NATIVE CORDILLERAN DELICACIES

Sinuman and Patupat 

-are the local version of rice cakes in Abra. The taste is even comparable to a world-class dessert! Sinuman is a triangular-shaped rice cake that is served as it is. Patupat on the other hand is served with muscovado sugar.

(Song, M. (August, 2015). One FOOD TRIP in Cordillera!)

Retrieved from: http://onefinetrip.blogspot.com/2014/10/one-food-trip-in-cordillera.html

Abuos or the eggs of big red ants is a famous exotic food in Abra especially during the summer season. These are collected through poking hole in the treetop nests of the red ants. Abuos are then sauteed together with garlic, onions, and tomatoes. Because of its rich and tangy taste, it is indeed a rare delicacy one should try!

(Song, M. (August, 2015). One FOOD TRIP in Cordillera!)

Retrieved from: http://onefinetrip.blogspot.com/2014/10/one-food-trip-in-cordillera.html

PINIKPIKAN is a common soup dish among the provinces in the Cordillera Region. However, instead of using native chicken, Apayao's version of Pinikpikan found its taste with native ducks. It is much more tastier and gives a much stronger soupy taste according to the locals.

(Song, M. (August, 2015). One FOOD TRIP in Cordillera!)
Retrieved from: http://onefinetrip.blogspot.com/2014/10/one-food-trip-in-cordillera.html

SINURSUR is a native course cooked in a young bamboo shoot. In the duration of its cooking, it is smashed with a stick to crush the contents until it is entirely squashed. It is either mixed with Atang (gabi leaves and stalk), Tuka’ (frog), Iwat (eel), Palilang (gobi) , Tangingi (Bean pods) and other combinations relished with plenty of sili that rouses the heat that interests one to take a dose.

(Song, M. (August, 2015). One FOOD TRIP in Cordillera!)

Retrieved from: http://onefinetrip.blogspot.com/2014/10/one-food-trip-in-cordillera.html

Etag, or the salted pork in Bontoc, Mountain Province, is a usual ingredient in many indigenous delicacies in the province. Etag is actually a product of preserving the meat hence, it's really flavorful! !

(Song, M. (August, 2015). One FOOD TRIP in Cordillera!)

Retrieved from: http://onefinetrip.blogspot.com/2014/10/one-food-trip-in-cordillera.html

TAPEY (or tapuy, tapuey) - This is the Igorot people's version of the Japanese sake (rice wine). The great thing about tapey is that its taste depends on the amount of time it spent inside the fermentation jar. The older the wine gets, the more bitter it becomes. Tapey that are a few weeks or a few months old have the fresh and sweet taste attributed to rice wine. If the aging time goes beyond a year, the taste drastically changes. The liquid starts tasting like whiskey or brandy.                

(Feliciano, D. (23,September 2015) “10 Exotic Foods By The Igorots Of The Cordillera Region. How Many Have You Tried? “) retrieved from:  http://www.cordilleransun.com/2015/09/10-exotic-foods-by-igorots-of.html 

SIGTIM OR SINIGTIMAN (meat, fish, or freshwater snails cooked with tapey) - Tapey is not only consumed as a beverage, it's also eaten (the rice grains, that is). A lot of Cordillerans take out the fermented rice grains from the earthen jars and use these as additional ingredients for cooking. They can be added to meat-based or fish-based dishes. A favorite among Cordillerans is a tapey-freshwater snail tandem. We call these snails ket-an in the local dialect. The fermented grains can also be added for kuhol-based dishes.

(Feliciano, D. (23,September 2015) “10 Exotic Foods By The Igorots Of The Cordillera Region. How Many Have You Tried? “) retrieved from:  http://www.cordilleransun.com/2015/09/10-exotic-foods-by-igorots-of.html

               

BINUNGOR - This is also a dish that I'm yet to try. So I'll leave it to a fellow Baguio City blogger to describe what it is and how it tastes like. Writing for the blog Eats In Baguio, Krish says, "binungor is a Kalinga dish that is served as an appetizer or side dish and not a viand. It is made of various vegetables found around a Kalinga household along with tenga ng daga and other wild mushrooms, and ot-an, that spiral shaped shell-fish you suck to get the meat inside. The Binungor had slight hints of sweetness and spiciness to it. I tried sucking on a couple of the ot-an but I wasn’t successful. Oh well. The vegetables tasted fresh and were deliciously chewy. I kind of understand why it’s served as a side dish because of it’s consistency."

(Feliciano, D. (23,September 2015) “10 Exotic Foods By The Igorots Of The Cordillera Region. How Many Have You Tried? “) retrieved from:  http://www.cordilleransun.com/2015/09/10-exotic-foods-by-igorots-of.html

CORDILLERA'S MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS

Gangsa

It is a single hand-held smooth-surfaced gong with a narrow rim. A set of gangsa, which is played one gong per musician, consists of gangsa tuned to different notes, depending on regional or local cultural preferences. The number of gangsa in a set varies with availability, and depends on the tradition of a particular ethnic group of the Luzon Cordillera: Kalinga, Ifugao, Bontoc, etc.Among the Kalinga people in the Cordillera region of Luzon Island, the gangsa is played in two ways. One way is called "toppaya" and the other is called "pattung." In "toppaya" style, the musicians play the surface of the gangsa with their hand while in a sitting position, with a single gangsa resting on the lap of each musician. In the "pattung" style, a gangsa is suspended from the musician's left hand and played with a padded stick held in the musician's right hand. In the "pattung" style of playing, the players are standing, or they keep in step with the dancers while bending forward slightly.

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gangsa)

Kalaleng or Tongali (nose flute)

    Because the kalaleng is long and has a narrow internal diameter, it is possible to play different harmonics through overblowing—even with the rather weak airflow from one nostril. Thus, this nose flute can play notes in a range of two and a half octaves. Finger holes in the side of the bamboo tube change the operating length, giving various scales. Players plug the other nostril to increase the force of their breath through the flute.

Tongatong

It is a bamboo percussion instrument used by the people of Kalinga to communicate with spirits during house blessings. It is made of bamboo cut in various lengths. When you hit it against soft earth a certain drone reverberates though the instrument's open mouth. When an entire set of Tongatong is played in interloping rhythm and prolonged with the tribal chanting, it could put the audience and the dancers in a trance.

 (http://philippinesheritage.ph/filer/toledo-cebu/Cordillera-Musical-Instruments.pdf)

Diwas (Dad-ayu (Balangaw), Diwdiwas (Bontoc), Saggeypo (Kalinga), Dewdew-as (Tingguian) 

    It is a native bamboo wind instrument in the Philippines which is a variation of the well-known panflutes or panpipes. It is made of bamboo with one of its end closed via the node of the bamboo. It also does not have finger holes (or tone holes) which is unlike popular aerophones like flutes that have finger holes or tone holes to play different pitches on the instrument. But Diwas compensate on this by grouping pipes of graduated length together. So to produce sound with varying pitch, you shift from one pipe to another.

( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diwas)

Saggeypo

    In Kalinga, Saggeypo and Diwas are the same because Saggeypo is the individual pipes in Diwas. There is no significant difference in the physical features of Saggeypo and Diwas. However, since Diwas is a group of Saggeypo strung together, the lengths of the pipe are more fixed.

    It is a bamboo pipe that is closed on one end by a node with the open end held against the lower lip of the player as he blows directly across the top. The pipe can be played individually by one person or in ensembles of three or more. 

(http://philippinesheritage.ph/filer/toledo-cebu/Cordillera-Musical-Instruments.pdf

Solibao

    It is hallow wooden Igorot drug topped with pig skin or lizard skin this is played by striking the drum head using the palm of the hand. A head is stretched over one side of a drum shell made by hollowing out a long piece of wood. The head is tied to the body by a piece of rattan and tightened. The player holds the instrument at an angle to the body and plays by striking. It is played together with gongs and the like to form a sulibao ensemble.

(http://philippinesheritage.ph/filer/toledo-cebu/Cordillera-Musical-Instruments.pdf)

Bungkaka

    It is a percussion instrument (idiophone) made out of bamboo common in numerous indigenous tribes around the Philippines such as the Ifugao, Kalinga, and Ibaloi. The instrument is constructed from a length of buho (bamboo) with a node at the bottom end.     The upper half is shaped such that there are two tongues facing each other, while the bottom end acts as a (acoustic resonance|resonator chamber)

    It is also known as:bamboo buzzer, avakao (Bontok), balingbing, ubbeng (Kalinga), pewpew (Ifugao), bilbil, pahinghing, pautaw (Isneg, Tingguian), pakkung (Ibaloi)

Kullitong/Kolitong
    A Kolitong is a bamboo polychordal tube zither from Bontok, Kalinga, Philippines with six strings that run parallel to its tube body. The strings are numbered from one to six, from lowest to highest pitch. The body acts as the instrument's resonator. The body may be a whole tube or a half tube, in both cases the two ends of the body are closed by the bamboo nodes. To help with the resonance of the instrument, holes are made on both nodes and long cracks are made along the body parallel to the strings. In the Kalinga group, men play the Kolitong at night as a solo instrument

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kolitong

REFERENCES:

·        Wikipedia”GANGSA”(2015,March).Retrieved from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gangsa

·        Wikipedia”KALALENG”(2016,October 30) Retrieved from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalaleng

·        Wikipedia”DIWAS”(2016,December 14) Retrieved from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diwas

·        Wikipedia”BUNGKAKA”(2016,September 4) Retrieved from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bungkaka

·        Kalinga Music “Music Lecture”(2010,July 25) Retrieved from: https://sppcfreshmen20102011.wordpress.com/2010/07/25/kalinga-music/

·        Wikipedia”KULLITONG”(2015,November 7) Retrieved from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kolitong

·        Musiko Cordillera”CORDILLERA’S MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS”(2013,February25) Retrieved from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kolitong

FESTIVALS AND EVENTS

Mt. Province

1. Lang-ay Festival, Mt. Province, April 7

A week-long agro-industrial trade, tourism and cultural fair with tribal dances and songs in full regalia. Lang-ay is a native term which showcases the living tradition of the people of Mountain province to celebrate festivities, share happiness, foster family solidarity, hospitality and nurture friendship - all with a toast of home brewed wine.

2. Menaliyam Festival, May 27 - 28
A mini Lang-ay Festival that showcases the best of the Balangao, Baliwon, and Barlig tribes reminiscent of their old and living customs and traditions amidst the sound of gongs and chanting of sacred prayers.

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

4. Chom-no or Chonno
The grandest and most expensive wedding celebration which usually happens once in four or five years when the number of carabaos butchered reflects the economic status of the family, accompanied by dancing and singing. 

 Abra

1. Kawayan festival means Bamboo Festival. It is the fiesta celebration of the provincial government of Abra. Abra is located at northern part of the Philippines. Abrenians tagged their fiesta as Kawayan Festival because of abundancy of bamboo’s in their region.

2. “Dapil Festival” is a festival on sugarcane which is one of the Abra’s main agricultural products for the manufacture of a wine called “basi”, vinegar, molasses called “muscovado” and candies. 

Dapil is derived from the word “Dadapilan”, an equipment used in extacting the sugar cane juice.

3. Arya! Abra Festival, is a week-long celebration that coincides with the founding anniversary of the Province of Abra, held yearly from March 6-10.

Arya Abra Festival is a celebration of the province of Abra’s individuality. It is a week-long celebration that showcases various sectors/groups in the province. Each day is offered to a particular group of persons as a way of honoring them for what they have done for the province of Abra. The cultural festival “Arya Abra” has become a traditional yearly festival which is aimed not only for outsiders but also the natives of Abra.

The Arya Abra festivity is a week-long great exercise, not just for attracting tourists but also to enlighten all Abreños to take pride in the heritage and rich culture of their province

4. Tingguian Festival features rich and colorful dances, rituals and songs of the Tingguian tribe.

Kalinga 

1.The Ullalim Festival is a tourism and industry promotional event for three days (February 13-16) showcasing the rich cultural heritage of the people and their bountiful natural resources.

A cultural festival showcasing the life and culture of the Kalinga through sports, crafts including indigenous food

2. The Matagoan Festival celebrates the warm and peaceful relationship between and among the different tribes that reside in Tabuk. The festival highlights the indigenous practices, arts, and dances of the different sub-tribes. It is celebrated on the 16^th of June every year.

A showcase of the cultural practices of the eight sub-tribes of Tabuk (Biga, Tobog, Dallac, Malbong, Naneng, Gaddang, Guilayon, Colminga). Serves as a culminating activity of Tabuk Day. Events include: Dornat – strenthening of the Bodong ties between two tribes; presentation of cultural songs and dances; and Matagoan Run or a 6-kilometer run from Bulanao up to the municipal hall in the Poblacion.

3. Unoy Festival- This festival is held in thanksgiving to an
 abundant harvest of the Unoy rice and other agricultural products of the people of Tinglayan, a municipality of Kalinga. It also aims to promote Unoy rice as Kalinga’s most sought-after agricultural product.

Apayao 

1. The annual Apayao Day is held in Apayao every February 14th.  It consists of cultural activities presenting pageants and sports.

2. The Say-Am-Talip-Tadoc Festival features their ethnic songs, dances and rituals.

3.The  Pudtol Town Fiesta, Pudtol Last Thurs., Fri., and Sat. of May Agro-Trade Fair Pageant and Sports.

4. Conner is celebrated every 3rd Week of May with cultural presentations, trade fair, pageant and sports activities.

5. Fruit Harvest Festival- Celebrated in September and October in Kirikitan, Conner Apayao.  It is the harvest season of rambutan, lanzones, durian, oranges and pomelo.

6. The Luna Foundation Day is held every  October in Luna, Apayao showcasing agro-trade fair, pageant and sports fest.

7. The Pudtol Foundation Day is celebrated every 2nd Week of December in Pudtol, Apayao showcasing agro-trade fair, pageant and sports fest   

Benguet 

1. The Strawberry Festival is celebrated every February, the Strawberry Festival is another tourist attraction which includes a float parade participated in by various barangays, non-government organizations, people’s organizations, and business establishments 

2. Adivay Festival- The 13 municipalities of Benguet gather together every November/December in the Adivay Festival, the province’s celebration of thanksgiving and unity. Here, the municipalities showcase their wealth in culture, natural resources, agriculture, and trade.

 

  

Abra

1.  Imbayah Festivals- In the highlands, there is afestival that is somehow underrated. , specifically the Imbayah Festival which is celebrated every three years is a grand festivity highlighting the rich and coloful culture of the Ifugao.

2.The annual Tungoh and Hungduan Festival is a a display of indigenous arts and crafts as well agricultural products hosted at the Municipal Grounds. It is a three-day activity celebrated every third week of April. Tungoh refers to the rest period in the traditional agricultural cycle, which is usually after the planting season.

Highlights of the festival includes the annual climb to Mount Napulawan, ethnic parade, ethnic games, agro-industrial exhibits, demonstration of indigenous cultural practices, rituals, songs and dances, and sports competitions.

3. Gotad is an Ifugao term which usually refers to a normal gathering of people and a certain phase of prestige rites where people converge in the village of the family conducting the rites.

The weeklong festivity started with a float contest and a grand cultural parade around the poblacion, or central area, of the capital town of Lagawe.

 

Mt. Province FESTIVALS AND EVENTS. http://www.visitmyphilippines.com/index.php?title=Mt.Province&fun=all&pid=1097 2017 May 14 Retrieved

Festivals in Abra. (2016 November10) http://www.traveltothephilippines.info/2012/01/09/colorful-festivals-in-abra/. 2017 May 14  Retrieved

Festivals and Events.  (2016 November10) http://www.traveltothephilippines.info/2012/12/10/colorful-festivals-and-events-in-kalinga/ . 2017 May 14 Retrieved

 Festivals and Events. http://www.traveltothephilippines.info/2012/11/26/colorful-festivals-in-apayao/. 2017 May 14 Retrieved 

Festivals in Benguet. http://www.traveltothephilippines.info/2012/09/19/colorful-festivals-in-benguet/. 2017 May 14 Retrieved

Colorful Festivals. http://www.traveltothephilippines.info/2012/10/02/colorful-festivals-in-ifugao/. 2017 May 14  Retrieved