Chiva: A Reader on Ibaloy History and Culture (Book)

This is a book every Ibaloy should find time to read. I'd also recommend it to anyone, Ibaloy or not, who is interested in learning about Ibaloy culture and history. The pieces in this collection range from the academic/scholarly to the sentimental/nostalgic. These include works by June Prill-Brett, Jessica Kintanar Carino, Bienvenido Tapang Jr. and seven other authors.

What is "chiva" you might ask. Jimmy B. Fong, the book's editor, writes in his Preface that "chiva is an Ibaloy term referring to all sorts of storytelling and sharing of narratives such as stories, genealogies, traditions, and legends". It's an appropriate title for this collection of articles/essays about the Ibaloys.

What I loved about some of the pieces in this book is how they described and made sense of how Ibaloys navigated the waves of colonization and other outside forces that tried to mangle or take away their cultural identity.

The articles in this book cover just a small portion of Ibaloy culture and history. Just the tip of the iceberg. But it's a good place to start for anyone in want of studying the Ibaloys. It's a book that will get your foot through the door.

Most of the articles end with notes and references which you can use/follow for further study and investigation.

If you want a copy of the book, you can check out the Shopee/Lazada shops of the Cordillera Studies Center. You can also get a copy at the Museo Kordilyera at the University of the Philippines Baguio. I'm not sure if they have copies at the Mt. Cloud Bookshop but it's worth checking out with them.

The book cover for Chiva: A Reader on Ibaloy History and Culture.

Of Igorots and Independence: Two Essays by William Henry Scott (Book)

William Henry Scott was an American historian who dedicated a huge chunk of his time researching and writing about the Igorots. The scholarly papers and books he wrote about Igorot culture and history are invaluable resources that continue to shape the direction of Igorot/Cordillera research to this day.

This book contains two essays by Scott. These are:
1. The Defense of Igorot Independence
2. The Origin of the Word Igorot

The essays are accompanied by hand-drawn illustrations by Alex Aguilar. The book also contains a biographical note on the author by Erlyn Ruth E. Alcantara.

This particular book is most likely out-of-print given that it was published in 1993. But thanks to the internet, you can easily find these two essays online. Google is your friend. Just search for the titles of the individual essays. Scott passed away in 1993. His remains now rests in a tranquil cemetery in Sagada, Mountain Province.

The book cover for Of Igorots and Independence: Two Essays by William Henry Scott.

The Mushroom Explorer's Guide to the Cordilleras

Book title: The Mushroom Explorer's Guide to the Cordilleras
Authors: Marco Lobregat and Chris Angway
Publisher: Manila Bulletin Publishing Corporation

About the book (back cover blurb):

Explore the Cordilleras, home to an ancient culture still thriving today in the majestic mountain highlands of Northern Luzon in the Philippines.

Mushroom gathering practices and use among the indigenous people of the Cordilleras, particularly from the Kankanaey and Ibaloi who live close to highland coniferous forests, can be traced back for generations.

Learn about foraging for wild mushrooms - 'damayan' or 'bagel' in indigenous languages - in the pine forests of this mountain region. Discover the different names and characteristics of various wild mushrooms in the Cordilleras and explore mushroom gastronomy with recipes featuring these unique ingredients.

List Of Books About Ifugao Culture And History

[Page in progress. Last updated October 10, 2024.]

Becoming a Mumbaki: Ritual Change and Continuity in Contemporary Ifugao Society, North Luzon, Philippines by Analyn V. Salvador-Amores and Marlon M. Martin (2023)

"Studies on the customary practices of the Ifugao, an ethnolinguistic group residing in northern Luzon, have received more attention compared to other ethnolinguistic groups in the Philippines. However, there has been limited analysis on the current practices of both Ifugao male and female mumbaki (referring to "native priests" or ritual specialists), as well as their progression to a higher rank known as mumbagol. 

 This book examines the norms and protocols involved in becoming a ritual practitioner amidst changing social, economic, political, and religious circumstances within a contemporary society. The contemporary practice of Ifugao mumbaki provides insights into similar transformations occurring in indigenous religious practices globally."

Indigenous Archaeology in the Philippines: Decolonizing Ifugao History by Stephen B. Acabado and Marlon M. Martin (2022)

"Dominant historical narratives among cultures with long and enduring colonial experiences often ignore Indigenous histories. This erasure is a response to the colonial experiences. With diverse cultures like those in the Philippines, dominant groups may become assimilationists themselves. Collaborative archaeology is an important tool in correcting the historical record. In the northern Philippines, archaeological investigations in Ifugao have established more recent origins of the Cordillera Rice Terraces, which were once understood to be at least two thousand years old. This new research not only sheds light on this UNESCO World Heritage site but also illuminates how collaboration with Indigenous communities is critical to understanding their history and heritage.

Indigenous Archaeology in the Philippines highlights how collaborative archaeology and knowledge co-production among the Ifugao, an Indigenous group in the Philippines, contested (and continue to contest) enduring colonial tropes. Stephen B. Acabado and Marlon M. Martin explain how the Ifugao made decisions that benefited them, including formulating strategies by which they took part in the colonial enterprise, exploiting the colonial economic opportunities to strengthen their sociopolitical organization, and co-opting the new economic system. The archaeological record shows that the Ifugao successfully resisted the Spanish conquest and later accommodated American empire building.

This book illustrates how descendant communities can take control of their history and heritage through active collaboration with archaeologists. Drawing on the Philippine Cordilleran experiences, the authors demonstrate how changing historical narratives help empower peoples who are traditionally ignored in national histories."

Book About The Ifugao Mumbaki Launched By The Cordillera Studies Center

This important book that focuses on the Ifugao mumbaki was launched today by the Cordillera Studies Center at the University of the Philippines Baguio. It's authored by Analyn V. Salvador-Amores (a professor of Anthropology at UP Baguio) and Marlon M. Martin (of the Save the Ifugao Rice Terraces Movement / Ifugao Indigenous Peoples Education Center and Community Heritage Galleries).

Publication of this book was a long journey. If I remember correctly from the "authors' talk" at the launching, the idea for the book germinated in 2018. So it took about 6 to 7 years for the manuscript to finally hit the printing press.

But it's finally here and anyone interested in reading it can get their hands on it. For availability of copies, get in touch with the Cordillera Studies Center. Shoot them a message. I also heard that copies will be available soon on their Lazada/Shoppee storefronts.

Book title: Becoming a Mumbaki: Ritual Change and Continuity in Contemporary Ifugao Society, North Luzon, Philippines
Authors: Analyn V. Salvador-Amores, Marlon M. Martin

Book description:

"Studies on the customary practices of the Ifugao, an ethnolinguistic group residing in northern Luzon, have received more attention compared to other ethnolinguistic groups in the Philippines. However, there has been limited analysis on the current practices of both Ifugao male and female mumbaki (referring to "native priests" or ritual specialists), as well as their progression to a higher rank known as mumbagol. 

 This book examines the norms and protocols involved in becoming a ritual practitioner amidst changing social, economic, political, and religious circumstances within a contemporary society. The contemporary practice of Ifugao mumbaki provides insights into similar transformations occuring in indigenous religious practices globally."

Gimata: Traditional Igorot Transport Basket

The "gimata" is a traditional transport equipment in the Cordillera region. It's basically a wooden shoulder yoke with two large baskets attached on both ends. It's mostly used for transporting agricultural produce like rice, sweet potatoes, and vegetables. It's also often used in transporting meat during community events and rituals.

The wooden yoke is called an "assiw" or "aksiw".

The "gimata" is still used today. Some farmers have become creative and made "gimatas" whose baskets are constructed from steel wires. These steel-wire "gimatas" can carry more load than the old "gimatas" made from wood, rattan, and bamboo.

It takes a lot of practice to be able to carry a heavy load using the "gimata". Learning to balance the load is key. You also need to learn how to effectively transfer the yoke from one shoulder to another.

The Sipat and Allasiw in Peace Talks

From what I understand, the "sipat" is the second stage in a peace talk. This is where the two parties meet for the first time to talk about reconciling their differences and finding a common ground.

The first stage would be the initiation of the peace talk. In the Mount Data Peace Accord, the government which was then under President Corazon Aquino called for peace. They extended a hand to Conrado Balweg and the Cordillera People's Liberation Army (CPLA). The latter heeded the call. In the "sipat" event, another stage in the process occurs. It's called the "allasiw". This is where the two parties exchange peace tokens as symbols of their commitment to what was agreed upon in the talks.

In the Mount Data Peace Accord, the Aquino government gave Balweg a Bible, an M16 rifle, and a rosary. In exchange, Balweg and the CPLA gave a wooden shield and a spear. Some reports say that Balweg also gave a machete/bolo and a head ax.