Third Asia Pacific Conference on Advanced Research (APCAR, Melbourne, July, 2016) ISBN:978 0 9943656 20 www.apiar.org.au CULTURAL PRACTICES OF THE TRIBAL COMMUNITIES IN THE PROVINCE OF ILOCOS SUR, PHILIPPINES Severino G. Alviento a, Marife D. Alviento b abNorth Luzon Philippines State College, Philippines Corresponding email: [email protected] Abstract This study aimed to determine the extent of observance of the cultural practices of the tribal communities in the Upland municipalities of Ilocos Sur, Philippines. The respondents of this study were the federated officials of the tribal communities in Ilocos Sur, Philippines. This study employed the descriptive survey research with a questionnaire as an instrument in data gathering. The researchers’ findings and conclusions are as follows: Despite the fact that people are now living in the modern age, the tribal communities still preserved some of their cultural practices. Much of the value system being practiced by the tribal communities since the early days is still presently observed. The traditional justice system is sometimes observed by them. Their observance of value system and traditional justice system brings some degree of prosperity to their families and community. In the political arena,the upland areas in the Upland areas of Ilocos Sur, Philippines are better prepared as a result of observance and institutionalization of their value system and traditional justice system and also improve their social lives. It is recommended by the researchers that the tribal communities should try to understand the wisdom of their cultural practices which they inherited from their ancestors. They should retain what is good and beneficial, but should not follow the dogma or have no scientific meaning and relevance. Keywords: Cultural Practices, Tribal Communities, Ethnic Study 1. Introduction and Purpose The fourteen (14) Upland municipalities in the province of Ilocos Sur, Philippines are inhabited by tribal communities and these are the municipalities of Alilem, Banayoyo, Cervantes, Galimuyod, Gregorio del Pilar, Lidlidda, Quirino, Salcedo, San Emilio, Sigay, Suyo,Sugpon,Nagbukel and Burgos. The three tribal communities that dominate the said upland municipalities and shares distinct cultural practices are the Kankanaeys, Tinguians and the Bagos. Culture, according to Buaquen (2003), is handed down from generation to generation, learned by a person in the course of his development as a member of a particular society, so that in the course of time, some are forgotten and some are changed or have undergone renewal or modernization. Customs of the tribal communities are recognized as form part of the legal system in the Philippines. Under section 399 (Paragraph f) of the Local Government Code of the Philippines, information has been provided that in barangays, where majority of the inhabitants are members of indigenous cultural communities, local systems through their councils of datus or elders shall be recognized without prejudice to the applicable provisions of the Code. On the other hand, article 11 of the Civil Code of the Philippines states that customs which are contrary to law, public order or public policy shall not be countenanced. According to Chief Justice 463 463 463 Cayetano Arellano, as cited by Paras (1989), a custom is a rule of human action established by Page Page Page Asia Pacific Institute of Advanced Research (APIAR) repeated acts and uniformly observed or practiced as a rule of society, through the implicit approval of the lawmakers, and which is; therefore, generally obligatory and legally binding. Several laws protect the rights of the Indigenous Cultural/tribal Communities in the Philippines. Article II, Section 22 of the Constitution emphasizes that the State recognizes and promotes the rights of indigenous cultural communities within the framework of national unity and development. Tribal communities are given the privilege to be represented in the local legislative bodies. Under sections 446 and 447 of the Republic Act No. 7160 otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991 explicitly provide that in addition to the regular members of the Sangguniang Bayan and Sangguniang Panlalawigan, there shall be three (3) sectoral representatives: one (1) from the women; and, as shall be determined by the sanggunian concerned within ninety (90) days prior to the holding of local elections, one (1) from the agricultural or industrial workers; and one (1) from the other sectors, including the urban poor, indigenous cultural communities, or disabled persons. The tribal communities in the province are usually governed by a council and their center of operation is the abong or dap-ay which is made mostly of bamboos, wood and cogon. It serves also as a guard house and the seat for social gatherings of the community. The council decides disputes in the community and the administration of justice is through the sapit – a process of investigation and execution of punishment by the council. Sapit is a heart to heart talk between the offended party and the offender in the presence of the council applying the principle of "just between us as brothers". The council, after thorough investigation and after hearing both sides of the parties, imposes fines or punishment and their decision is usually final and executory. The council is chaired by a person who is most experienced and already exposed to community affairs. Its composition, however, are trusted people in the community because of their wisdom, dignity and leadership qualities. They are not necessarily the lallakay or baknang in the community. Though laws are enacted to protect and strengthen the cultural practices of the indigenous communities, Azurin, (1991) however, opined that it may seem now when globalization is seeping in, that the traces of the complex Ilocano-Igorot confluence, so keenly explored in the past by contemporary authors, are on the verge of a fade-away reality. Indeed, the Upland Ilocano ethnic tradition is slowly changing in quest of equilibrium with global cultures. In time, just like in the urbanized communities of the lowlands, these tribal practices will simply be engraved in the ancient history of the upland municipalities to be remembered in dances and songs, and to be dramatized in modern tribal gatherings. In the study of Alviento and Nisperos(2008), they mentioned that the tribal communities are the more than 12 million descendants of the original inhabitants of the Philippines archipelago who have somehow managed to resist centuries of colonization and in the process have retained their own customs, traditions and life ways. Some even believed that these indigenous people are gradually fading because of rapid commercialization and modernization. This study is undertaken to find out the extent of observance of the cultural practices, value system and the traditional justice system of the tribal communities in the province of Ilocos Sur, Philippines. 464 Page 2. Statement of the Problem This study aimed to determine the cultural practices of the tribal communities in the province of Ilocos Sur. Specifically, it sought to answer the following questions: 1. What is the profile of the respondents with respect to the following socio-demographic factors along age, sex, civil status, language or dialect dominantly spoken, educational attainment, religious affiliation, source of income, and membership in the tribal community? 2. What is the extent of observance of the cultural practices of the tribal communities in the province of Ilocos Sur, Philippines along baptism, courtship, wedding and wake? 3. Is there a significant relationship between the profile of the respondents and their extent of observance on their cultural practices? 4. What is the extent of observance of the value system of the tribal communities in the province of Ilocos Sur, Philippines along cooperativism, volunteerism, docility, honesty, act of sharing, and trustworthiness? 5. What is the extent of observance of the traditional justice system of the tribal communities in the province of Ilocos Sur, Philippines? 6. What is the impact level of the observance of value systems and traditional justice system of the tribal communities in the province of Ilocos Sur, Philippines in terms of the following aspects: economic, political, and social? 3. Methodology This portion presents the research design, population, data gathering instrument, data gathering procedure, and statistical treatment used in this study. Research Design. This study made use of the descriptive method of research with the questionnaire as the main data gathering instrument. Population of the Study. The respondents of this study were the nine (9) tribal federated officials, the chieftain and eight (8) elders in every municipality. Data Gathering Instrument. The questionnaire was formulated by the researchers based from the cultural practices, value system and tradition justice system which are commonly practiced by the tribal communities in the Upland municipalities of Ilocos Sur, Philippines. The questionnaire is composed of three parts: the first is the personal profile of the respondents, second part deals with the indicators of cultural practices, value system and traditional justice systemof the tribal communities. The Third part is concerned with determining the impact level of the observance of value system and traditional justice system along economic, political and social aspects. The range of values for the numerical rating used for