Ivatan Tribe

Music and Dances

Food

Traditionally, because of the frequent typhoons and drought, they plant root crops able to cope with the environment. These crops include yam, sweet potato, taro, garlic, ginger and onion, as they ensure higher chances of survival during awry climate conditions.

They have three different folk songs: the laji, the kanta and the kalusan. Laji are ancient lyrical songs that are supposed to be sung when they are merry or just finished work. The Kalusan on the other hand is sung during work. The Ivatan also have legends that are called kabbata. They also have the rawod, chants that chronicle the adventures of the Ivatan's forefathers as they escape a disaster.

Recreation

They study the behavior of animals, sky color, wind and clouds to predict the weather. They also usually gather their animals and stay in their houses when they see that the cows take shelter from the payaman (communal pasture) and birds taking refuge in houses or in the ground. The sea is vital to the Ivatan's way of life.Although abundant only in the month of March to May, they depend on the flying fish (dibang) and dolphin fish (arayu) present on the shores of Batanes.

They have a native delicacy called uvod (the pith of the banana stalk) which is served, along with the wine palek, on festive occasions such as weddings.

Students' Tasks:

1. Make a role playing that depicts the lifestyle

of Ivatan tribe.

2. Watch a documentary in YouTube about Iva-

tans and make an reflection paper regarding

that.

Spiritual Beliefs

Political Organization

Physical Attributes

Traditional Ivatan politics was hierarcichal. It consist of the village chief (Mangpus) and district subalterns (Mapolon). The mangpus and mapolon were considered the elite, possessing great wealth identified with power. The Mapolon were subordinate officials in charge of different sections or districts of the territory. They were independent of one another and answerable only to the mangpus. The Mangpus collected revenues from the whole town, administered justice, and led their people to war against another mountain village for a host of reasons, including revenge for injury caused.

Today, the Ivatan are basically Catholic. Their religious devoutness can be attributed to the persistent and dedicated works of the early Dominican priests. However, there are a growing number of other Christian denominations especially in the capital town. Regardless of this, the Ivatan still believe in the influence of the world of the anyitus (ghosts or soul of dead ancestors. Although they do not worship them, they conduct rituals and offerings to appease or placate an anyitu.

William Dampier in 1687. Dampier described them as "short, squat people; hazel eyes, small yet bigger than Chinese; low foreheads; thick eyebrows; short low noses; white teeth; black thick hair; and very dark, copper-colored skin.

They also have strong mixture of the short type of the Mongols, and there are some individuals who seem to have some physical characteristics peculiar to the Ainus of Japan

Prepared by:

Yosef Eric C. Hipolito

AB History- IV

Ivatan Tribe of Batanes

Social Classes

Ivatans already lived in Batanes before the Spaniards arrived in the Philippines in the 16th century, and lived autonomously long thereafter.

Below Mangpus and Mapolon were the kumaidian,

who cultivated the land and served as warriors. The slaves occupied the bottom rung of the social ladder. A person became a slave through purchase. He also

became the slave of the person who had paid his debt for him. A thief, if caught, became the slave of the intended victim.

Besides, The family is still the strongest social unit among the Ivatan. Extended families are still widely accepted among many Ivatan households. Because of the constant threat from the elements, the Ivatan has to rely on its close family ties or kinsmen (kalipusan) and friends for support.

Background

Documents do not show much about the history of the Ivatans and at present, scholars who study their origins are still unsure as to their exact origin. They question whether the pre-historic Ivatans came from the northern part of Luzon or southern portions of China and Taiwan. There is evidence that they might be a surviving Christianized remnant of a people that once resided on all the islands between Luzon and Taiwan.

Ivatan Tribe

By: Yosef Eric C. Hipolito