Mapping our heritage, charting our future.
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BAYE-BAYE

BAYE-BAYE

CMPG

Baye-Baye is a traditional sweet rice delicacy, made from glutinous rice, grated young coconut, sugar, and water, known for its chewy texture and cultural significance. It is a staple snack in Miagao, prepared during special occasions and religious holidays, often sold in local markets and made by families using traditional tools and methods. The process requires time, patience, and skill, typically passed down through generations. Challenges to its continuity include declining interest among youth, and limited documentation. . Safeguarding measures include non-formal education, documentation, promotion during festivals, and provincial efforts like cultural mapping, media promotion, and planned publications to preserve ...
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TULTUGAN FESTIVAL

CMPG

The Tultugan Festival, held every December 26 in Maasin, Iloilo, celebrates the town’s bamboo heritage, especially its traditional bamboo instruments known as “tultog.” Recognized as the “Bamboo Capital of Panay,” Maasin uses this festival to highlight bamboo’s cultural, artistic, and economic significance. Events include vibrant street dances, musical performances using bamboo, and displays of local craftsmanship, especially by skilled artisans. Cultural knowledge is passed down through oral traditions, mentorship, workshops, and modern media like social platforms and documentaries. Despite financial, environmental, and logistical challenges, the local government actively supports and promotes the festival to preserve Maasin’s heritage and sustain bamboo-related ...
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BINAROT NGA PALAWAN (PALAWAN DELICACY)

CMPG

Binarot nga Palawan is a traditional snack made from grated “palawan” (giant taro), salt, and muscovado sugar, carefully wrapped in its skin and steamed, usually prepared in the morning or after lunch. The snack is not sold commercially but shared with guests, reflecting hospitality and cultural pride. Knowledge of this culinary tradition is passed through family involvement, maintaining its presence in the community. Despite its rich cultural value, the snack faces challenges as modern preferences shift toward trendier food. Preservation efforts include documentation, promotion on social media, and events like NAMIT! to revitalize and celebrate this heritage cuisine.
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PITO-PITO RITUAL

CMPG

The Pito-Pito ritual is a spiritual thanksgiving ceremony practiced by the Panay Bukidnon communities in the upland barangays of Janiuay, Iloilo. Held every seven years, it honors ancestral and nature spirits—like saragudon, talonanon, and dungan—for guidance, protection, and blessings, and promotes both personal well-being and community harmony. The ritual is led by a baylan (shaman), involves offerings such as a black pig and native chicken, and includes chanting, dancing, and symbolic acts like walking around the altar seven times. Ritual preparations include wearing red clothing, hanging garments to signify the presence of spirits, and using specific items like fermented juice, ...
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BINANOG FESTIVAL

CMPG

The Binanog Festival, rooted in the traditional Binanog dance of the Sulod Bukidnon (Tumanduk) people, is celebrated annually in Lambunao, Iloilo, and showcases the town’s rich indigenous heritage. The Binanog dance, inspired by the movements of the “banog” bird, symbolizes courtship and reflects the deep connection between humans and nature in Panay Bukidnon culture.The festival is a collaborative effort involving indigenous elders, cultural masters, local youth, and the municipal government, who help teach and perform the dance through oral tradition and apprenticeship. Aside from promoting unity and cultural pride, it also supports the local economy by attracting tourists and generating ...
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DAGYAW (SPIRIT OF COMMUNAL UNITY AND COOPERATION)

CMPG

Dagyaw, also known as bayanihan, is a traditional Filipino practice of communal unity where people voluntarily help one another, especially during times of need. Originating from pre-colonial times and still active in Guimbal, Iloilo, dagyaw includes tasks like house relocation, farming, and community support during events like weddings, funerals, or calamities. Men often handle labor intensive work while women and children help with cleaning and food preparation. It is passed down through generations by encouraging youth to witness and participate in community service. However, it faces challenges from modernization and weakened neighborly ties, though it remains vital in rural communities.
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TU-OB SANG BAROTO

CMPG

Tu-ob sang Baroto is a traditional coastal ritual practiced in Batad, Iloilo, and nearby towns to bless fishing boats and seek protection and abundance from sea spirits. Performed mainly on Tuesdays and Fridays, it involves burning herbs, coconut husks, and incense to create purifying smoke around the boats while offering prayers to ancestral and sea deities. The ritual reflects a deep spiritual bond between coastal communities and the sea, symbolizing respect, survival, and ancestral ties. Despite its continued practice, challenges such as youth migration, environmental changes, and modern influences pose threats to its survival.
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ALSA ALSA

CMPG

Alsa-Alsa is a local practice in the fish market of Barangay Tabuc-suba, Barotac Nuevo, where part-time laborers earn by collecting small amounts of fish from each box they handle. These workers perform tasks like loading, unloading, weighing, and repacking fish, and instead of receiving wages, they are allowed to take some fish, which they later sell at lower prices. This system, called sakot, provides income ranging from ₱300 to over ₱2,000 a day depending on the volume and fish quality. The practice is passed down informally through experience and observation within the fish market. Alsa-Alsa strengthens social bonds among workers ...
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DEBOSYON KAY SAN JOSE

CMPG

The Debosyon kay San Jose is an estimated century-old Roman Catholic tradition in Banate, celebrated every March 19 to honor Saint Joseph and give thanks for a bountiful year. It is held in the home of a host family who prepares 12 symbolic dishes for chosen members portraying the Holy Family—Jose (an elder), Maria (a young unmarried woman), and Niño (a boy aged 7–10). The ritual includes songs from a women’s group, a ceremonial meal, and offerings from devotees, believed to bring blessings, health, and prosperity. The practice is passed down through generations, with participation from all ages regardless of ...
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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 ...
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