Ifugao Summary PDF

IFUGAO  IFUGAO SETTLEMENTS ▪ Early settlements marked by tangible evidence in the areas they occupied. ▪ Most organized settlements are in communities with Rice Terraces in 8 municipalities.  IFUGAO RICE TERRACES (IRT) ▪ Built through indigenous knowledge over generations. ▪ Cultural...

IFUGAO  IFUGAO SETTLEMENTS ▪ Early settlements marked by tangible evidence in the areas they occupied. ▪ Most organized settlements are in communities with Rice Terraces in 8 municipalities.  IFUGAO RICE TERRACES (IRT) ▪ Built through indigenous knowledge over generations. ▪ Cultural practices and traditions maintain symbiosis with the environment.  IRT: UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE ▪ Declared in 1995 as “a living cultural landscape.” ▪ Recognized for impeccable blending of people and the environment.  HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE ▪ Initial estimates: IRT is 2,000 years old. ▪ Recent studies suggest 400-700 years old (Acabado, 2017). ▪ Upland migration occurred during Spanish colonization to avoid Spanish rule.  KEY SETTLEMENT AREAS ▪ Early settlements concentrated in rice terraces in Kiangan, Hungduan, Banaue, and Mayoyao. ▪ Old Kiyyangan is possibly the earliest settlement.  RECENT MIGRATION TRENDS ▪ Migration within/outside Ifugao province is common. ▪ Rapid population growth in Alfonso Lista and Lamut due to economic opportunities.  ETHNOLINGUISTIC GROUPS ▪ Ifugao is derived from 'ipugo,' meaning people of the earth or mountain people. ▪ Ifugaos prefer this identity to distinguish themselves from the rest of the Cordillera.  Main groups: Tuwali, Ayangan, Kalanguya Tuwali: Western area (Kiangan, Lagawe, Hingyon, Hungduan, parts of Banaue, Asipulo, Lamut). Ayangan: Eastern area (Mayoyao, Aguinaldo, Alfonso Lista, parts of Banaue, Lamut). Kalanguya: Spoken in Tinoc and parts of Asipulo. Lamut (west) and Alfonso Lista (east) are melting pots for all groups. Minority groups like Ilocanos and Gaddangs present in Alfonso Lista. CULTURAL HERITAGE Famous for rituals, wood crafts, dances, and ethnic dresses. Oral traditions include the 'Hudhud,' recognized by UNESCO in 2008.  SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS Pre-colonial Ifugao society was informal and structured around kinship. Kinship system included relations by blood up to the fourth generation, including ancestors. Kinship was central to social structure, land use, and rice production, ensuring family survival. Nuclear family consists of husband and wife (himbale) and children.  SOCIAL CLASSES ▪ Kadangyan (wealthy) ▪ Tagu (commoners, family of kadangyan) ▪ Nawotwot (poor) Social class distinctions were based on wealth, prestige rites, and community roles. Wealthy class dominated political and economic life. Prestigious rituals, like the uyya-uy and hagabi, were necessary to achieve high status.  SOCIAL CLASSES Uyya-uy: a grand, prestigious wedding feast that wealthy families perform Hagabi The ultimate prestige rite, involving the crafting and installation of a large wooden bench called the hagabi. The event also includes community feasting and rituals, further reinforcing the family’s social standing.  EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS Education before formal schools was informal, based on oral tradition and observation. Elders and skilled individuals passed down knowledge and skills. Mumbaki priests trained aspirants through apprenticeship. Skills were taught in community settings, such as agamang (community sleeping quarters), where oral traditions were passed. Modern educational institutions play a role in preserving Ifugao indigenous knowledge. Agamang  IFUGAO INDIGENOUS GAMES originally served cultural and justice purposes, not entertainment used to settle disputes, determine divine favor, and identify individuals for tasks Winners were believed to reflect the will of the gods ❖Today, these games are showcased at festivals to preserve cultural identity.  IFUGAO INDIGENOUS GAMES Akkad: Stilts race where the first to finish wins. Bangngunan: A contest where men try to raise opponents off the ground. Bultung: Wrestling to settle disputes like land boundaries. Guyyudan: Tug-of-war, traditionally part of the "Punnuk" ritual Hanggul: Arm-wrestling game to prove strength or settle disputes Uggub: Dart throwing used in trial by ordeal Hukting-ngan: A bumping game inspired by cockfighting  ORAL LITERATURE ▪ No single authorship; origins are collective and unknown. Four main types of Ifugao oral literature 1. Narratives: Includes folktales, legends, and myths (e.g., bukad, hudhud). 2. Chants: Ritual (Alim, Baltung) and non-ritual chants (hudhud, liwliwa/bonwe, ap-apnga). 3. Songs 4. Rhymes KEY PIECES Hudhud: Long narrative chants about local heroes and early Ifugao culture, performed during harvest and wakes; recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage. Alim: Ritual ballad highlighting hero achievements, performed only during prestige rituals or for wealthy elders' deaths. Liwliwa: Jovial parody with alternating male-female chanting, often during feasts. A-apo: Short stories including myths, folktales, legends, and fables for entertainment and teaching cultural values.  DANCES Dinnuy-a – a social dance from Ifugao-Tuwali performed during weddings and gatherings Futageh – an Ayangan dance symbolizing gender equality, originally a victory dance Pagaddut – a faster wedding dance from Kiangan, part of the Uya-uy ritual Tayaw – a Kalanguya festival dance inspired by the Tuldo bird Festivals (See Ifugao Module)  Cosmology Polytheistic belief system Over a thousand named deities, often invoked during rituals by the "Mumbaki." Six realms of the Ifugao cosmos 1. Kabunyan (sky) 2. Dalom (underworld) 3. Daya (west) 4. Lagud (east) 5. Pugaw (earth) 6. Kadungayan (afterlife)  Cosmology Important Gods 1. Amalgo (Sun) 2. Ambulan (Moon) 3. Manahaut (Deceiver) 4. Amkidul (Thunder) 5. Amkolyog (Earthquake) Maknongan the supreme deity and creator god, is believed to have crafted the world, including humans and rice. considered distant and unapproachable, yet his presence is essential for the welfare of the people.  Values Maphod" (goodness) Good background (reputation) Good deeds, general welfare, Honest living "Paniyo" (taboo) refers to actions to be avoided, like fighting among relatives and inappropriate romantic interests. Mumbaki – Ifugao native priest whose role is to invoke gods for blessings or appeasement and head rituals Healing rituals often involve invoking gods and deities to restore health or well-being. Rituals are central to Ifugao life, often invoking deities for events like death rites, reproduction, and community welfare.  Ifugao Practices Baddang/Badang: Community members help a person or family in need without expecting payment, except for food and drinks. Common tasks include harvesting, ceremonies, or house building Dang-ah: Similar to baddang but focused on completing a specific task in a day with voluntary help. Ubbu/Ubfu: Reciprocal labor where people help each other finish tasks, and the days of work must be repaid. Rituals involve cosmic beliefs, covering life events, health, politics, and agriculture. Baki: Ifugao prayer and sacrificial rituals led by "mumbaki" (priests), often involving animal sacrifices. Important Rituals Imbango/moma: Betrothal ritual Bubun/tanig: Marriage ceremony Uya-uy: Elaborate marriage feasts for the wealthy Hagabi: Prestige rite marking the highest social status Burial rites: Vary based on social status or cause of death Punnuk: Post-harvest ritual, including a tug-of-war and Baki performance, recognized by UNESCO.  Beliefs Strong superstitions (e.g., bird omens, sneezing) and taboos (e.g., not eating fish with meat). Christianity's Impact: Many Ifugaos have adopted Christianity, leading to the decline of indigenous practices, while others retain or blend their traditional beliefs.  Administration of Justice Ifugao people follow customary laws and taboos (Paniyo) on family, religion, property, and personhood. Punishments for offenses are based on the severity of the crime. Common penalties include fines (Haliw), Awwit/Bal-lo, and gibu. Disputes and crimes are often settled by a community elder (nanomnoman) with both parties present. Textile Wood Works Wood Works Wood Works Indigenous House Stone Work 1. How might Ifugao society change if younger generations were less observant of traditional laws and taboos? 2. What could happen to community harmony if the role of elders (nanomnoman) in settling disputes diminished over time? 3. How might external influences, such as modern legal systems, impact the traditional Ifugao justice system? 4. If certain Ifugao taboos were no longer observed, what effects could this have on family relationships and community interactions? 5. In what ways might the Ifugao belief systems evolve if they are integrated with contemporary practices, and how could this affect the preservation of their cultural identity?