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, candles, and traditional food offerings. Knowledge is passed through observation and oral transmission by elders and shamans, but the practice faces decline due to modernization and youth disinterest. Despite challenges, it continues among some families and has been documented as part of preservation efforts by the Bukidnon communities.
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Gellie Jill P. De la Cruz
Tags:
altar walking, ancestral spirits, baylan shaman, black pig offering, chanting and dancing, community harmony, Cultural Preservation, elders and shamans, Janiuay Iloilo, modernization challenges, native chicken offering, nature spirits, offerings ritual, Oral Tradition, Panay Bukidnon, Pito-Pito ritual, red clothing ritual, spirit presence symbols, spiritual thanksgiving, traditional food offerings, youth disinterest
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