Kalinga Values
The Core values, Paniyaw, Ngilin, and Ba-in are ingrained in every facet of the lives of the
Ikalingas. These moral standards cover the whole extent of their relation to Kabunian, nature
and other people in their attempt of self-preservation.
Paniyaw: It is an unwritten code which encompasses avoidance of despicable acts against
life and property because contravening these prohibitions will result to grievous punishment
given by Kabunian and other spiritual deities. It imposes the observance of every given
obligation and regulates behavior that defines the relationship of man and the spiritual world.
It dictates avoidance of what is offensive to Kabunian and to one’s own kind.
Ngilin: It is a set of taboos and inhibitions that a person must
observe to
ensure good health and those of his kin and protect his habitat
from
degradation. The strict adherence to taboos regarding social
and economic
activities involves compliance with certain rituals to protect
oneself and
members of the family from illness or harm.
“Mangngilin Ka” which means avoid doing something not in
conformity to norms, beliefs, practices of the community.
In the life cycle of a person, NGILIN starts during conception until
the person is bereft of consciousness. Any activity begins with the
observance of NGILIN with its concomitant rituals and continues to
be observed even after termination of the activity. The cycle is
unending.
Ngilin can also mean doing some acts to appease the evil spirits or
invoke the good ones for rewards. It includes all other acts or rituals
to remove or prevent a stigma of the past or forthwith.
Ngilin can also mean doing some acts to appease the
evil spirits or invoke the good ones for rewards. It
includes all other acts or rituals to remove or prevent a
stigma of the past or forthwith.
Bain: It was interpreted as “feeling shame.” The act of
showing respect to other people as a fellow human
being. It has a similar meaning to the virtue espoused
by the saying of Confucius: “Do not do unto others if
you would not like others to do unto you.”
Farming Practices
Examples of traditional farming practices
Uma is one of the farming systems that brings life and sustains life
itself.
The Pappayaw is the wet farmland as distinguished from the uma which
is the upland rice [Link] rice fields and the kaingin are planted with
Unoy or Oyak, depending on the crop season.
Unoy is a collective name of the traditional rice varieties (TRV) usually
planted in the rice-field or the swidden. Unoy is planted in the dry
season (dinagun).
Practices of unoy land preparation:
Baybay- is a land preparation practice with the use of animals especially the water buffalo. Several
water buffalo are tied on their noses with a rope. Usually, a male water buffalo or an experienced
female will lead the group and the one on the other end is a young water buffalo being trained. The
farmer stays behind the water buffaloes holding the rope to control the movement and pace of the
animals.
Dalus de Pigol (clearing the rice paddy) prior to the dosdos, the farmers will weed the rice dike
(dalus) with the use of a bolo (gaman) or landok (small hoe). The weeds uprooted from the small
dike (pigol) or from the taban (a rice-field wall) are thrown into the banong (rice paddy) to rotten and
decomposed into fertilizer.
Two (2) cropping seasons in upland Kalinga:
Dagun (dry)
Sawali (wet)
Their beliefs:
Unoy farmers believed that when a snake cut cross their way to the farm,
the farmer should return and discontinue, however he can visit other
agricultural plantations (ba-ang) or his tree plantation (imong). They also
believed in the idaw (bird portent). There are specific sounds and
movements of the idaw that signifies some prohibitions. It is believed that
when one does not heed the signs from the idaw, he might experience
illness or something bad will happen to his family.
Primitive Farming- is the oldest form of
agriculture and still prevalent in some areas of
the world. These methods of farming consisted of
the use of fertilizers, the rotation crops, and the
use of farm machines.
Songs and Dances
Kalinga vocal music is usually heard in social
gatherings. They identify songs according to the
melodies, with the corresponding texts determined by
the occasion, varying with each rendition.
Types of Kalinga Songs:
1. Ullalim- is a renowned song style of the Kalinga, traditionally sung to recount long, epic stories about traditional
heroes (like Banna) and villains. The ullalim can also be used to describe other events or even to give advice.
2. Suggiyaw- is a harvest song.
3. Dandan-ag- a funeral song.
4. Goygoy- a lullaby.
5. Dinnayan- is a song sung be victorious warriors, after a battle.
6. Ugayam- may not be a song style indigenous to the Kalinga, but it is sung in group gatherings such as
weddings and peace-pact celebrations.
7. Tug-om- a rice or coffee pounding song.
8. Dagdag-ay- a nostalgia song.
9. Palpaliwat/iwwayat- it is a debate song.
10. Salidummay- is a lullaby chant among the natives of the Cordillera mountains, specifically the Kalinga tribe.
To accompany songs, some yKalinga people use instruments
such as;
Tongatong
Bungkaka
Saggeypo
Kullitong
Gangsa (Gong)
ORIGINAL DANCES OF KALINGA
Kinallog
This is a dance performed by the men and women of Kalinga during a wedding ceremony. The
dance is a celebration of the couple's union, and it is characterized using colorful handkerchiefs.
The dancers move in a circular pattern around the bride and groom weaving their handkerchiefs in
time to the music.
Challichog
This is the stamping dance, or the dance of the rice terraces. After a rice terrace is constructed
and during the ritual ceremony, men and women stamp their feet at the rice paddies to prevent
erosion and to pray for an abundant harvest.
Banga
This dance is performed with Kalinga women showing their agility in balancing the bangas on top of
their heads while toddling through rice paddies and mountain paths; a daily routine to fetch water
from the mountain springs.
Tupayya
The “tupayya” (dance) is a great story of a community engagement involving
members, during courtship between a man and a woman. It is a unique
tradition that deserves worldwide recognition.
Salip
This is a dance performed by the men of Kalinga during the courtship of a
woman. The dance is a representation of the man's strength and agility, and
it involves a lot of jumping and acrobatic movements. The dancers wear
traditional Kalinga attire, which includes a colorful headscarf and a loincloth.
Pattong
This is a courtship dance that is performed by the men and women of
Kalinga. The dance is a representation of the mating ritual of the hornbill bird.
The dancers elaborate costumes that resemble the bird's feathers, and they
move gracefully around each other, mimicking the bird's courtship display.
Tadek
This is a dance performed by the men of Kalinga during the harvest season.
The dance is characterized using a "tadek", which is a small bamboo
instrument that produces a rhythmic sound when shaken. The men dance in
a circle while holding hands, and they step in time to the beat of the Tadek.
