【講師コラム】イジー講師No.5~Experience the Culture of the Mountain People in the Philippines~

Here in the Philippines, there are various dialects, which signifies the presence of diverse ethnicities. This also means that there are numerous traditions and customs that Filipinos follow and practice, depending on their family’s ethnicity.

Today, I’d like to share some of the famous customs that are observed in the mountainous region of the Philippines. One such custom is the use of a fabric called “inabel.” Although it originated in the Ilocos Region, it is also popularly made and used in the Cordillera region. Cordilleran inabel usually has a striped design, but the details and colors of the design vary depending on the municipality or tribe. This Cordillera Indigenous fabric has gained international recognition. A Cordilleran fashion designer, Tracy Dizon, has used the fabric in the dresses she designed and showcased at New York Fashion Week. In addition to being used to make dresses, “inabel” is also used for everyday household items such as blankets, tablecloths, table runners, bed linens, and bags. However, the traditional way of using the textile is to make the ‘tapis’ and ‘bahag.’ ‘Bahag’ is a loincloth worn by men, while ‘tapis’ is a wrap-around skirt worn by women. The elderly usually wear these garments, as well as younger individuals during ceremonies or indigenous dances. This brings us to the next custom of the Cordilleras.
　

“Cañao” or “Kanyaw” is a special feast or ceremony of the indigenous people from the Cordilleras. It was originally practiced by our ancestors for spiritual purposes, but in modern times, it is enjoyed as a dance for social gatherings such as reunions and post-wedding parties. The dance is done using sticks and gongs as instruments. It is either performed by two people (a man and a woman) or by a group, and involves circular steps with hopping and skipping, following the tempo of the instruments.

There are some tourist spots in Baguio City where you can try on Cordilleran garments. You can give it a try when you visit Baguio City. To witness a Cañao dance, the best way is to attend a wedding. Some Cordilleran weddings are open to everyone. However, you may need a Filipino friend from the Cordilleras to invite you to a wedding and let you see the Cañao dance. If not, you can always search it up on YouTube.