Ibaloi Tradition(Cañao)

     Cañao  is one of our traditions, heritage of our ancestors. Our tradition is still existing cause we, ibalois, proudly perform and show to others that we love our tribe and we're here because of one desire.

    

      In conducting the cañao, the peoples will butcher pig. They will lay the pig on a bed of grass in the middle of the ground. Then some peoples will voluntary perform the tayaw with the beats of the gongs and drums. They will use the yellow, red, black ibaloi traditional attire. After a few rounds of dancing or performing the tayaw, the crowd will shout “Ooaay, oooaay, oooh, oooh” meaning “God bless you always” this signals the dancers to stop .The traditional dance is repeated several times.

      Cañao is a ritual involving sacrificial of pigs , cows ,or even carabaos as a thanks giving for a bountiful harvest, weeding,or and others. The “mambuneng” or spiritual leader delivers a simple prayer for the spirits to guide them , or to give thanks for the foods, for the attendance of everyone. Two women starts beating brass gong called kalsa and the pinsak, it will be followed by another woman with the tikitek, it is two iron rods producing high-pitched sounds. A lot of peoples thought that only men’s are the ones to play the instruments but the truth is womens are also allowed to play the instruments. Tapey, the native rice wine is being passed around after the dance. Everyone drinks from the same glass as a sign of harmony and unity. Tapey is served in important occasions and festivities such as cañao.

  

       Then the crowd will be still and only the sound of the gongs and drums will be heard. The men’s will still hold the sacrificial pig, then someone will cut across the pig’s chest using a bolo. The flesh will be chopped and boiled in a big, black cauldrons with nothing but water and salt which will be shared to the crowd when cooked. The intestines and blood are collected to be made into "dinardaraan". Boiled “dok-to” ( camote) and “abe” (gabi) will be served to everyone as an appetizer while waiting for the pork to be cooked. And when the meat is already cooked, the servers will rice, one piece of meat, and one peace of fat. The livers will be given to the elders as a sign of respect and because it is soft part . if someone can’t eat all their food, they can bring it home. After eating, everyone sings in chorus , “thank you, thank you , thank you very much” with a smile on their face.

ARTIFACTS

 
K- eeping our tradition

A- nd admiring it 

  W-hich

I-mpress us to offer our

L-oyalty in our tribe

K-ind hearted ibaloi, performs their cañao in a

U-nique way 

M-emorable and 

P-resentable

A-rt of our tribe that can be adapted by

Y-outh

E-ncouraging others 

T-o

A-attend cañao  for them to have

K-nowledge on it

T-reasuring our culture and

A-ccepting the reality 

E-mbrassing our tribe to come up with one

D-esire

B-butchering pig

A-and performing cañao,

N-nationalities that exist in each

G-guides us to become one.

K-knowing that lot of ibalois are proud of being an ibaloi,

 I-inspiring also others to be proud of their ethnicity.

 L-loving our own ethnicity

A-and being proud
Y-ahoo!!

           Artifacts like ''kawil'', ''taed'' , ''kompay'' and ''etak'' are used in rituals. The ''mambuneng'' or the spiritual leader will be the one to decide if what will they do. ''Bangkilay'' is the altar of ibaloi where they will put jar of tapey and piece of food that they will offer.

cañao

Performing cañao

Jessica:What is cañao? and why do we need to perform it?
Lolo Johny: This tradition is a respect for the dead ones,
Jessica: Uncle, what is the use of the ''bangkilay''?
Lolo Johny: It is used in butchering pig and its where we put the foods that we will offer.
Jessica: How about that jar? what's the use of that?
Lolo Johny: This jar is used for the tapey, the spirit leader will pray for it and will give to the family members to get more blessings.
Jessica: Why do we need to perform cañao?
Lolo Johny: It's for the sake of the dead ones.
Jessica:Why is cañao very important to us, ibalois?
Lolo Johny: To have a great and wonderful life
Jessica: Thank you uncle!

Performing Tayaw, it is a dance that ibalois should perform.

Posted by:
Coloma, Monique Nicole P.
Pistola, Mikee A.
Epi, Jessica D.
Palos, Jessiel G.
Navarro, Jay T.
Beled, Salvador D.
Pistola, Fredie C.
Quindao, Rathelyn Q.
Padaco, Anjoelin A.
Deleon, Jennifer R.


Special Thanks to:
Pistola Family




*"say evadoi jen esel ko bindisyon nen Shiyos Apo sunga osalen ko anken nganto ikokowan jo"*