ABRA

• Abra has its indigenous inhabitants, originally called 'Itneg' which is contextually the same with the word 'tingguian.'
• Itneg


  Could be the combination of the prefix I that indicates a place of origin and the word 'tineg' which means major river system
• Tingguian


  Might have been derived from the Malay root word 'Tinggi or Tingue' whose meaning encompasses mountains or elevated place and mountaineers
• Tingguians divided into two groups based on geographical locations


  • Lowland Tingguians (wet cultivators)
  • Mountain/Upland Tingguians (dry cultivators with hamlet-sized settlements)
• Abra lies in the towering mountains in the western side of Cordillera in Northern Luzon
• Abra is bounded in the West by the provinces of Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte, in the East by Kalinga, in the North by Apayao and in the South by Mt. Province
• Abra is a landlocked province and now, it has four entrances and exits: the Abra – Ilocos Sur Road, Abra - Kalinga Road, Abra – Ilocos Norte Road and Abra – Cervantes Road
• The Tingguians of Abra occupied almost of the municipalities in the province, wherein there are 19 municipalities defined by their ancestral domain
• Upland Tingguians


  • Boliney
  • Bucloc
  • Daguioman
  • Lacub
  • Licuan-Baay
  • Luba
  • Malibcong
  • Sallapadan
  • Tineg
  • Tubo
• Lowland Tingguians


  • Bucay (some Barangays)
  • Danglas
  • Lagangilang
  • Lagayan
  • Langiden
  • Manabo
  • Peñarrubia
  • San Quintin
  • Villaviciosa
• Tingguian Settlements


  • Gubang tribe in Malibcong
  • Mabaka tribe in Malibcong and Lacub
  • Banao tribe in Malibcong and Daguioman
  • Binongan tribe in Lacub and Licuan-Baay
  • Adasen tribe in Lagayan, Lagangilang, San Juan, and Tineg
  • Agta in Barangay Marugnoy of Villaviciosa
  • Ammutan/Muyadan tribe in Barangays Catacdegan and Nuevo of Manabo
  • Balatok tribe in Barangays Amti, Kilong-olaw and Danak of Boliney
  • Belwang tribe in Barangay Dao-angan of Boliney and Baklingayan of Tubo
  • Inlaud tribe in Lagangilang, Peñarrubia, Bucay, Langiden, San Isidro, San Quintin, Danglas, and Barangay Lumaba, Villaviciosa
  • Maeng tribe in Luba, Tubo, Villaviciosa, and Barangays San Ramon and Ayyeng Manabo
  • Masadiit tribe in Sallapadan, Bucloc and Barangays of Bawiyan, and Dumagas of Boliney
• The words 'Itneg' and 'Tingguians' are identical terms which are used to describe the indigenous people in the province of Abra
• The original inhabitants of Abra must have been known as 'Gimpong,' which is derived from the words 'gepeng or gopong,' that literally characterizes their typical uniformed haircuts
• Ethnolinguistic Groups of Tingguians


  • Adasen
  • Agta
  • Ammutan (Muyadan)
  • Balatok
  • Banao
  • Binungan
  • Belwang
  • Gubang
  • Inlaud
  • Mabaka
  • Maeng
  • Masadiit
• The ancestors of the Tingguians moved to Abra, passing through the boundaries in search of a peaceful place, fertile lands and hunting grounds
• The ritualistic practices of the Tingguians are being defined by their time-honored songs and music enthralled by their distinctive dances
• The yodeling of the uggayam, balbalagoyos, adding and dangu interspersed with the synchronic and symphonic singing of the female mantra, the diwas-sani by the babbakot (elder women) in the amung or bang-lag (celebration hall) are much expressed their attachment on their culture and traditions
• Uggayam, balbalagoyos, adding and dangu


  Distinctive songs and music of the Tingguians
• Mantra, diwas-sani


  Synchronic and symphonic singing of the female Tingguians
• Babbakot


  Elder women in the amung or bang-lag (celebration hall)
• The Tingguians' music, odes and dances express their attachment to their culture and traditions
• Uggayam, adding and dangu


  Sung only during pangili (welcome ceremony of visitors), marriage, Bodong, waksi celebrations, and other special occasions
• The uggayam, adding and dangu cannot be sung during burial period
• Lallakay (elders)


  Well-versed with good philosophies and meaningful messages; good and charismatic voices
• Tadok or tadek


  Dance performed by a pair of a man and woman as they dance religiously around the celebration hall or amung following the beat of the gansa (gongs)
• Al-lap or tapis


  Embroidered frocks given to the partners prior to the dancing of the tadok, symbolising permission and acceptance to dance the tadok
• Tadok


  A sign of friendship, love, respect and acceptance
• Pallo-ok or pattong


  Dance composed of twelve (12) men percussing the gongs
• Alaba-ab, dallong and inam-maga


  Songs sung only during burial rituals and period, expressing agonizing and lamenting sentiments on the passing away of a person
• Da-eng


  Sacred ceremonial dance of the Tingguians, carried on to the accompaniment of a song
• The da-eng dance takes place at night
• Da-eng dance


  1. Ladies form a line in front of a similar row of men around twenty feet apart

  2. They proceed to swing their bodies backwards and forwards by locking their arms around each other's waists and advancing one foot

  3. They suddenly broke into song while moving forward with their left foot

  4. They take three steps toward the males while keeping perfect time with the music, then return to their original positions

  5. The males then follow up the song and advance and withdraw in the same fashion

  6. This is done multiple times before the two lines connect to create a circle

  7. They begin to march counter-clockwise, arms intertwined behind one another's backs and singing in unison

  8. The body rises and falls as the right foot is swiftly brought up to the left foot after being flung somewhat backward and to the side

  9. The step starts off slowly before getting quicker and faster until the dancers' vocal and physical powers are exhausted
• The class will simulate a Tingguian occasion and showcase their music and dances in an "Abra Tingguian Festival"
• The Tingguians' worldview is attested to by their values, spirituality, and rituals guided by their intrinsic knowledge, distinctive system and practices in terms of childbirth and childrearing; courtship and marriage; and funeral and burial rites and practices
• Dawak


  Ceremony conducted by a barren couple, involving rituals and offerings to seek intercession from ancestors for a fruitful marriage
• Gipas or Sikki


  Birth rite performed for the bright future of the child, involving keeping a fire burning for 29 days beside the mother for warmth and protection
• Apo


  Practice of the masadiit tribe where the parents bring the child to the grandparents for the first time, with gifts exchanged
• Longbos


  Confirmation rite performed after a month for the child to gain strength while growing up, with food served to relatives
• Sangasang


  Ritual performed by the Apo Baket or a priestess during the teething of the child, with necessary offerings
• Oloy


  Ritual performed when the child reaches two years old, involving offerings and prayers to counter excessive crying and lead to a happy childhood