Mapping our heritage, charting our future.
Follow Us:

PANGALAP/TRADITIONAL HEALING

PANGALAP/TRADITIONAL HEALING

CMPG

Pangalap is a traditional ritual done during Holy Week wherein healers gather sangkap (materials) in the mountains. They often gather roots, plants, and branches, which is then prayed over and mixed with lana (oil). Afterwards, this concoction is used by healers in pamulong (healing their patients) such as hilot (traditional massage) wherein they use the lana to rub and massage their patients. Due to this ritual, healers believe that their lana contains spiritual properties that can help heal their patients.
Read More

PAGHUGAS

CMPG

Paghugas is a funeral tradition where attendees wash their hands with warm water boiled with kabugao (pomelo) leaves after a burial. This ritual is done upon returning to the deceased’s house, believed to cleanse negative energy or spiritual residue. A family member prepares the leaves and sets up basins at the house entrance for handwashing. Traditionally, all mourners are expected to perform this act, and if the water becomes dirty, the last person uses the leaves to wipe their hands. The practice is widely observed in the community and has been passed down through generations. However, modernization and the influence ...
Read More

BURDON

CMPG

Burdon is a traditional funeral game played in Dueñas, Iloilo, where young men and women participate in symbolic roles to help a grieving family cope with loss. The game involves passing a ring or stone while chanting, with roles like police (pulis), cat (miyaw), king, and queen, all contributing to a playful but spiritually significant atmosphere. If the ring reaches the king and queen unnoticed, the pulis and miyaw face playful punishments like performing a lament or song. This ritual fosters community bonding and often sparks relationships among participants, helping transform grief into social connection. Though once widely practiced, Burdon ...
Read More

PANGHIMALAY

CMPG

Panghimalay is a traditional ritual led by a Merko or Babaylan to seek permission from unseen spirits when constructing or occupying a building. It involves offerings like boiled chicken, feathers, and candle lighting, with prayers recited thrice during specific days and times believed to be spiritually significant. The ritual remains actively practiced and is believed to prevent misfortunes, as seen in cases where its absence led to unexplained discomfort. However, modernization and changing beliefs pose threats to its continuity, though efforts like documentation help safeguard the tradition.
Read More

PANGBOBO (FISH-TRAP MAKING)

CMPG

Pangbobo, the traditional craft of making fish traps called “bobo,” is practiced in coastal areas of Concepcion, Iloilo, especially in Brgy. Lo-ong. These traps, made from bamboo, PVC netting, and hose materials, are designed to capture fish effectively and are central to the livelihood of local fisherfolk. The skill is informally passed down from elders to younger generations through hands-on learning. Beyond providing food, pangbobo carries historical and cultural value, reflecting indigenous knowledge of marine life and sustainable fishing. It also plays a vital socioeconomic role, offering employment to artisans who build and maintain the traps. However, challenges such as ...
Read More

PANGINHAS

CMPG

Panginhas, or the traditional gathering of shellfish during low tide, is a practice on Sicogon Island rooted in generations of sustainable marine harvesting. It reflects the islanders’ deep bond with the sea, relying on tidal rhythms and eco-friendly techniques like hand-picking from reef flats and tidal pools. This communal activity fosters cooperation, strengthens social ties, and reinforces shared responsibility for marine conservation. Passed down through oral tradition and hands-on learning, panginhas helps preserve local knowledge and cultural identity. Despite its continuity, the practice faces threats from overharvesting, habitat destruction, and harmful methods like using fish poison. To protect this heritage, ...
Read More

DINAGYANG FESTIVAL

CMPG

The Dinagyang Festival in Iloilo City, is a vibrant celebration blending religious devotion, cultural expression, and artistic performance in honor of the Santo Niño. Originating in 1967 and officially named in 1977, the festival features events like the Pamukaw, Ati Tribe Competition, Fluvial Procession, Dinagyang Float and Lights Parade, Kasadyahan Regional Cultural Competition, Miss Iloilo Pageant, Sadsad Ritual, and Tambor Trumpa Martsa Musika. It is celebrated annually on the fourth Sunday of January but preparations and events span several weeks in advance. Cultural transmission occurs through family traditions, community mentorship, and formal training, with performers, choreographers, religious devotees, and the ...
Read More

PINALABTUGA (NATIVE CHICKEN CUISINE)

CMPG

Pinalabtugan, also called dos bukales, is a traditional chicken-based dish from Igbaras known for its minimal broth and twice-boiled cooking method, rooted in the Kinaray-a term “pinalabtog” which means “to make a soup with.”. Prepared with native ingredients like bisaya nga manok, alupidan leaves, and local spices, it reflects the resourcefulness and agricultural lifestyle of the Igbarasnons. The dish holds cultural value as it is commonly served during communal events like fiestas, funerals, and drinking sessions. Knowledge of its preparation is transmitted both informally through peer learning during gatherings and vertically through family traditions. Despite its continued relevance, a growing ...
Read More

SUGUIDANON (EPIC CHANTING)

CMPG

Suguidanon is a centuries-old oral tradition of epic chanting performed by the Panay Bukidnon communities in upland Central Panay. This features ten epics that reflect their spiritual worldview, customs, and identity. Traditionally performed by manugsuguidanon such as binukot (secluded maidens) and babaylan (shamans), it serves as both entertainment and a medium for transmitting cultural knowledge during social and spiritual gatherings. The chanting is complex, using Old Kinaray-a and requiring great memorization and vocal skill, often taking days to complete and performed during rituals, harvests, or as lullabies. Despite the decline in the number of chanters due to social changes and ...
Read More

PAGDAHA KANG TINUOM

CMPG

Tinuom is a traditional dish in Cabatuan, Iloilo, made by wrapping native chicken and spices in banana leaves, then boiling it. This dish, while simple, reflects the town’s culinary heritage and identity. The women of Cabatuan are regarded as the main culture-bearers of this practice and they often pass down the recipe and cooking techniques through observation and hands-on participation during community events. The dish is showcased annually in a culinary competition organized by the local government, promoting creativity and cultural pride among participants. Socially, Tinuom is a centerpiece in fiestas and communal gatherings, attracting both locals and visitors, while ...
Read More