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Balangao.PNG
Balangao.PNG

photo courtesy of: Langfia Ayeona

Balangao of the Igorots

The Balangaos (Balangaw, Balangad, Baliwen) are from the collective group Igorots ("mountaineers") that dwell in the Central Cordillera mountain ranges— oral history states that certain ancestors of the Balangaos came from Ifugao, Bontoc or Kalinga.

Geography

The Balangaos is located in the municipality of Natonin, which is nested in the 4 high peaks of Mt. Amuyao, Mt. Oyayao, Mt. Tinufuan, and Mt. Macharag, surrounded by 30 minor streams, tributaries, and extensive bowl rice terraces, which is their mode of sustenance.
Their ancestral domain consists of 9 barangays, namely Banao, Tonglayan, Pudo, Alunogan, Sta. Isabel, Butac, Balangao, Banawel, and Poblacion.

Worldview and Material Culture

Subsistence of the Balangao is through wet terrace rice farming. Though compared to Ifugao, the rice system is not as big as theirs. They also include yam, taro and sweet potato in their biannual rice production. Their culture is close with the Kalingas due to them being in close contact like in their architecture. However, they differ in religion since Christianity has already made its way in the domain of the Balangaos. Much of their indigenous customs remain, such as the marriage customs, lifestyles, and even the dormitories meant for the men and women. (4)

Animism 
Believed in anitos, and in Umay-ayong which they considered to be the Supreme Being. Pigs and chickens were sacrificed to the anitos who made them afraid and anxious.
Pechen
Governs disputes with other ethnic groups, warmed up constantly to avoid discourse.
Enaporan
Courting song; the boy persuades a girl to accept a betelnut. Accepting it engages them and starts the marriage process.
Population of Christians vis-à-vis Ethnic religions
Christianity had aleady reached the area because of missionaries.
Ferwase
A Balangao ethnic attire called "Ferwase" also known as vest. It is used as an upper wear or a topper for men. It is also made up same fabric used in making G-strings and it is being used during occasions, especially weddings, festivals & others.
Language and dialect
Mainly Balangao-speakers but there are also a sub-dialect called Hagi.
Attuned to nature
They have profound connections with nature, making them better understand plants, animals, and their environment in their domains.
Farming
Mainly rice farming but also yam, taro and sweet potato.

 

Social and Cultural Organization

Pangat
Council of Elders - leader of the community. *papangat (plural)
ine
Mother
Ama
father
Arun
mediator – settles serious cases in an among.
Among
gathering of papangat, community members, and conflicting parties when a violation has occurred in the community.

Issues Confronting the Group

-    There is no developed source of income for the Balangaos as rice farming only provides the bare minimum for their sustenance.
-    Social misrepresentation, due to them being generalized as being Bontoc and as they are also a relatively new group.

Media

Balangao Group.png

An infographic of the contents here about the Balangao by Justine Morillo and Zeljeko Yniesta - University of the Philippines Baguio

References

Balangao Bontoc in Philippines. (n.d.). Retrieved from Joshua Project: https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/10601/RP
Balangao Cultural Website. (n.d.). Retrieved from enatoninifarangao: https://www.enatoninifarangao.com/en/home
Molintas, J. M. (2004). The Philippine Indigenous Peoples' Struggle for Land and Life: Challenging Legal Texts. 
Peralta, Jesus T. (2002). Glimpses: Peoples of the Philippines. National Commision for Culture and the Arts.
Shetler, Joanne. (1976). Notes on Balangao grammar. Language Data: Asian-Pacific Series No. 9. Huntington Beach: Summer Institute of Linguistics.

©2021 by Justine Morillo and Zeljeko Yniesta

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