Igorot People: Culture, Subgroups and Traditions

• The Igorot are known as the top producers of rice and as people from the mountains
• The Igorot are known for strong cultural practices and traditions, unique clothing, architecture, and customs
• Igorot society includes several ethnic groups in the Philippines from the Cordillera Administration Region of Luzon

Subgroups of Igorot

• IBALOI are primarily found in Benguet and are known for farming skills and mummification practices
• BONTOC are inhabitants of Mountain Province and are recognized for rice terraces and warrior traditions
• ISNAG are from Apayao and are noted for their riverine culture and bamboo crafts
• KALINGA are found in Kalinga province and are famous for their intricate tattoos and headhunting history
• IFUGAO are best known for the Banaue Rice Terraces and their rich oral literature

Religion

• They practice a native religion called "animism," referring to the belief that spirits permeate the spiritual world
• Catholicism has had a lasting impact, with the Igorot people embracing some aspects of the faith while preserving indigenous beliefs

Language

• BONTOC, also called "finallig," includes the example "Iyaman" (thank you)
• KANKANEY is primarily spoken by the Kankaney people and includes the example "Gawis ay agew mo" (Good day to you)
• IBALOI, also known as Inabaloi or Nabaloi, includes the example "Mapteng jen mashem" (Good afternoon)
• ISNAG includes the example "Maaringay Tako" (we are happy)
• KALINGA is a dialect continuum and includes the example "Mapmaphod ka" (You are beautiful)

Livelihood

• Wet farming depends on ample water supply, such as irrigation or rainfall
• Dry farming is a method of farming in arid areas without irrigation, relying on moisture conservation
• Gold mining is the extraction of gold from the earth using various techniques
• Fishing is the activity of catching fish for food, trade, or recreation
• Tourism is travel for leisure, business, or cultural experiences
• Weaving is the craft of making fabric by interlacing threads
• Handcraft includes handmade decorative or functional items created using traditional skills
• Farming includes cultivating crops and raising livestock for food and other products
• Wood carving is the art of shaping wood into decorative or functional objects
• Metal working is the process of shaping and forming metal into tools, structures, or art

Culture and Traditions

• Courtship involves boys and girls going through a trial marriage in different dormitories to learn proper courtship practices
• Dap-ay (boys' dormitory) is where boys at an early age live and sleep with their agemates
• Ebgan (girls' dormitory) is used for courtship until the girl becomes pregnant, where the young man sends gifts to the girl's family
• Atufang is an important custom that serves to validate the marriage

Burial

• Hanging coffins are hand-carved coffins that are tied or nailed to the side of a cliff and suspended high above the ground

Beliefs

• Rituals are performed by the tribal leader called "MAMBUNONG" who performs social, spiritual and religious rites
• The Igorot believe in ancestors' spirits, and that spirits permeate the material world
• Cañao is offered for religious celebration, funerals, and to secure healing
• Begnas is offered for bountiful harvest, usually with killed animals for their anitos, and the meat is distributed to the whole village
• Senga is for Be-ey (house blessing)

Products

• Inabel is a handwoven fabric made of cotton yarn, where "inabel" is an Ilocano word meaning "woven"
• Binakol is a type of blanket made of abaca and pineapple fibers
• Tapis is a decorative cloth used for ceremonial occasions, signifying the cultural identity and heritage

Festivals

• Panagbenga Festival (flower festival) features indigenous music, dances, and attire and allows the Igorot to showcase their traditions and strengthen their identity
• Manchachatong Festival symbolizes unity and cooperation among the 14 villages of Balbalan ("meeting or coming together")
• Lang-ay Festival is a founding anniversary celebration and summertime festival, highlighting the rich traditions, dances, and music of the Igorot communities and ensuring younger generations embrace their heritage

Dances

• Banga means the movements of women carrying pots of water on their heads to the river
• Tapek is an all-male dance that signifies bravery, agility, and precision

Musical Instruments

• Gangsa is a single hand-held smooth-surfaced gong with a narrow rim, performed during rituals and religious celebration
• Kalaleng is a nose flute that can play notes in a range of 2 and a half octaves, played for love songs, relaxation, and storytelling
• Tongatong is a bamboo percussion instrument used by the people of Kalinga to communicate with spirits during house blessings

Gods and Deities

• Dios Adi Kaila is the creator
• Kabunyan executes the creator's plan and is the supreme deity, gives blessings like good harvest and protection, and guides Igorots to pray for wisdom, strength, and success
• Lumawig is the greatest of all spirits, the teacher of the Igorots, the bringer of peace and order, and the source of blessings who lives in the sky world but watches over the Igorots
• Anitos are ancestral spirits

Foods

• Pinikpikan is prepared by beating a live chicken with a stick prior to cooking
• Pinuneg is a Filipino blood sausage of pig's blood into pig intestines, mixed with spices, fat, and sometimes ground meat or rice from the Kankanaey and Ibaloi tribes
• Tapuy (Tapuey or Tapey) is a traditional rice wine from the Cordillera region, often used in celebrations, rituals, and special gatherings
• Binungar is a spicy vegetable dish made with bamboo shoots, chili, and innards from Kalinga

Tribal System Government

• The traditional Igorot tribal system of governance is characterized by a council of elders known as the "Bodong" or "Bodong Council" and is based on councils of elders, customs, and community consensus

Clothing

• Bahag/Wanes is a loincloth for men, reflecting indigenous identity, culture, and craftsmanship
• Tapis/Lufid is a skirt like garment for women, symbolizing identity, heritage, and craftsmanship, often handwoven with intricate patterns
• Bagket is a woven cloth used as a blanket or shawl, symbolizing beauty, strength, and social status, worn during festivals, rituals, weddings, and special occasions

Education

• June Chayapan Prill Brett was the first Igorot anthropologist to finish a Ph.D. at the University of the Philippines, Diliman, recognized for her research on the indigenous cultures of Northern Luzon, particularly the Cordillera region