BINDIYAN
The “bindiyan” is an Ibaloy mass dancing that originated from Kabayan. Formerly an
Ibaloy victory dance, it had been modified later, since the Ibaloys no longer engage in tribal
wars and do not practice headhunting anymore. All those present In the “cañao”participate in
this mass dancing. Hundreds of women and men are enjoyed to participate in the rhythm of the
solibao and kalsa. Two lines are formed separating the men from the women and each line
enters the opposite direction led by a leader for each group. With their hands usually on their
hips they come in with hoping steps to meet at the center. Eventually, the women enter and
dance in the opposite direction, paying particular attention to the position and the movement of
the hands of the leader. When the leader shouts , “binuawan!” the dancers do the motion of
striking with the spear. The position of the arms changes as often as the leader changes his.
When the leader feels that they have performed all the actions, the two groups exits in the
opposite direction.
The bindiyan at the present is performed not as a victory war dance. The ibaloys of
Kabayan performs this particular dance in celebration and anticipation of a bountiful harvest.
The movements of the hands have specific meanings. For example, arms held up with fingers
of both hands wiggling downward signify the panicle of rice heavily laden with grains; he
upward raising both arms signify a prayer to Kavuniyan and to Afuheeyus, Christian God (Apo
Dios) for a bountiful blessing.
RITUALS IN WHICH BINDIYAN IS PERFORMED
PECHIT OR CAÑAO
The pechit is strictly practiced as a thanksgiving ritual with the hope that riches in the
form of bountiful harvest and many animals shall come to the celebrating family or be
transferred in the generation of the believing family.
There are several typrs of cañao depending on the purpose of execution. Before 1900,
cañao is divided into three purposes. According to the different authors ok “Tanggawan”; an
Igorot Studies Center Publication Series, cañao is performed for a bountiful harvest, for
economic progress, and for healing. Moreover, in relating the purpose of cañao to our
ancestors’ head-hunting activities, it is performed as a ritual before and after a headhunting or
a war will take place for it to be a success.
NGAYEW OR HEAD TAKING
Some rituals reveal residual characteristics of ngayew or head taking. One of the most
interesting dances of the Ibaloy is the bendiyan, which is a simulated head-taking raid. Once a
victory dance after a successful head-taking expedition, it is now a festival dance for good
fortune or good harvest, or to cure the illness of a warrior’s descendant. The centerpiece of the
dance is a symbolic head carved out of a fern tree. The ritual begins at nightfall when the
manbonong leads four olol and other men to a secluded place. They bring with them their ritual
paraphernalia such as spears, shields, hatchets, heirloom beads, and the animal for the ritual
offering. The manbonong leads an opening prayer, and then the headman recites the da-tok
(the call of the blessings). The owag (war cry) is shouted twice to begin the war dance, which
centers around a fern tree. The men simulate the actions of battle, with the fern tree as the
enemy. After they have “killed the enemy” with their spears, they then carve its trunk into the
image of a human head and march home with it, singing the angba. They are met by the village
people, and more owag are shouted. The people then dance the sedsed all day around the
“head,” which has been placed in a basket and suspended from a headpost.
REFERENCE
ETHNOGRAPHY of the MAJOR ETHNOLINGUISTIC GROUPS in the CORDILLERA .
CORDILLERA SCHOOLS [Link] (2005).
Sacla, W. (1987). TREASURY OF BELIEFS AND HOME RITUALS OF BENGUET.
The Ibaloy (Ibaloi) People of the Philippines: History, Culture, and Tradition
[ Philippine Indigenous People| Ethnic Group ] (n,d). Retrieved from:
[Link]
Jessen, D. (2017). Cultiral Encounters and Differences. CAÑAO: OUR SACRED
CULTURAL PRACTICE AS INDIGENOUS PEOPLES OF THE NORTHEN
PHILIPPINES. Retrieved from: [Link]
sacred-cultural-practice-as-indigenous-peoples-of-the-northern-philippines/
