NAPIYA NGA

PAGPAGMAAT
TADA NGAMIN
APAYAO
APAYAO is a landlocked province in the
Philippines in the Cordillera Administrative
Region in Luzon. It borders Cagayan to the
north and east, Abra and Ilocos Norte to the
west, and Kalinga to the south.

The province of Apayao comprises 7

municipalities, subdivided into 133 barangays,
all encompassed by a lone legislative district.
Upper Apayao:
Calanasan
Kabugao
Conner
Lower Apayao:
Luna
Pudtol
Flora
Sta. Marcela
 GEOGRAPHY
Location: Cordillera Region in Northern Luzon,
Philippines.
Neighboring Provinces: Cagayan, Kalinga, Abra,
Ilocos Norte
Capital: Kabugao
Area: 4,413.35 km2 (1,704.00 sq mi)
Population:124,400 as of 2020
Spoken Language: Ilokano, Isneg, Tagalog
Known For: Philippine Eagles & Natural
Wonders
Industries: Agriculture and Cottage
Major Products: Palay, Corn, Coffee, Root
Crops, and Vegetables

Fruits Produce: Lansones, Citrus, Bananas,

Pineapples, Durian, Santol, Rambutan,
Coconut, and Mangosteen.
 HISTORY
The Apayaos are a river people who live
in the northern part of the Cordillera
mountain ranges in the Philippines. They are
also known as the Isneg or Isnag.
Apayao derived from the Isnag dialect
meaning “river” or “large body of water”.
 The Americans established the Mountain
Province on August 13, 1908. Apayao (part of
Cagayan province since the Spanish Period), along
with Amburayan, Benguet, Bontoc, Ifugao, Kalinga,
and Lepanto, became sub-provinces of this new
province.
On June 18, 1966, the huge Mountain Province
was split into four provinces: Benguet, Bontoc
(renamed "Mountain Province"), Kalinga-Apayao
and Ifugao.
 Kalinga-Apayao, along with Ifugao, became one
of the provinces of the Cagayan Valley Region in
1972.
July 15, 1987, the Cordillera Administrative
Region was established and Kalinga-Apayao was
made one of its provinces.
February 14, 1995, Kalinga-Apayao was split into
two independent provinces to better service the needs
of individual ethnic groups.
 Congressman Elias K. Bulut, Sr. who made
possible the separation of the province of
Kalinga-Apayao.
 ETHNIC GROUP
The Isnag (Isneg) derived
from the combination of “is”
meaning recede, and “uneg” or
“interior”. Thus, it means
“people who have gone into the
interior”.
 The colonizers referred to them as “Los Apayaos/
Apayaos” referring to the river whose banks and
nearby rugged terrains were their habitat.
Reynolds (1973) mentioned in his research that
they were also known as "Los Mandayas" or
"Mandayan," which refers to people living upstream.
Claveria (2009) mentioned an Isnag settlement
named Karagawan, where the residents prefer to
identify themselves as Ikaragawan.
 HISTORY OF THE ISNEG PEOPLE
The Isneg's ancestors are believed to have been
the proto-Austronesians who came from South China
thousands of years ago.
 Later, they came in contact with groups
practicing jar burial, from whom they adopted the
custom.
 They later also came into contact with Chinese
traders plying the seas south of the Asian mainland.
From the Chinese they bought the porcelain pieces
and glass beads, which now form part of the Isneg's
priceless heirlooms.
 The Isneg have been known to be a head-taking
society since recorded history. The colonial regime of
the Spaniards sought to curb this practice and to fully
Christianize the mountain people. The Spaniards
were able to put up three missions in 1610, but these
were abandoned in 1760.
Isneg practice of head-taking came to an end in
1913 when the Constabulary subdued them in the
Battle of Waga.
 ISNEG HOUSE

Isneg architecture differs markedly from that of

the other groups in the Cordillera. The difference lies
mainly in the boatlike design of the Isneg house.
Apayao in the northernmost part of Luzon is the only
region in the Cordillera with a navigable river, and
among the mountain people of the north, only the
Isneg are natural boatpeople and boat builders.
 ISNEG HOUSE

The boat called barana'y or bank'l is made up of

three planks: a bottom plank that tapers at both ends
and two planks on both sides, carved and shaped in
such a way as to fit alongside the bottom plank.
The Isneg house is called Binuron. It is regarded
as the largest and among the most substancially
constructed houses in the Cordillera.
CULTURE PRACTICES AND TRADITIONS
 Major Socio-Cultural Ceremonies
Say-am holds significant religious
importance among the Isnags, serving as the
most festive socio-cultural ceremony within their
community. Its purposes range from
panagsisinningan (family reunion) and
thanksgiving to panglagip (anniversary)
celebrations.
 The ritual encompasses two major rites:
magaba (mat spreading) and magluhut (mat
rolling), occurring before and after key activities
like maktugnad (food service), makpenum (wine
drinking spree), and makpatalip (native dance).
 The feast commences with magaba (mat
spreading) and concludes with magluhut (mat
rolling). The shaman retrieves the inapugan (a
set of mamaen) and rolls the mat for safekeeping.
Chants express gratitude to the anito, ancestral
spirits who assist in the success of the say-am.
 This event is also a community affair, known as
say-am among the less affluent. Pildap, while not as
grand as the aforementioned say-am, involves the
slaughter of smaller animals like dogs and chicks.
It marks an adult man's first haircut. Often,
pildap ceremonies justify butchering a chicken or dog
to provide sustenance for community members
volunteering for tasks such as farm work, home
construction, rice planting, or harvesting.
 Say-am and pildap are performed by the people
to express gratitude to the Almighty for their health,
resources, and life, as they share food and provisions.
These rituals serve as a means of connecting Isnag
community members in both sickness and health,
during prosperous and challenging times.

Through Say-am and Pildap, people rekindle

friendships, foster solidarity, and collaborate as they
dance, dine, and pray together.
 Apayao Rituals
Major socio-cultural ceremonies among the Isnags
are manifested in their strong belief in the existence of
spirits in the environment, which influence their way
of life. In agricultural parlance, rice cultivation is their
primary enterprise. To maximize productivity and
mitigate harmful consumption, beliefs and practices
associated with this endeavor are observed throughout
cultural phases, including land preparation, planting,
weeding, pest control, harvesting, and storage.
 Agricultural Rituals
Rice culture or mangoman is a one-year crop
cycle that involves land preparation activities such as
manatalun, tadaw, and si-dug. The man selects a
dagwat to ensure soil fertility and low emergence of
weeds, then cuts a small tree or hill or of reeds
conspicuous to the others, then places a cross-piece
bamboo slats to mean reservation.
 If he dreams of cocks, rocks, or river wading, he
predicts a lucrative venture, if he dreams hairy
animals, he predicts prevalence of weeds, and if he
dreams kites and fresh meat, hse predicts scarcity of
produce and ill-fate among his family members.
Magaggi
Is the process of threshing palay for seed
purposes. Si-dug is the act of burning the kaingin
commencing from base, and dudu is the act of weeding
out early weeds.
Magtungo
Is the actual planting activity, which involves
boring a hole with a sagwa and sowing four to six
seeds in the hole. Tuna rite is performed by the woman
to plant an unthreshed panicle of palay at the lower
portion of the atad unseen by others.
TRADITIONAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
Gangsa
It is a set of small, knobbed gongs made of
brass or bronze.
Kudyapi
Is a traditional two-stringed instrument resembling a boat-
shaped lute. It is crafted from wood with strings made from
natural fibers or animal gut. It is considered a key
instrument in Apayao’s musical traditions.
Anggiwang
Is a jaw harp, known as “kubing” in other parts of the
Philippines. It is a small instrument made of bamboo or
metal that produces a twanging sound. It is one of the more
personal instruments in Apayao culture.
Ludag
It is a traditional log drum carved from a single piece of
wood. Its hollow cylindrical body produces deep, bass-like
tones. The drum is often adorned with carvings,
representing its cultural significance in Apayao society.
TRADITIONAL CRAFTMANSHIP
 Skilled artisans specialize in various traditional
crafts, such as weaving, woodcarving, basket-making,
and metalwork.

These crafts are not only practical but also serve

as expressions of artistry and cultural identity. The
intricate patterns and designs in their crafts designs
reflect their beliefs, stories, and the natural world
around them.
TRADITIONAL DANCES
 The Isnag taddo’ (tad-DOH) and the talip (ta-
LIP) dances involve a pair of male and female
dancers just like in other Cordillera gong dances.
Their music accompaniment comes from a gong
(hangsa) and drum (ludag) pair that are both played
with an open palm and a wooden mallet. Alternately,
the talip can be accompanied by “pahengheng,” a
bamboo buzzer.
Say-am Festival
is a cultural festival and founding anniversary
celebration in Apayao held every February 14. It
usually starts on the first day of February and
culminating activities fall on the 14th of the month,
which is the date that the province was established.
Pudtol Town Festival
The Pudtol Town Festival is a week-long event
featuring many activities highlighting the town's culture,
tradition, and history.
The celebration starts with a massive parade of floats
and street dancers dressed in bright and vivid costumes.
The procession includes groups from various barangays
(villages) in Pudtol, each reflecting their distinct culture and
history.
Panagbunga Festival
Is a celebration in the municipality of
Conner, Apayao, Philippines. The festival
celebrates the abundance of nature, cultural
heritage, and agro-tourism and features local
crops like rambutan, durian, and lansones. The
festival includes activities like a walk for a cause,
canvas painting competition, and booth
competition
TOURISM
 Apayao has its own collection of natural
wonders (Underground rivers, waterfalls,
lakes, exotic wildlife…) that are otherwise
not found in the rest of the Cordillera
Region making it the “Cordillera’s Last
Nature Frontier”.
Lussok Cave and Underground River
Located in Dagupan, Luna, Apayao
Features multiple chambers filled with
fascinating stalactite and stalagmite formations.
An underground stream with serene, crystal-
clear waters runs through the cave, leading to a
stunning blue lagoon.
Manacota Underground River
Located in Marag, Luna, Apayao
Is a hidden gem worth the 20-minute hike
upstream. Tucked within this tourist destination
in Apayao are several chambers adorned with
pristine, untouched stalactites and stalagmites,
showcasing nature’s artistry.
Baguyao Falls
Located in Turod, Luna, Apayao
Is a three-layered waterfalls and composed of six
cascades and three decks of natural pools rising
about 12 meters from each other. A fallen tree trunk
in the second pool adds an accidental but a distinct
character to Bayugao Falls.
Dupag Rock Formation
Located in Marag, Luna, Apayao
Is another tourist destination in Apayao for rock
climbers and hikers. The jagged cliffs offer a
variety of climbing routes, while the
surrounding area boasts lush greenery and
panoramic views.
Mt. Kilang
Located in Butao, Calanasan, Apayao
This tourist destination in Apayao has challenging
trails that offer a rewarding hike through diverse
wildlife and dense forests. At the summit, hikers enjoy
breathtaking panoramic views of Apayao’s landscapes,
making it a serene and culturally significant spot for
those seeking solitude and adventure.
Banselan Cave
Located in Cupis, Conner, Apayao
The most famous tourist spot in Conner, Apayao,
offers amazing rock formation as well as
troglobites.
Agora Wildlife Sanctuary
Located in Pudtol, Apayao
This sanctuary is home to diverse wildlife, from
rare bird species to fascinating reptiles and
mammals. Explore the lush trails, surrounded by
the symphony of chirping birds and rustling leaves.
It is a true haven for nature enthusiasts seeking an
unforgettable encounter with Mother Nature.
THANK YOU!