chieftain called Mangpus. Prehistoric Ivatan lived close to cliff redresses, which served as their refuge and defense.
Dominican Chapter of 1771 requested the King of Spain to establish a government on the Islands and assign a military detachment fro security so that Christianization could be facilitated. In 1782, Gov. Gen. Jose Y Basco Vargas sent an Perdition to get the formal consent of the Ivatan to become subject of the Spanish Age. Basco, the seat of practical and missionary operations was named after apparel Basco. Ivatans setteled in assigned home. In new town sites organized spend church.
Traditional Ivatan society was made up of four distinct classes the Mangupus, Mapolon, Callanes, and Slaves. Mangpus and Mapolon are the elite group. Mangpus collect revenues and administered justice and led their people to war mints another mountain people. Caillanes are those who cultivate the land, the cultures, and the lowest in rank. Family served as the stabilizing institution the Ivatan society with its emphasis on obedience to elders and specialization of economic functions. Children showed respect fro the authority of parents. Ivatan do not worship spirit or invisible beings.
Lesson 5
Uneni
1567, a group of Spaniards landed in Northern Luzon in a place known as Buquey. In 1581 Captain Pablo de Carreon from Spain came. He and his 100 fully armed men explored Cagayan and converted the natives to Cristianity. In 1853, the Spaniard set up the civil government of Cagayan which comprised the whole valley.
Father Francisco Rojan, Cagayan got its name from word Cagayan (river) - the river that revisits the entire valley from north to south.
The Ibanag of Cagayan was among the early inhabitants who lived in villages. Not being nomads, they engaged in agriculture, fishing and hunting as their means of subsistence. The Ibanad believed in the spirits they called I ar nga urasingan. They make offerings and consult Minanglluor minannanad, folk doctors who had contact with other world to appease the spirits. They sacrificed animals during their rituals to the parton saint.
Ibanag have many different rituals and superstitious beliefs. They consider children as the gift from God and source of luck for the family. They believed that the couples without children are unlucky and should be punished. Childless couple’s fire sort to prayers and drinking concoction eggs of a house infect called Tanggallawa mixed with coffee. Lutung toensure the heakth of preganant women. Mamattang is a ritual made to eliminate paints during pregnancy. The mangagagakao is a ritual, to bring back the soul of a child who is shocked or scared. Mangayaya is the native term of courtship that usually starts at the age of 16.
The Ibanag’s main economic activity is planting with rice as the most dominant agricultural product in farmlands, and tobacco, as their commercial product. Aside from agriculture, other gainful occupations in the area include animal husbandry, forestry, fishing and hunting.
The head of traditional Ibanag community was called dakal na barangay. Among the early Ibanags, this leader was not whose authority was imposed on the people. To the Ibanag, a leader should have charisma and honesty; the ability to control and pacify the people; and the intelligence to discover solutions to the problems of the community. Above all the leader must be a kin or karaga, as in the old datu system.
Lesson 6
Epic
The southern most part of Cagayan a baby boy name Biuag was born. When the child’s mother learned that her visitors was a goddess, she knelt and implored her child, with long life.
The goddess remained silent but the placed three small stones around the neck of the baby where one stone protected him from and bodily harm. When Biuag was big enough to swim across the wide river, the crocodiles created a path for him. The other two stones gave him supernatural powers and prowess.
Even though Biuag has all these powers, he seemed troubled and unhappy. He fell in love with the young lady with unsurpassed beauty. No one could say who this lady was and where this lady came from.
Another young man, he was called Malana. He was also gifted with powers similar to that biuag. When Malana was eighteen, devastating typhoon destroyed all the crops of Malaueg. The people were in great trouble; their only hope of starving of came from a very distant place, Sto. Nino. The journey to the place was very difficult and dangerous because the river to cross was wide and full of crocodiles.
They offered to Malana the prayers for his safety. When Malana reached home, he found a bow and arrow on the bench.
Meanwhile, Biuag was unmindful of the people’s admiration for Malana because the lovely lady occupied his thoughts. Biuag’s told to the lady he will prove to her that Malana was unworthy for her love, he grabbed his famous spear and hurried to the window and aimed at Malana. Malana recognized Biuag’s spear and read it as a challenge.
Biuag saw great number of people from Malaueg was approaching. From the group was led by Malana who was tail, broad shouldered and handsome, Biuag quivere at the3 sight of Malana.
The day of the duel was controversial. The news spread fast and by mid- afternoon. Biuag arrived accompanied by the people of Enrile, carrying a big coconut tree and sharp spear. He climbed
the mountain on the eastern part of the river.
Malana went up the opposite mountain. Biuag and Malana saw the beautiful lady they both love on one of the rafts. Sadness was clearly etched on her face but this only heightened her eternal beauty. Without thinking, Biuag hurried the coconut tree at Malana. Everyone held his breath. The river stood still. The coconut tree flew like an arrow into the air. Malana caught it and unlike Biuag, he hurried it at the direction of Yeluru. Today, thick coconut grooves abound in that place. Malana’s chest was hit but his heart was not pierced. Instead the spear broke into two when it reached the mbottom of the river.
Before Malana finished uttering the warning. Biuag had leaped into the river. Gigantic waves dashed against the rocks and shook the mountain where Malana stood. Biuag emerged with the biggest crocodile under his arm. The crocodile opened wide its jaws. .Malana accepted the challenge as he leaped from the Mountain. They saw a dazzling light that sparkled.
She rose into the air and checked Malana’s fall upon meeting him in mid- air. The woman looked down at Biuag ands aid “I am the daughter of the goddess who gave you your supernatural powers. You do not deserve the gift”. The beautiful woman gave her blessings to the people below and then flew with Malana in the kingdom of the air and the clouds where she reigned.
Lesson 7
Short Story
The people of the town never understood Cargo. Of course we all have a right to our own opinions.
Last vacation when I went to visit my relatives in Pasuquin. I was talking to Lorenza before their window when Cargo passed with dragging footsteps, his head bowed. He always wore a black camisita de chino, and his pants, reaching to the knees, were also black.
He was the fear of the mother, I learned. For though he was terrible and ugly, he had a very nice way for children. In fact, Lorenza said that the older children were afraid of him and hid at his approach. But the babies smiled radiant, happy smiles at him. That was why the parents were afraid of him.
Lorenza told me, cargo was passing by. He saw a small baby in the arms of its mother- and the baby smiled. A beautiful smile that would touch a heart in sorrow. The baby was looking over its mother’s shoulder. The mother looked around and saw, gnarled and distorted ugly Cargo. The mother did not see the baby smile. But Lorenza said that the saw he and Cargo smile at each other.
The beautiful Lorenza often wondered what power had Cardo over babies. She saw many babies smile at Cargo even when they cried before their mothers. He was probably a witch, the brother of the devil. Lorenza told me that though she feared him even as the other people did; she wanted to see the smile, though she feared even the smile. And they do not dare kill him either, because though he is beaten until he is unconscious, he does not return the blows. He only coas back to the river.
My vacation was interesting, Cargo was fasinated me. One day I saw him knocked down by the father of another child. Cardo was bleeding. I had a change to his ugly face then. He looked like the devil indeed like a twisted balete trunk, except always that smile.
I told myself after I had seen him that I at last understood him. Now I doubt it. He is still an enigma.
The evening was falling, and as I walked to the father end of the cemetery. I thought I had heard a low cry. I was a little started. Then I saw the form of a man.
They say that Cargo was a Judas! “Why cant they kill me? And why can’t I fight, why can I can only suffer and keep smiling at babies.”
