Iloilo Archives - Page 13 of 20 - Cultural Mapping of Panay and Guimaras

February 18, 2026

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, ...

Intangible Cultural Heritage,

BINANOG FESTIVAL

Iloilo, Lambunao

February 18, 2026

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 ...

Intangible Cultural Heritage,

DAGYAW (SPIRIT OF COMMUNAL UNITY AND COOPERATION)

Guimbal, Iloilo, Poblacion

February 18, 2026

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.

Intangible Cultural Heritage, Traditional Craftsmanship

BULARAN MAKING

Estancia, Iloilo, Tanza

February 18, 2026

CMPG

Bularan making is a traditional fish-drying practice in Barangay Tanza, Estancia, Iloilo, where bamboo racks are built along the coast to preserve fish for consumption and sale. Originating in the 1970s with the growth of the local fishing industry, it remains a vital part of daily life and the local economy. The process involves cleaning, salting, and sun-drying fish mainly anchovies and sardines, on racks called kapil, then selling them at home or the dried fish market. Knowledge of bularan construction is passed informally through generations, as youth learn by helping elders. Though still widely practiced, bularan making faces challenges ...

Intangible Cultural Heritage,

TU-OB SANG BAROTO

Batad, Iloilo, Purok 1

February 18, 2026

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.

Intangible Cultural Heritage, Knowledge and Practices Concerning Nature and the Universe

MANUGKIBIT/HILOT SA BALIKID

Barotac Viejo, Iloilo, Poblacion

February 18, 2026

CMPG

The Manugkibit or Hilot sa Balikid is a traditional healing practice found in Barotac Viejo, Iloilo, known for reflexology techniques used to identify and treat body ailments. Healers learn through observation and hands-on learning. The method involves reading hand pulses to locate imbalances or pain points in the body for massage treatment. Hilot holds historical, cultural, and socioeconomic significance, especially for rural communities without access to modern healthcare. However, the practice is declining as younger generations favor modern medical treatments and few practitioners remain, most of whom are elderly.

Intangible Cultural Heritage,

ALSA ALSA

Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo, Tabuc-Suba

February 18, 2026

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 ...

Intangible Cultural Heritage,

DEBOSYON KAY SAN JOSE

Banate, Iloilo, Poblacion

February 18, 2026

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 ...

Intangible Cultural Heritage, Knowledge and Practices Concerning Nature and the Universe

PANGALAP/TRADITIONAL HEALING

Cabantohan, Iloilo, Lemery

February 18, 2026

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.

Intangible Cultural Heritage,

PAGHUGAS

Burgos-Regidor, Dumangas, Iloilo

February 18, 2026

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 ...

PITO-PITO RITUAL

Cultural Mapping Of Panay and Guimaras

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