Revisiting the Traditional Practices of the Itawis Families of Isabela, Philippines

868 Revisiting the Traditional Practices of the Itawis Families of Isabela, Philippines Hilda A. Manzolim ; Lailanie L. Quilang, Professors, College of Arts and Sciences, Isabela State University, Philippines. Abstract The Itawis is one of the indigenous groups of Isabela, Philippines, along with the Ybanags, Yogads, and Gaddangs. In Cagayan Valley, two groups of Itawis are found: one from the Province of Cagayan and the other, from Echague, Isabela. This study was conducted to determine what is left of the traditional practices of the indigenous group “Itawis” of Echague, Isabela, Philippines that are gradually vanishing due to the modern way of living or due to acculturation. The study used the descriptive research method. The researchers, who belong to the minorities themselves, gathered the data of the study through immersion with the living cultural masters and through participation in the rituals. Other data were gathered through interview with the remaining members of the minority group. The rituals were documented and the variations on the old and new practices were noted and explained by the elders. Frequency and percentages were used. The findings showed that the Itawis women still observe some practices in giving birth, in caring and feeding the baby such as “passa”, “tappe-tappet”, “baraga”, “iyaw”, “alintugurayan”. The “botiso and lallay” in baptism and the “intrega” and “pamonek” in marriage were also some of the identified rituals practiced by the Itawis. Keywords: Culture/ Traditions/Indigenous People/ Descriptive Design/ Philippines Introduction Culture is a set of unique spiritual, material, intellectual and emotional features of society or a social group. It encompasses, in addition to art and literature, lifestyles, ways of living together, values systems, traditions and beliefs (UNESCO, 2001). Culture gives people a connection to certain social values, beliefs, religions and customs. Cultural heritage provides an automatic sense of unity and belonging within a group to better understand their previous generations and the history of where they come from. The Philippines is an archipelago endowed with rich natural resources, a rich history, diverse cultures, and many ethno-linguistic groups. The National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) identifies 95 distinct tribes, which include the Islamic or Muslim groups in 14 regions of the country with an estimated population between 12- 15 million members of the total population in 1995. The Office of Northern Cultural Communities (ONCC) and Office of Southern Cultural Communities (OSCC) also reported that the Indigenous Peoples’ populace is composed of 110 ethno linguistic groups with a total population of 11,320,476 from Regions 1 to 13. The 4th International Conference on Magsaysay Awardees: Good Governance and Transformative Leadership in Asia, 31 May 2016 869 Indigenous peoples’ communities can be found in the interiors of Luzon, Mindanao, and some islands of Visayas. They continued to live in their isolated, self-sufficient communities, at the time when most lowland communities had already been integrated into a single colony under Spain in the 1700s and 1800s. They were able to preserve the culture and traditions of their tribe as reflected in their cooperative work exchanges, their communal rituals, their songs, dances, and folklore. But with the long years of colonial rule in the Philippines and the invasion of migrants into indigenous peoples’ territories, many influences have been introduced that gradually changed the indigenous way of life. Indigenous communities at present are still characterized by these phenomena but are definitely no longer in their pure and natural state, showing varying degrees of influence from outside culture. Due to this, the world under the auspices of UNESCO is now working towards the preservation and protection of cultural heritage. This is evident in Article 11 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples which stipulates that, Indigenous peoples have the right to practice and revitalize their cultural traditions and customs including the right to maintain, protect and develop the past, present and future manifestations of their cultures. Article 34 also states that, Indigenous peoples have the right to promote, develop and maintain their institutional structures and their distinctive customs, spirituality, traditions, procedures, practices and, in the cases where they exist, juridical systems or customs, in accordance with international human rights standards. (United Nations, Human Rights Council Resolution 2006/2) Moreover, Art. 2, Sec. 22 of the Philippine Constitution also recognizes and promotes the rights of indigenous cultural communities within the framework of national unity and development. Art. XIV, Sec. 17 of the Philippine Constitution also provides that, the State shall recognize, respect, and protect the rights of indigenous cultural communities to preserve and develop their cultures, traditions, and institutions. It shall consider these rights in the formulation of national plans and policies. (http://www1.umn.edu/humanrts/research/Philippines/Philippine %2constitution.pdf) Hence, the Indigenous People’s Rights Act of 1997 (RA No. 8371) was formulated to recognize, protect and promote the rights of indigenous people, creating a national commission of indigenous people, establishing implementing mechanisms, appropriating funds, therefore, and for other purposes. Sec. 29 further stipulates that the State shall respect, recognize and protect the rights of Indigenous Peoples to maintain and protect their culture, traditions and institutions. It shall also consider these rights in the formulation and application of national plans and policies (IP, National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), 1998. Indigenous Peoples of the Philippines refer to a group of people or homogenous societies recognized by self-ascription and ascription by others, who have continuously lived as organized communities on communally bounded and defined territory, and who have, under claims of ownership since time immemorial, occupied, possessed and utilized such territories, sharing common bonds of language, customs, traditions and other distinctive cultural traits, or who have, through resistance to political, social and cultural inroads of colonization, non-indigenous religions and cultures, become historically differentiated from the majority of the Filipinos (National Commission on Indigenous Peoples). The 4th International Conference on Magsaysay Awardees: Good Governance and Transformative Leadership in Asia, 31 May 2016 870 In Region 2, the province of Isabela is inhabited by several lowland Indigenous groups. The Itawes, being one of the recognized Indigenous groups of Region 2 along with Ybanags, Yogads, Ilocanos, and Gaddangs, are known to be a group of people who had been sharing customs, language, and others. Ethnologists distinguish Itawis with its own dialect and characteristics form of shelter, clothing, art, social structure, and other attributes. All groups of Itawis are agricultural and depend mainly on their crop for subsistence. They share belief relating to sacred trees and mountains and to animal sacrifice for reading omens. Originally, the Itawis tribe is found in the province of Cagayan, where they usually settle on river banks. However, due to migration, two groups of Itawis are known in Cagayan Valley; one is the Itawis group of the Province of Cagayan and the other from Isabela, particularly in Echague, which is the focus of the study. Two barangays were identified to be inhabited by Itawis in Echague and these are Barangays Tuguegarao and Salay . Today, one could hardly identify tribes and people’s group anymore due to the increase of inter-tribe marriages. Some of their practices had been consistently confronted by modernization and development, which seriously endanger their traditional cultures or would cause its total obliteration. As stated by Javier (1996), indigenous societies in various parts of the country today are consistently confronted with the battering impact of modernization and development, which are seriously endangering their natural environments and rapidly eroding their traditional cultures. Cultures then are in danger of extinction if nothing is done to avert their gradual death. The need to understand and preserve these vanishing genuine ethnic culture and faith is not only indispensable but also imperative. It is just a matter of time that the indigenous practices disappears or are transformed completely, thus, there appears to be an urgent need to document these systems or practices. Description of the Locale of the Study Fig. 1 shows the map of the province of Isabela, highlighting the municipality of Echague. Echague is a town known during the Spanish time as “CAMARAG”, adopted from the name of a big tree common in the place. Camarag, was founded in 1752 and ecclesiastically placed under the patronage of St. Joseph on May 12, 1753. (Http: www.wchague-isabela.com/p/history.html) The 4th International Conference on Magsaysay Awardees: Good Governance and Transformative Leadership in Asia, 31 May 2016 871 Echague, the “QUEEN TOWN OF THE SOUTH” is located at the Southern portion of Isabela some 60 km away from Ilagan, the capital town. It is bounded on the north by the municipality of San Isidro, Alicia, Angadanan and San Guillermo, on the east by the municipalities of Dinapigue; on the south by the municipality of Jones, San Agustin; on the west

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