Heritages Archive - Page 28 of 43 - Cultural Mapping of Panay and Guimaras

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 ...

Intangible Cultural Heritage,

BURDON

Dueñas, Iloilo, Poblacion

February 18, 2026

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 ...

Intangible Cultural Heritage,

PANGHIMALAY

Dingle, Iloilo, Libo-o

February 18, 2026

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.

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

PANGBOBO (FISH-TRAP MAKING)

Concepcion, Iloilo, Lo-ong

February 18, 2026

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 ...

BULARAN MAKING

Cultural Mapping Of Panay and Guimaras

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