Kalinga

The Land and the Tribe of Brave

1. KALINGA: The Land and the Tribe of Brave

2. Inhabiting the rugged terrain of the Cordillera Region of Northern Philippines there are six ethno-linguistic tribes known as the Ibaloy , Kankana-ey , Ifugao , Kalinga , Apayao / Isneg , and the Bontoc . They are referred to by a generic term, Igorot , a word coined from the root word, “ golot ” meaning mountain.  

3. The Kalingas are the indigenous peoples of Kalinga , Philippines. They are generally known to be tall, dark-complexioned, and lissome with high bridsed noses. Physically they are very sturdy and well-built so that their war-like characteristics make them more like soldiers.

4. The name Kalinga is believed to have come from Ibanas Kalinga and Gaddang Kalinga which both mean "headhunters." The Kalingas must have acquired their name because of their tradition of headhunting during tribal wars.

5. Tribal wars occur when a bodong peace pact system was broken or violated. The bodong is the most admirable and efficient Kalinga institution. It is a peace pact or treaty between two tribes, wherein the Pagta or laws on inter-tribal relations are made. The bodong is also the Magna Carta of the Kalingas .

6. According to the National Commission on Culture and the Arts , there are 31 sub-tribes of the Kalinga ethnolinguistic group. They are live in Kalinga province's eight towns.

7. GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION

8. Kalinga covers a total area of 3,231.25 square kilometers (1,247.59 sq. mi.) occupying the central section of the Cordillera Administrative Region in Luzon. The province is bordered by Mountain Province to the south, Abra to the west, Isabela to the east, Cagayan to the northeast, and Apayao to the north.

9. The topography of Kalinga province is rugged and sloping, with mountain peaks ranging from 1,500 to 2,500 meters (4,900 to 8,200 ft.) in elevation. The province’s western side is characterized by sharp, crested, interlinking peaks of steep slopes, isolated flatlands, plateaus and valleys. The eastern lands are mainly of rolling and gradually sloping foothills.

10. Large swaths of the province's lowlands are open grassland suitable for pasture, while the highlands have extensive areas of tropical rainforest. In higher elevations to the west, particularly in the mountains of Balbalan , lie some of the most intact pine forests of Luzon island. Biggest rice production are the mountainous area of the rice terraces of Balbalan , Lubuagan , Pasil , Pinukpuk , Tinglayan , and Tanudan .

11. CLIMATE The province experiences an average temperature ranging from 17 to 22 °C (63 to 72 °F) with Type 3 weather patterns. The dry season extends from November to April, while the rest of the year is considered the rainy season, the heaviest rains usually occurring from July to October.

12. HYDROLOGY The province is drained mainly by the Chico River , with its headwaters in the Mountain Province and emptying into the Cagayan River. The Chico River has several tributaries: Bunog River in Tinglayan in the south; the Tanudan and Biga Rivers in the east; Pasil River in the central area; and Poswoy , Dao- angan , Mabaca and Saltan Rivers in the west.

13. ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS Kalinga comprises one city and seven municipalities, all encompassed by a single legislative district. Tabuk was proclaimed a component city in 2007, but in November 2008 the Supreme Court of the Philippines ruled that its cityhood was unconstitutional. However, Tabuk had its city status reinstated by the Supreme Court on December 22, 2009.  

14. CULTURE AND TRADITION

15. The main source of livelihood among the Kalingas is the payew ( ricefields ) and the uma ( swidden farm). Aside from food production, cattle are pastured there, and poultry is raised in the backyard. Small fish ( gadiw ), shell, and marine life are taken from the rivers. Men hunt for wild pigs, deer, and wild fowl in the forest using spears, indigenous traps or rifles. Fruit trees, coconut, coffee, and bananas are grown while sugarcane is planted and made into basi (wine). LIVELIHOOD

16. The Kalinga household consists of a nuclear family and an aged grandparent for they show great respect for elders. The Kalinga society may be stratified into lawa or kapus ( poor) and the baknang ( wealthy). Among the signs of prestige and wealth are possessions of several ricefields , working animals, heirlooms like china plates and jars, agate head/necklaces, and brass gongs. FAMILY

17. The identification of self with the kinship circle could be such that whatever an individual does is the responsibility of the group, and whatever threatens the security of the group must be opposed by the individual . Kalinga women are strong and would kill their husbands if caught cheating . FAMILY

18. Animist rituals with Christian worship. Religious beliefs generally nature-related, and they make proprietary offerings to “ anitos ” (spirits) as well as to household gods. RELIGION

19. Kalingas are also known as Limos or Limos- Liwan Kalinga . The speak the Kalinga and Limos languages. KALINGA - TAGALOG * ampiya - masarap * laweng - pangit * gona ogom - nasaan ka * awadak sina - nandito ako LANGUAGE

20. The male Kalinga native costume is very simple. It consists of a woven, long rectangular cloth which could be used to cover the male private organ. There are no upper clothing . Feathers could be worn as a head dress. CLOTHING

21. In the olden days, tattoos were worn by proud warriors. The more tattoo a male had, the more prized heads, he had cut off. It is a proud symbol of bravery and courage, in the olden times.

22. BABAI: TAPIS LALAKI : "BAHAG" or G-string BONGOL = necklace made of beads .

23. THE EXTINCTION OF ETHNIC EXPERTISE

24. Lasoy , 84-year old Kalingan elder,one of the few surviving members of her generation with compulsory Kalinga tattoos, on what it meant to be a Kalinga woman, and her personal journey of both love and loathing for her skin art.

25. REASONS OF TATTOOS CUTURE A s a symbol of their strength, coming of age and beauty. Special privileges and lifelong respect . Specific motifs are saved only for men in order to communicate their bravery, battles won and how many people they have killed.

26. TATTOO TECHNIQUE & MAMBABATOK MEANINGS The tattoo tools themselves are made from a instrument constructed in bamboo and razor sharp lemon thorns. The design is marked onto the skin using long strips of straight grass, dipped in simple a mixture of charcoal and water. Then thorn tip is submerged in the charcoal solution before rigorously hand tapping the piercing point into the design on the skin.

27. Apo Whang -Od , world renowned Apo and the last practicing traditional Mambabatok in the whole region. At 92 years old, time is running out for her to pass on the time honored hand tapping technique and tribal motifs to her 13 year old grand daughter and apprentice. Tourists are currently flocking to Buscalan village to have the last living legend of Philippine artistry scar their skin.

28. Sukran Kamayo Ubus ! Madyaw na Maserum .