Barangay Bayabas, Sablan, Benguet is composed of four ethnic groups which are the Ifugaos, Ibalois, Kankana-eys and

the Ilocanos. The ibaloys are distributed to the mountain valleys and settlements of the general southern areas of Benguet and their language is variably called inibaloi or nabaloi. According to (Scheerer, 1905:99) . Ibaloys are known to be hospitable, generous, honest, hardworking, and having a keen sense of humor. They are fond of society, always going out and working in the fields in groups. (Moss 1919). They are structured into three general divisions in their society- the rich, the average and the poor (Pungayan 1980). The poor mans household is a nuclear family composed of the husband and wife and their offspring. Occasionally, however, it grows into an extended household (elementary/stem family) with the addition of a widowed parent or a grandparent of one of the spouses. Compared with the poor household, the rich family is composed of from 15-18 individuals including the slaves and servants who live in their masters house. Average families may further be classified into three general types-the rich-turned-average family, the richs family branch and the poor-turned-average family, and the baknang-turned-average family. The Ibaloy society consist of two classes-the wealthy (baknang) and the poor (abitug). Based on the task allocation, the Ibaloys may be classified further into the baknang, pastol, silbi and bagaen. The wealthy exercise authority in almost all aspect of the social, political and economic life of the ibaloi. They serve as host of the canao feast; they sit in the village council to decide on important matters affecting the village headman or chief who serves as a link between the political organization, the rituals and the economic system(Tapang 1985;9). The ibaloys are predominantly farmers. With the fertile soil and temperate climate of Benguet, they are able to raise a variety of crops. Another common activity of the rural ibalois is working in the uma or kaingin, an area found on mountain slopes that has been previously cleared of forest growth. The religion of the ibalois is that of polytheism and animism. They do not worship any gods in the form of statues and carvings but they believe in the spirits of ancestors whom they called amed and of a supreme being called kabunyan. The Christian God is called Shivus, who is believed to be the higher supreme being than the indigenous god, kabunyan. The ibalois believe in a number of anitos (spirits) and deities to whom they address their prayers and petitions in an appropriate ceremony(Bagamaspad and Pawid 1985:110). As of 1995, the Ifugao ethnic population in the Cordillera Region was counted at 131,635, majority of which are found of course in , in the various municipalities of Ifugao province. A large number of the Ifugaos have also settled in Baguio city, particularly in Asin where they have settled and found work as woodcarvers. A majority of the population has been converted from the original animistic religion by several religious denominations. Roman Catholic have the largest membership. Although the Ifugaos are considered as one main ethnic group, they are composed of subgroups based partly on the differences of dialects, on the variation of oral traditions and customs, the design and the design and color of the costumes. The three major subgroups are the Ayangan, the Kalanguya and the Tuwali. The term ifugao is derived from the word ipugo which means people of the earth, mortals or human beings as distinguished from the spirits, deities and other supernatural beings. Another but related meaning of the term ipugo is from the hill. In the old days, the ifugaos made their villages on elevated places. According to the kiangan ifugao mythology ipugo refers to the white rice variety.

According to Lourdes Dulawan (1997) the traditional ifugao society is composed of three distinct classes the rich or aristocracy, the middle class and the poor. Families who have performed the hagabi are called himmagabi. The highest rank in the kadangyan class the ultimate status in the ifugao society. The tagu comprised the ifugao middle class and the lowest social class is the nawotwot. The ifugaos religion is exceedingly complicated. It is polytheism that includes nature and ancestor worship. Some of the deities or spirits that the people worship include among other like Matungalan- gods and goddesses of plenty, Dimapon- god of fortune, Manahaot- god of sorcery. Ifugaos religious belief are expressed in their elaborately develop system of rituals called Baki. A complete ifugaos religious ritual consists of gonob, tugun, ayag, tobal. Rituals are always attended by some offering such as chickens, pigs, dogs, carabaos and some places ducks. The exact prayers to be recited by the priest during rituals and the number of animals to be sacrifice clearly specified in Ifugao tradition. The term Kankanaey is a linguistic category use by non- cordillerans to refer to the inhabitance of western mountain province, north eastern ilocos sur and northern section of the province of Benguet. They are also called northern kankanaeys to distinguish them from southern kankanaeys who inhabit in the municipalities of Tadian, Bauko, Sabangan, Bakun, Mangkayan and Kibungan. Generally speaking there only two social classes among northern kankanaeys ; the rich (kadangyan) the poor (kodo). The northern kankanaeys engaged in a variety economic activities like wet farming, slash an d burn agriculture, camote farming, fishing, barter and trade, handicrafts and other cottage industries like pottery and basket cloth and vegetables and fruit growing. The religion of the northern kankanaeys is the worship of ancestors and nature spirits with whom they need to be on excellent terms in which they are careful not to offend. These spirit are souls of the dead (anitos ),and natures spirits. The ancestors spirits are believed to live in village, especially in rocks or caves while the natures spirits are believe to dwell in mountains, rocks, trees, or rivers. Moreover , natures spirits are more frequently malevolent, causing sickness, or even death to those who disturb their abode. Ancestor spirits are generally good spirits who are invoked for good health, peace and prosperity. The latter are likewise regarded to have human needs like food and clothing. When they are cold or hungry, they make their demands known by making a member of the family become sick. Hence, in all family gatherings requiring the butchering of animals, ancestor spirit are always invited to partake the food so that they shall not cause malice to the family The Ilokanos are known for being hardworking, appreciative simple and determined. However, they are also known as stingy or kuripot. Of course, the Ilokanos being called stingy and cheap is just treated as a joke or pun among Filipinos and not as a negative regional stereotype. It is a regional characteristic that their Filipino brethren have grown to understand. The Ilokano marriage;like all Filipinos, the Ilokanos have a strong family tie. They follow the Filipino norm when it comes to family structure wherein the father is the head of the family.The mother, on the other hand, is the light of the home who disciplines the children and manages the house finances.The Ilokanos have high respects to their parents, which is very evident in their marriage traditions.