Oral Literature of the Tuwali Ifugao in

Kiangan
Posted on April 30, 2015

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MANUEL DULAWAN

The oral literature of the Tuwali Ifugao in Kiangan has been classified into four types with
three of the types having subtypes. The classification has been based on the manner of
delivery, purpose of the rendition and structure of the pieces. The types and subtypes are
the following:

I. The narrative
1. folktale
2. legend
3. myth
a.) bukad
b.) huuwa

II. The chant

1. ritual chant
a.) alim
b.) baltung
2. non-ritual chant
a.) hudhud
b.) bonwe or liwliwa

III. The song

1. simple folk song
2. ballad
3. palat or satire

IV. The rhyme

Folktales and legends are usually narrated in ordinary day-to-day speech. Myths, on the
other hand, are recited in a singsong, sometimes stylistic, manner. Mythological
narratives, too, are replete with archaic and ritual terms which are not normally used in
ordinary language. All ritual myths are epical narratives, with thehuuwa piece “Huuwa’n
di Nabugbugan di Page” (“Myth of the Origin of Rice”), narrated during the observance of
the different rice rites, decidedly a true folk epic.
Tuwali legends are two kinds, the ordinary and the mythological. Ordinary legends have
no religious significance while the mythological ones are adaptations from sacred myths.
In the absence of written accounts, legends and myths provide the only surviving means
for the Ifugao of knowing about their past. They give insights to their forefathers’ beliefs
and ways , supply the rationale and reason for the institution of many of their present-day
socio-religious practices.

Ritual chants are necessary and integral parts of the rites during which they are rendered.
Non-ritual chants, on the other hand and as the term suggests, are not a part of any rites,
hence, they may not be performed. However, they may be rendered during ritual or other
appropriate occasions as forms of entertainment. Examples of the non-ritual chants are
the hudhud tales which are chanted during the harvest times in the ricefields, during
wakes on the death of elder persons who died of natural causes, and on theirbogwa or
bone-cleansing rites.

Tuwali simple folk songs are classified as such because they are characteristically short,
sung in simple melodies and convey very simple ideas. Ballads are formal songs and they
almost always have a story line. Thepalat or satire are songs that satirize, make fun of,
or ridicule a subject, his physical person, character o behavior. Adopted or borrowed
words are commonly employed in palat compositions which enhance their satirizing
and/or humorous effect. Both ballad and palat songs are sung in group during socio-ritual
gatherings for general participation and entertainment.

The most important role of songs, especially the ballads and the palat, is their unifying
effect among the community people. This is attained through the practice of singing more
as group activity than as individual performances. The reason for the inclination or
preference is that when the act of singing is commonly shared, there is more enjoyment,
hence, there is created a profound and meaningful effect among the participants. The
shared experience during the long singing sessions help forge a unity of feeling and spirit
among the people.

Tuwali rhymes are perhaps the forerunners of the simple folk songs. While the purpose
of the composition is to effect rhyming of words and sounds, many rhymes are crude and
metrically irregular. Tuwali rhymes are usually short, and while some convey ideas others
have incomplete or no sense at all.

As in some other cultural communities, Tuwali rhymes are composed for the
entertainment and enjoyment of children. Old women, especially grandmothers, are
mostly the composers of rhymes. Some bright children, too, can come up with two-or
three-line rhymes but these lack polish.

The recitation of rhymes by old women and babysitters is to entertain young children, get
their attention, make them behave or keep them from doing mischief. The verbal ability
of children in parroting or composing rhymes has a great carry-over value in the art of
lead-singing and lead-chanting during their adulthood.
About the Author:
Manuel Dulawan is the Officer-in-Charge of the Ifugao Academy and has authored two
books on Ifugaos and the Ifugao culture.