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MANERWAP TO QUENCH THE DROUGHT? Contributed by: Glo Abaeo Tuazon email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Kadchog Terraces are not as green as it used to be. with the ill effects of El Nino, most of the fields in Bontoc and the Moutain province (as does the fields of Luzon) are drying up and waiting for Divine intervention to happen. pray for the rains the farmers plead. Baguio City. After the torrential rains late last year comes the drought. The phenomenon called El Nino is hitting the highlands severely, affecting agriculture in a most devastating capacity. The crops of corn, tobacco and rice are wilting and going to waste for lack of water. In the Cordillera alone it is estimated that about 8,000 hectares or more of farmlands are affected and the people are afraid it might even worsen if the rains will not come soon. The El Nino has been a problem since last year even with the periodic onslaught of the typhoons. This phenomenon is defined as the abnormal warming of surface ocean waters in the Eastern Tropical pacific, which in turn is one part of what is called Southern Oscillation. This phenomenon is a see-sawing pattern of the surface air pressure reversing between the eastern and the Western tropical Pacific that when one is on high the other end is on low. The phenomenon was dubbed El Nino which in English is translated as “The Child”, to mean “The Child Christ”. This is for the reason that more often than not the occurrence of this phenomenon often falls during the celebration of the birth of Christ. So with the ENSO now also comes the effect in other parts of the world to include the Philippines. The Mt. Province, Bontoc  in particular has became arid these days, the fields sustained by a very weak trickle of irrigation water and the crops are suffering. The farmers are getting fidgety by the day hoping the weather changes and with luck bring in the rains. In March last year the municipality of Bontoc planned a rain dance activity in Talubin to counter the weather and pray for rain but luckily the rains came before they were able to perform it. It was the Manerwap in Bontoc Ili that pushed through with Mr. Luciano Kanongkong and the other tribal elders leading.This year the thought of doing it lingers again and the idea is becoming more and more inviting. The ritual called “Manerwap” in Bontoc  has been going on for generations. This is a ritual-full activity done to invoke the gods and induce precipitation as also to cleanse the evil of the lands. The village elders gather and start with a rite of sacrificing a chicken and wine in the “ato”, with a lot of “sabusab” and prayers to the gods. When this is done, the village people gather and parade to the “fawi”, an elevation where rain usually starts. In Bontoc they often do it on a hill above the Kadchog Terraces or the highland place in Talubin. The parading is accompanied by the thud-thudding sounds of the wooden “kalasag”  (shield) and some gongs. They reach the place and the participants again start the ritual until they are ready to come down the mountain. This ritual is not without pains as it requires intense hiking and fasting. When the people choose the Talubin area, the hike is much longer and intense as the place is farther than that along Kadchog. In both cases however the fasting is both observed and that the participants are only allowed water intakes. The reason why only the physically able and strong (mostly the “babaros”, young able lads) are urged to join the hike to the hills. At about dawn these lads after doing some prayers are met by the womenfolks to bring them provisions of food. And they all go back to the village to feast and continue the rituals. Throughout the vigil time with the circle of elders doing their sacred chanting, the gongs would be continuously beating for the whole duration of the required days. And accordingly, the feast is also a village effort where every household contributes to the success of the event, whether in cash or kind for the food that they and some visitors are to consume. The ex Human Resource Management  officer of Bontoc, Mt. Province, Mr.Luciano Kanongkong being one of the elders in the area often participate in these said rituals. In most cases throughout the activity durations, he said the rains does come as he observed even during childhood. It comes right after the ritual itself or it may take longer after a few days or a week. Nobody really does have an explanation as to why the rain does come but it does, whether by full exertion of faith or there really are ‘gods’ out there listening to the pleas of the people. One thing the people will agree to these days is the fact that the Real God is up there and that He always looks upon the plight of his wards. In the meantime Bontoc is contemplating the idea of a Manerwap, with the gathering of elders in the Ato the decision will be made. But then again the dry fields await... - co (3/1/2010) Add New Search Comments (1) |94.93.92.xxx |2010-04-04 01:30:07 Mike Pangwi  - Intu fay kasin nan Manerwap? Very interesting article, Ms. Aba-eo. Your documentation of whatever left of the diminishing tribal practices contribute immensely towards an authoritative record-keeping of our unique culture. 0 0 ReplyQuote Write comment Your Contact Details: Name: Email: do not notifynotify Comment: Title: UBBCode:         -color-aquablackbluefuchsiagraygreenlimemaroonnavyolivepurpleredsilvertealwhiteyellow -size-tinysmallmediumlargehuge Message: Security Please input the anti-spam code that you can read in the image. Powered by !JoomlaComment 4.0 beta2

Election 2010 Results Cordillera Admnistrative Region Local Election Results Click HERE for updates Cordi Links Government Sites CAR-based Sites Personals / Blogs Trivia The province of Apayao was first peopled by negritoes CO Ads In Pictures Sleeping beauty - Kalinga   Lake Bulalakaw along Ballay-Tawangan stretch, Kabayan, Benguet (by Ronnie Calugay)   A crypt inside Dumanay cave, Pungayan, Kapangan (by Glo A. Tuazon)   HEART BAGUIO/BURNHAM advocates sit it out and do weekly bonfire vigils at the Pine Trees of The World Park (back of Athletic Bowl) for more than a month now. Journalists and musicians and concerned groups and individuals gather to protest the killing of the trees and the park as well as preserve the use of the same for the people of Baguio City. (By Glo A. Tuazon)   Sagada,  Mt. Province (by Glo A. Tuazon)   Sadsadan morning view, Bauko Mt. Province   Sagada Cave, Sagada, Mt. Province (by Gordon P.)   the green houses of Atok, Benguet (by: Glo A. Tuazon)   view from Besao mountains, Besao, Mt. Province   hanging coffins of Sagada, Mt. Province

CO Shout Archives 09/09 20:06 hmmm an-nyong ha-sim-ni-ka Angel 09/09 14:25 hmmm den ammok nga ammom dayta a 09/09 07:44 den musta ngay s met manong saud? 09/09 07:43 den ammo da.........congratulation! additional knowledge... 09/09 03:33 saud eid mubarak! 09/09 03:33 saud nice... 08/09 21:56 naks Wet weew thanks for the info... nakaadalak met... saan lang nga ni 1234 08/09 16:14 hmmm 1234 The Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) was created by virtue of Executive Order No. 220 issued and signed by former President Corazon C. Aquino on July 15, 1987. Furthermore, Administrative Order No. 36 was issued for the creation of CAR Offices and corollarily the Department of Tourism – CAR came into being on July 1, 1989. 08/09 00:42 1234 when was the date DEpartmetn of Tourism-CAR was estbalished? 04/09 03:31 loi :)..... nice po 02/09 03:32 cordillera good morning saud he he 01/09 01:36 saud good morning cordillera! happy baguio day... 30/08 20:07 folk tama 30/08 09:21 30/08 03:37 Rico Hi May alam po kayo CAR folk stories?? kailangan ko lang kasi sa report.. meron ako nahanap Hudhud Hi Aliguyon, kaso di ko alam kung tama.. thanks~ Pseudo:  Smileys