The Kalanguya Tribe

Where in the world did the Kalanguya tribe originate? From Adam and Eve is the usual immediate answer.
But is it correct? Indeed its correct! How many generations past? Who knows the Englishman could be its
138th cousin. Just to let you know that Kalanguya people have great sense of humor.
From the mountainous areas of Ifugao province in northern Luzon particularly in the municipality of Hungduan
arose twin tribes known as i-Ahin (from Ahin) also known as i-Haggud (from Haggud) and i-Tukukan (from
Tukukan).

The Ahin tribe speaks the variety of the Kalanguya dialect called Ni-ni. From this tribe came forth
the Keley-e Kalanguya spoken in Ayangan, Asipolo, Amduntog, Camandag, Hulungan and Natkak.
The Ni-ni is retained in Ahin, Binablayan, Cocoy, Danggo, Eheb, Gumhang, Impugong, Luhong,
Poblacion Tinoc, Tulludan and Wangwang.

The Tukukan tribe speaks the Kib-al variety of the Kalanguya dialect. From this Kib-al version came
forth the Mangalaykay and theDak-ey sub-varieties. The main Kib-al is retained in Lusod, Tawangan,
Nabukot and Upper Ballay in Kabayan municipality; and, in Camp 3, Ligay and Twin Peaks in Tuba
municipality. The Mangalaykay sub-variety is used in Palanza, Pito and Mangagao in the municipality
of Bokod; the municipality of Kayapa; and also used by some immigrants in Belance and adjacent
municipalities in Nueva Vizcaya Province and in Kadangla-an (Karanglan), Nueva Ecija
Province. The Dak-ey sub-variety is spoken in Lower Ballay in Kabayan; Amlimay, Guiweng, Buguias
Central and Bot-o-an in Buguias; and, Beckel, La Trinidad; and Mines View, Pacdal and Lucnab in
Baguio city.

Not to forget there is a Kalanguya community in Santo Tomas, Baguio City that comes from
both Kaman Ni-ni (speaks Ni-ni) andKaman Kib-al (speaks Kib-al).

Apparently there are a few Kalanguya communities in the province of Pangasinan probably in the communities
adjacent to the municipality of Itogon in Benguet. However, to date(January 13, 2014), this has yet to be
verified. (With this regard, the writer is open for any input especially as to which version of Kalanguya they
speak and as to what particular town of Pangasinan they live in. Inputs shall be highly appreciated.)
Cultural Practices of the Kalanguya People
The Kalanguya people generally share the same cultural practices, with minimal diversification depending on
the geographical location of each group.
A. Community Labor Sharing
E. Interment of the Dead
Da-ngah: This labor sharing is usually done when
building a house. A family prepares the building
materials like wood and pal-ot and sets a date to
put up the structure then announces it to the
neighborhood. The community comes to help build
the hut free of charge. Free lunch is served.
Ubbo: This form of exchange of labor is intended
to accomplish one's task on hand easily and
speedily. This usually happens during the planting
and harvest seasons where one family/household
schedules and announces the job
e.g.ani (harvesting rice), then neighbors or other
villagers who are expecting to do similar tasks
come to help. A member of the household then
returns the favor to each of the laborers who came
to help. This exchange of labor goes on until
everybody had their turn.
Gammal: One plans a project and prepares an
animal, usually anut-utik (young pig), to be
butchered and divided equally as wage for the men

Traditional Practice: The funeral rites vary

depending on the socio-economic status of the
dead. The rich are buried after several days, even
weeks of funeral rituals (adamag). The rich dead is
seated and tied to a chair (hangdil) and is usually
placed near the door of his house or in a location
where it can be viewed or seen conveniently by the
mourners. An old jar is placed under the corpse
where blood and body fluids could drip. During the
burial (punpun), a lot of animals such as carabaos
(buffalo), cows and pigs are butchered. By the end
of the burial day, equal volume of meat is sent to
each household in the village and also to other
relatives who live in other villages or places. This
is called in-abbong.
If the dead is poor and has no high standing in the
community, it only takes 3 days before burial. If
the dead is a child it could be buried within 24
hours or the most 3 days. If the death is due to
accident, suicide or murder, the dead is usually
buried as quick as possible.

volunteers to work on the project.

F. Traditional Feasts
B. Division of Work in the Family
Normally, men do the preparation of
a kaingin while women do the planting. A
typical kaingin or inum-an (swidden farm) is
planted mainly with sweet potato cuttings and
varieties of legumes like pigeon pea (kaldih), cow
pea (agayyap), hyacinth beans (atab) and broad
beans (aknaban). Maize and vegetables may also
be planted. Women are also responsible in
harvesting. This goes the same with rice paddies
wherein men do the plowing until ready to be
planted then women follow with the rice seedlings.
Harvesting is mostly done by women but men also
help carry the harvest to granaries or to homes.
C. Traditional Judicial System
The early generations of the Kalanguya people
believed in the watch of the Aggaw (Sun) and the
Kaappoan (ancestors) thus making them refrain
from doing evil against their neighbor and
fellowmen.
The Kalanguya people are peace-loving and maybe
considered pacifists since they settle conflicts
amicably (tongtong) among themselves with the
ruling of elders. When somebody commits a crime,
it is dealt with accordingly as soon as possible.
Normally, rulings were based on previous
settlements. In the case of a deliberate murder
there is a special ruling on this called ta-pil, a
death penalty for the murderer. The elders shall
inquire of the bereaved family what they desire to
be done with the accused and if they desire that he
should die then one from the bereaved family shall
strike the murderer on the head till he dies and be
buried with the one he murdered. But if not then
the accused shall be required to pay a sum of
money, real property or cattle or all.

Below are the most common feasts determined

(katum) by themabaki (priests):
Padit: An eight-day feast. On the eve of the first
day is the arrival ofbinaykat (guests from distant
villages); a pig is butchered for their dinner. On the
first day, a number of pigs are released to an
enclosed front yard (luhod) then wrestled by a
representative of each binaykat . These pigs are
then butchered using a traditional process
called uwik wherein a wooden spear-like stick or
branch is thrust into a pig's side straight to its
heart. Gongs are played and the host starts the
first tayaw (dance) for the occasion.
Then baki(prayers) are offered by
the mabaki followed by lunch time then more
dancing. Second day- no butchering, only pig
heads are cooked in the morning. On the third day
a minimum of three pigs are butchered. The
fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh day are rest days
and on the eighth and last days of the padit, only
one medium-sized pig is butchered and served as a
departure meal. Gongs are played and this is when
they observe the so-called hinagawhaw. It is kind
of a victory dance where an imaginary human head
made of fern tree top is put up on a pole and placed
in the middle of the front yard with a big jar of rice
wine where folks dance around.
Padit has a gradual ascent; first is
called manattallo (start with 3 pigs) then when the
man progressed he will do tukmang ni tallo (pair
of the 3); after more progress he shall manlimma (5
pigs) after more progress tukmang ni lima (pair of
the 5) and then (8 pigs) then tukmang ni walo (pair
of the 8) then finally if he keeps progressing he
shall go manambakid (the 10) which makes the
man a titled rich man or Kadangyan. He will have
very high status among the people as far as he may
be known.

D. Marriage and Wedding Rites

Kalon: When a man desires to propose to a lady for
marriage, he calls for a friend or elders to go to the
woman to propose for him. The man may or may
not go with proposing party. They normally bring a
bottle of rice wine or gin which will be opened and
shared to act as a seal when they think that the
woman has agreed and accepted the man. Most of
the time, the woman do not literally say yes but her
actions and gestures like crying or keeping quiet
will be interpreted as saying yes. If the woman
says "yes" then arrangements for the wedding
(timbal) start right away.
Timbal: Normally, a minimum of three fully-grown
pigs are butchered on the Wedding Day. On the eve
of the wedding the bride and groom must observe
the ngilin rite where they are sanctified for each

The intervals of each padit may take years

depending on how the host makes progress in his
animal raising.
Kiyad: This is a one-day big feast. On the eve of
the feast, a pig is butchered for the evening meal to
welcome arriving guests. Then on the morrow, The
Day, the animal to be butchered has to be a carabao
(water buffalo). No gongs are played during this
feast but prayers (baki) are offered by
the Mabaki in behalf of the host as in the other
feasts. The following morning a medium-sized pig
is butchered as Atangway (to balance the day) to
serve as a departure meal.
Kalang: This feast is much smaller compared to
the two above. To butcher any animal on the eve or
arrival is not compulsory because this feast is

other by a local priest (Mabaki). Wedding rites

were usually done at the brides residence.
Kaihing: This is an early negotiation between two
families for the marriage of their children.
Sometimes it is also intended to settle family
disputes where the offender and the offended
family are required by the nangkaama (elders) to
settle their feud throughkaihing requiring the
offender to betroth his son to the daughter of the
offended. Secondly, "kaihing" is also a voluntary
act between two families to strengthen their
existing good relationship. Inkaihing no minimum
age is required. It is even possible to engage a yet
to be born child. (http://www.ncca.gov.ph/aboutculture-and-arts/articles-on-c-n-a/article.php?
igm=4&i=227)

limited to the community where the host family

lives. Gongs are played throughout the day and as
usual the host family starts the dancing. Then The
Day has to be balanced by butchering a regularsized pig the following morning. This is
called Atangwayand as in Kiyad serves as
departure meal.
There are minor celebrations like Diloh, family
celebration of child birth and is once in a lifetime
for each child.