Unique Cultures of

MOUNTAIN
PROVINCE

Submitted By:
Abad, Ralph Lauren
Franco, King Feian
Pineda, Edward Joseph
Bayan, Anne Jamaica
Lales, Justine Rose
Mallari, Mikaella
Udarbe, Annabelle Lee
Vergara, Charmagne Lyjan

BSTM-IT 1-HAP
TMELC 101 (T/Th) 8:00 – 10:30 am
MOUNTAIN PROVINCE
LOCATION:
- landlocked province of the Philippines in the
Cordillera Administrative Region in Luzon.
- bounded in the east by Isabela, in the north by the
provinces of Kalinga, Apayao, and Abra, in the south of
Benguet and Ifugao, and in the west by the province
of Ilocos Sur.
- Its capital is Bontoc.
- was named so for being in the Cordillera Central
mountain range found in the upper realms of Luzon island.
- The central and western areas of the province are characterized by rugged mountains
and steep cliffs, while the eastern portion has generally sloping terrain.
- Mt. Province is geo-politically subdivided into 10 municipalities and 144 barangays.

PHYSICAL PROFILE:
- It has an area of 215,738 hectares (533,100 acres), with 83% mountainous while 17%
make up hills and levels.
- As of May 2010, the total population of Mt. Province is 153,187 and a growth rate of
1.41 from 1990 to 2010.
- Agriculture is the main source of income with tourism providing a significant boost to its
economy.

FACTS:
- Mountain Province was formerly referred to as Mountain in some foreign references.
- The name is also incorrectly shortened by locals to Mt. Province, which in turn is read
by native Anglophones as "Mount Province".
- Mountain Province was also the name of the historical province that included most of
the current Cordillera provinces.
- known for its mummy caves, which contain naturally mummified bodies, and for its
hanging coffins.
- Formerly dubbed as "La Montañosa" by Spanish administrators for its mountainous
terrain, Mountain Province lies in the heart of the Grand Cordillera, known to be the
Philippine's biggest and highest chain of mountains.
- Aplai is the major dialect.
- The province has two (2) seasons - dry from November to April and wet for the rest of
the year.
- The maximum rain periods are not very pronounced with a short dry season lasting
only from 1 to 3 months.

BRIEF HISTORY:
- the whole Cordillera region, was identified by this one name-MOUNTAIN PROVINCE.
- in 1907, a special province of the Philippines composed of the sub-provinces of Bontoc-
Lepanto-Amburayan, Ifugao, Kalinga, Benguet, Apayao.
- Mr. Samuel Kane, the Provincial Supervisor was appointed Governor and Bontoc was
made the provincial capital.
- Mountain Province was further subdivided into seven (7) sub-provinces: Benguet,
Bontoc, Ifugao, Lepanto, Amburayan, Kalinga, and Apayao. Amburayan later was fused
with Bontoc and Lepanto with Benguet to make up now five (5) sub-provinces popularly
known as BIBAK (Bontoc, Ifugao, Benguet, Apayao & Kalinga).
- A series of political leaders of the Mountain Provinces played great roles in pushing for
this subdivision: Hon. Henry Kamora, Benguet Representative to the Lower House of
Congress in 1925; Hon. Alfredo G. Lamen and Hon. Luis Hora in 1962; and Hon. Duyan
and Hon. Hora in 1965.
- June 18, 1966, Mountain Province which we have now was politically created by virtue
of RA 4695, the Subdivision Law of Mountain Province approved by then President
Ferdinand E. Marcos.
- The five (5) distinct provinces of Benguet, Kalinga, Apayao, Ifugao and Mountain
Province were finally born.
- April 7, 1967, “new” Mountain Province had become legally and officially operational
with the following set of officials: Congressmen-Luis Hora, Governor – Alfredo G. Lamen,
Vice-Governor- Victor S. Dominguez, Board Member- Pio Felwa, Alfonso Layug and Alejo
Manao.
- April 7 was adopted as the charter day anniversary of the province through Provincial
Board Resolution No. 69, dated June 10, 1980.
- President Fidel V. Ramos declared April 7 as the Mountain Province Foundation Day on
February 28, 1993 through Proclamation No. 14.

FESTIVALS:
 LANG-AY FESTIVAL (MT. PROVINCE FOUNDATION DAY, April 7-9)
- A week-long agro-industrial trade, tourism and cultural affairs with tribal dances and
songs in full regalia.
- A native term which showcases the living tradition of the people of Mountain province
to celebrate festivities, to share happiness, foster family solidarity, hospitality and
nurture friendship with a toast of home brewed wine.

 MENALIYAM FESTIVAL of Kadaclan, Barlig (April 20)

- A festival that showcases the “best” of the Balangao, Baliwon, and Barlig tribes.
- The people converge to reminisce their old and living customs and traditions in
merriment amidst the sound of gongs and chanting of sacred prayers.

 BEGNAS (second week of March)

- Ethnic offering of thanksgiving for a bountiful harvest where pigs or chicken are
butchered for the family or clan members to partake of.

 CHOM-NO OR CHONNO
- grandest and most expensive wedding celebration, which usually happens once in four
or five years.
- number of carabaos butchered reflects the economic status of the family.
- accompanied by much dancing and singing.

 FORTAN FESTIVAL of Barlig (June17-18)

-“Fortan” is a Barlig term generally translated as LEGACY.
- Barlig municipality is proud to reveal it’s enriching cultural heritage on historical
dances, traditional sports and agricultural and industrial products.
- commemorates the naissance of the municipality.

ATTRACTIONS:
 US AIRBASE
- historical landmark during World War II.
- located a few meters from the crossroad of Balintaugan, Bauko and was used by the US
Armed Forces as drop off point for the US soldiers, food supplies and logistics.
- Pine trees and ferns abound in the area. It is ideal for camping.

 GUEDAY AGRICULTURE STONE CALENDAR

- served as a guide to the people of Gueday.
- When the rays of the sun struck the tip of the stone at Dap-ay Awao, it signals the time
for sowing rice grains in the fields.
- usually falls on the 30th of September thus the celebration of Linapet Day in the
northern barangays of Besao.

 SAINT GREGORY CHURCH

- established in 1907. In 1913, it was burned and was rebuilt.
- In 1990, it was swayed by the killer earthquake.
- stands as a symbol of people’s faith that persisted through times of destruction.
- ABATAN GROTTO AND TREE PARK At the midst of towering pine trees, prominently
stands the grotto of Mama Mary.

 TAGPEO FALLS
- Passing through majestic mountains and rivers, the picturesque of Tagpeo Falls relieves
someone of exhaustion from the long journey with its natural and magnificent beauty
that captures the heart of the beholder.

 BACKSTRAP AND LOOM WEAVING HOUSES

- Loom or backstrap weaving serves as one of the main source of income, especially for
families in barangay Caneo.
- Woven products are found in most if not all of the households in the area.
- Various colorful woven materials like knapsacks, placemats, bags and purses among
other products and sold in Caneo.

DELICACIES:
 Pinikpikan
- chicken dish whose name was derived on how the chicken is prepared before cooking.
- The body of the chicken is beaten by wood to stimulate the blood which the locals
believe will make the chicken tastier.
- grilled on an open fire and may be later cooked similar to nilaga or tinola.

 Organic Rice
- usually black, brown or red rice that is a healthier option on our staple food.

CULTURE:
*Rituals*
1. DENET - performed in the field for a good harvest.
- Ordinarily, one mang-ngak (hen) is butchered but in some instances, one kaong (sow)
or one besa-ang (boar) with two hens are butchered for the bakede or basking di payew
(feast of the rice field). An elderly man or woman who is deemed knowledgeable of the
rite says the kapiya (prayer):
Mabuyag ka ay baneng
Timemwak san danum mo
Dumtek san tuping mo
Semipeng san bungam
Tay nay denetnan mi sik-a
- This prayer is asking for the rice fields to be blessed, asking for more water, for the
walls to be steadfast, and for a fruitful harvest.

2. BEGNAS - Begnah or Begnas is another agricultural ceremony.

- A day before this is celebrated, an elder or a community crier shouts in the village
proclaiming that begnah will be celebrated the following day, a tengaw or community
rest day.
- During the tengaw, some community elders sleep in the ato.

3. LEPAH - ritual performed after the bundles of palay are piled up (kapin) in the rice
granary or agamang of each household or family.
- Each household butchers and cooks chicken and a pot of rice. The family members then
eat together, while at the same share bygone stories.

4. DAW-ES - Daw-es is practiced not only in this season of all hallows and souls, but
whenever someone died unexpectedly, or was murdered, or met an accident, especially
in a massive scale.
- practiced by the Igorots in all parts of the Cordillera, with some variations, depending
on the place.
- The primary purpose of the ritual is to "cleanse" the mind of the survivors, especially
the rescuers, in case of massive death like in landslides or deluge.

5. LEGLEG - This ritual is performed for cleansing purposes.

- Its kapiya find its basis on the story of two brothers who were always afflicted with
sickness like cholera, severe coughs, measles, etc.

*Birth*
- After giving birth, a woman is “naganos” (tender like a baby), even if she feels strong.
- From the Applais in the west to the Gaddangs in the east, we have the same caring
traditional practices that support the mother and family from the time the woman is
pregnant to childbirth to postpartum.
- Knowing that pregnancy and childbirth are not diseases, pregnant women are expected
to continue their daily work except carrying heavy load and doing heavy work.
- In this indigenous natural setting, she is allowed to eat anything except twin bananas
because she might have twins.

- Adults, especially older men and women, instruct the pregnant woman not to go to
places that are “nangilin” (like far away water bodies or forests as something bad might
happen to the baby), she should not go to wakes (these are unhappy occasions and
people then knew that the emotional state of the mother affects the unborn), she should
not venture to far places alone.

*Courtship and Marriage*

1. DAWAK – still carried during weddings is the butchering of the carabaos, cows, and
several number of pigs for the festivity which lasts for 3 days.
First Day, the time they butcher animals needed for the wedding which is normally done
somewhere along the “wanga”.

2. TRIAL MARRIAGE – have a ward or Dap-ay where boys at an early age live and sleep
with their agemates.
- this ward is connected to one or more girls’ dormitory called as “Ebgan” used for
courtship.
* Dap-ay – serves as the center of the religious rights.
* Ebgan – girls gather at night to sleep and to be visited by their suitors.

3. BABAYAS – verb form of bayas meaning to perform one’s wedding.

4. DAY-ENG – pleasant ringing sound which carries in singing or playing gongs.

5. PALAYOG – The second day of the wedding feast when gongs are played and singing
and dancing are done.

*Death and Burial*

1. BAYYA-O – sort of eulogy in form of singing.
- the person usually doing this relates some stories how the person was in his life.

2. ATANG – there are animals to be offered/butchered as there are tremendous numbers

of people expected to around during the time of vigil and wake.
- plate or basket of food for the spirits of our ancestors.
- set aside in the corner for spirits.

3. KACHANGYAN – Rich people to celebrate the dead for 5-7 day including the nights.
- if the dead is a man, he should be placed farther away from the door. In placing the
dead unto the’sangachin’ (coffin) the body of the dead will be tied and the
‘anifat’(bundle of palay)carried by the ‘inin-a’ ( old woman) together with the
‘kupkop’(butchered pig)left during the ‘mang-mang’ will be brought out. After the burial
the relatives of the dead would celebrate ‘am-amo’(reunion) for the dead .

REFERENCE:
- Geography. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://mountainprovince.gov.ph/geography/

- Rites and Rituals. (n.d.). Retrieved from

http://mountainprovinceliterature.blogspot.com/p/blog-page_24.html?m=1

- Mountain Province. (n.d.). Retrieved from

https://alpha.pia.gov.ph/provinces/mountain-province
- MOUNTAIN PROVINCE | Gastronomical Experience in Sagada. (n.d.) Retrieved from
https://therestlesspinoytraveler.wordpress.com/2014/05/24/sagada-mountain-
province-the-gastronomical-experience/

- Stiles, Ann (n. d.) Courtship the Igorot Tribes of the Mountain Province Retrieved
from https://www.coursehero.com/file/p7cio2s/b-Courtship-The-Igorot-tribes-of-the-
Mountain-Province-have-a-wedding-practice

- Wakit, J. (27 October 2012) Traditional Burial Practices of Bontoc, Mt. Province,
Philipines retrieved from http://thefiveamchat.blogspot.com/2012/10/traditional-
burial-practices-of-bontoc.html?m=1