Gaddang

• Gaddang


  A collection of related ethnolinguistic groups in the eastern Cordillera of Luzon
• Most Gaddang had converted to Christianity by 1900, a minority (around 10%) maintained their indigenous religion until the 1970s
• Pagan Gaddang


  Formerly used term for the minority of Gaddang who maintained their indigenous religion
• Ga'dang


  Term now used to refer to the group formerly known as 'Pagan Gaddang'
• The Gaddangs first entered written history in 1598 during the Spanish occupation, though it is theorized that they have come from the north and entered the Cagayan River thousands of years earlier
• It is further suggested that Gaddangs may have occupied Cagayan Valley after the Aetas
• Baptism for the Gaddang

  1. Tunnad (food offering for the spirit of ancestors)

  2. Pakangkamman piddan (dancing and giving money to the newly baptized child so that he/she will grow heathy and prosperous)
• Birthday celebration for the Gaddang

  1. Warit (food offering for the unseen spirits)

  2. Eating, singing and dancing
• Fiesta for the Gaddang


  Giving thanksgiving to God for the manifold blessings
• Wedding for the Gaddang

  1. Patontol (a ritual to drive away evil spirit)

  2. Pakuwad (shower of coins and rice grains)

  3. Pabbodan (dance hall)

  4. Pagala (the couple dance while the visitors and relatives pin money to their clothes)
• Healing for the Gaddang

  1. Albularyu talks to the caralua (spirit)

  2. Warit (show respect to the souls of their dead loved ones and other caralua)
• Death and burial for the Gaddang

  1. Wearing white twine on the forehead as a sign of mourning

  2. Prayers for the soul of the dead

  3. Hand washing and wetting the forehead with hot water from boiled guava leaves to prevent headache and body pains
• Among the Gaddang, if they hear that someone in the community celebrates an occasion with or without invitation, they grace the occasion
• Livelihood of the Gaddang people

  • Agriculture
  • Fishing
  • Gathering
  • Hunting
• Common areas inhabited by the Gaddang tribe

  • Southeastern Kalinga-Apayao
  • Eastern Bontok
  • Isabela Province
  • Central Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, and Quirino Provinces
• The Christianalized, lowland Gaddang are now almost indistinguishable from the Ilokano and Ibanag people of the valley
• The Gaddang do not practice import and ownership of Cagayan highlands people anymore
• The Gaddang tribe are the original occupants of what is now the Cagayan Valley province of Isabela
• Almost 90% of the Gaddang converted to Christianity, and the other 10% remained in their indigenous religion
• Gaddang emanates from the word GA meaning “heat of fire” and DANG meaning “burn” or “burned by the heat”
• Japanese Ambassador Toshinao Urabe and Mayor Avelino Amangyen of the Municipality of Paracelis in Mt. Province signed the grant contract for “ The Project for the Construction of the Rural Health Unit of the Municipality of Paracelis ” on January 13, 2012 at the Embassy of Japan.
• the United Church of Manila Inc initiated a Medical & Dental Mission
• Barawasi - upper garment for women, a long sleeved round-necked collarless and waist-length blouse with colorful beeds
• Tapis or Aken - a lower garment for women, a lengthy piece of cotton cloth worn around the waistline down to the knees
• Uway - threads
• Bukat - beads
• Bakwat - a belt, a thing to enclose the skirt
• Binakaw - indicates status and it is placed on the head before singat and apagi
• Singat - a head band
• apagi - placed on the head before singat and binakaw
• Lan-ma - an upper garment for men, an upper body jacket.
• Tapit or Cape - edged with small pom-poms and has a neck tie with beaded tassels
• Abag or Dinega - a narrow loincloth, ends are heavy with beading and profusely decorated with yellow, white, and black glass beads
• Neck tie - has beaded fringes and chased brass weights