Kabayan Mummy Burial Caves
Posted on | Wednesday, 15 June 2011 | No Comments
Kabayan is one of the Municipality of Benguet Province in the Cordillera Mountain Ranges of northern Luzon. The municipality is recognized as a center of Ibaloi Culture. The Ibaloi, the dominant ethno-linguistic group, of Kabayan have a long traditional practice of mummifying their dead. Mummification began prior to the Spanish colonization. Individuals from the higher societal stratum of the Ibaloi of Kabayan used to be mummified through a long ritual process over a long period of time. The process of mummification using salt and herbs and set under fire may take up to two years. When the body is finally rid of body fluids, the mummy is placed inside a pinewood coffin and laid to rest in a man-made cave or in niche dug-out from solid rock. During the Spanish period, Christianity spread and took a foothold in the mountains of Benguet and the practice of mummification and cave burial was abandoned. The remains are then placed in wooden coffins and interred in man-made burial niches in rocks or rock shelters and/or natural caves.
Strategically located in the mountain slopes of the municipality of Kabayan, more than 200 man-made burial caves have been identified and 15 of which contain preserved human mummies.
There are of course instances of mummification in Sulawesi among the Toraja and other parts of Southeast Asia. Well known are the sites in South America. Mummification in Southeast Asia, however, are from a different technology from that practiced in Egypt.
Strategically located in the mountain slopes of the municipality of Kabayan, more than 200 man-made burial caves have been identified and 15 of which contain preserved human mummies.
Satements of authenticity and/or integrity
The Kabayan mummy burial caves are officiall proclaimed Philippine National Cultural Treasures pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 374 which has to be preserved protect and maintain for future generation as a manifestation of the skills and ingenuity associated with religious belief of the Ibaloi culture and tradition. The proclamation was based on the authority of the National Museum of the Philippines whose archaeologists and anthropologists have made studies of the burial site and the mummies. The Chemistry and Conservation Laboratory of the National Museum also have worked, together with of other foreign agencies in the preservation of the sites. The sites have also been one of those declared as endangered sites by UNESCO. Spanish conservators have also be engaged in the efforts to preserve the mummies.Comparison with other similar properties
Out of the several ethnolinguistic groups in the Philippines, only the Ibaloi practiced mummification in preserving their dead. There are also instances of mummification in the caves in Mountain Province which is inhabited by another ethno-linguistic group, the Bontoc. It is not certain however whether this is a practice by the Bontoc, or merely an extension from Kaayan, Benguet, to Alab, Mountain Province. There are also cases of mummies in the province of Ifugao, also in the Cordilleras, but this is probably due to population movements from the province of Benguet to the province of Ifugao.There are of course instances of mummification in Sulawesi among the Toraja and other parts of Southeast Asia. Well known are the sites in South America. Mummification in Southeast Asia, however, are from a different technology from that practiced in Egypt.
Category:
History
Abra- Cordillera Administrative Region
Abra Province is landlocked with the Ilocos Region on the China Sea side and Cagayan on the Pacific Ocean side. It is hemmed in by high mountain ranges of the Ilocos in the weest and the Cordilera Central in the east. The people of Abra are mostly descentants of Ilocano settlers and members of the Tingguian tribe.
The Province of Abra is now known as the “Natural Dye Capital of the Philippines”. This province has an abundant suppy of natural dye-yielding plants. The natural dyes are extracted from the barks, leaves, fruits and roots. The dyes from these plants are used in beverages, to color food, textiles, cosmetics, furniture and pharmaceutical products. Besides having Abra’s dyeing tradition revived in 1992 there was also the loom weaving and embroidery industries. It also has bamboo and rattan craft making.
The Climate
The climate here has two very pronounced seasons. It is dry from November to April and the wet season during the rest of the year. Like the rest of the country it has a “Tropical Rainforest Climate”. Also be aware the Benquet as well as with the rest of the Philippines are prone to typhoons and they mostly occur from June – November. The temperature can range as high of 29.7 C (85.5 F) and can range in the low of about 18.1 C (64.5 F) in the wet season.
To Abra By Land
Local bus operatiors in the Philippines such as Partas Trans travel to Abra from Manila or Pangasinan. Also Philippine Rabbit takes the Baguio-Abra-Manila route. Another one is Viron Trans which has trips from Baguio to Abra.
The Language/Dialect
Ilocano is generally spoken by 73.65% of the region’s total population. 25.18% speak Tinguian/Itneg, 0.16% speak Tagalog, and the remaining 0.54% speak other dialects.
Just A Few Festivals To See
Some of the festivals you can consider attending, there are many more that you can look into:
Arya! Abra Festival – This holiday is celebrated in Bangued from March 7th – 11th. Abra’s biggest festival highlights of which are “Karerakit” bamboo rafting along Calaba River and Tinguan Festival of the tribal natives of Abra. Shows the province’s history and culture through parades and cultural shows featuring the Ilocanos and Tingguians.
Dapil Festival (Bangued Town Fiesta) – This holiday is celebrated in Bangued from February 20th – 25th. Bangued municipality’s way of celebrating their town’s
Fiesta. This festival features a trade fair for sugarcane products and other agri-based items. The Dapil Festival also has events like basketball tournaments, beauty contests, parades and cultural shows.
Just A Few Places To Go
Abra River – This is the biggest, longest and most popular river in the valleys province. All rivers and streams meet here and is an ideal place for swimming and fishing. Also if you like swimming and fishing you can try the Manabo Irrigation Project and Lasuac Dam or just for swimming you can try the Malamsit Calm Spring
Don Mariano Marcos Bridge – This fantastic bridge is located along the Abra-Kalinga National Road which is the third longest bridge in the country with a total length of 886.8 linear meters (just over half a mile).
Victoria National Park -This beautiful park is located atop a hill overlooking the town of Bangued and neighboring municipalities of Tayum, La Paz, Pidigan and Penarrubia. A shrine of the blessed mother cradling Infant Jesus was built near a reservoir of waterworks of Bangued waterworks. A swimming pool is also available for swimmers.
Libtec Underground River – This is an enchanting underground river located in Barangay Libtec, Dolores. From a distance you can see a cave protruding at the surface of a seemingly empty field. Inside you’ll find the surface a flowing underground river mirrors the jutting stalagmites, giving one both a sense of wonder.
Source: http://pinoygetaway.com/philippines-travel-tips/philippines-cordillera-administrative-region-abra-province/
The Province of Abra is now known as the “Natural Dye Capital of the Philippines”. This province has an abundant suppy of natural dye-yielding plants. The natural dyes are extracted from the barks, leaves, fruits and roots. The dyes from these plants are used in beverages, to color food, textiles, cosmetics, furniture and pharmaceutical products. Besides having Abra’s dyeing tradition revived in 1992 there was also the loom weaving and embroidery industries. It also has bamboo and rattan craft making.
The Climate
The climate here has two very pronounced seasons. It is dry from November to April and the wet season during the rest of the year. Like the rest of the country it has a “Tropical Rainforest Climate”. Also be aware the Benquet as well as with the rest of the Philippines are prone to typhoons and they mostly occur from June – November. The temperature can range as high of 29.7 C (85.5 F) and can range in the low of about 18.1 C (64.5 F) in the wet season.
To Abra By Land
Local bus operatiors in the Philippines such as Partas Trans travel to Abra from Manila or Pangasinan. Also Philippine Rabbit takes the Baguio-Abra-Manila route. Another one is Viron Trans which has trips from Baguio to Abra.
The Language/Dialect
Ilocano is generally spoken by 73.65% of the region’s total population. 25.18% speak Tinguian/Itneg, 0.16% speak Tagalog, and the remaining 0.54% speak other dialects.
Just A Few Festivals To See
Some of the festivals you can consider attending, there are many more that you can look into:
Arya! Abra Festival – This holiday is celebrated in Bangued from March 7th – 11th. Abra’s biggest festival highlights of which are “Karerakit” bamboo rafting along Calaba River and Tinguan Festival of the tribal natives of Abra. Shows the province’s history and culture through parades and cultural shows featuring the Ilocanos and Tingguians.
Dapil Festival (Bangued Town Fiesta) – This holiday is celebrated in Bangued from February 20th – 25th. Bangued municipality’s way of celebrating their town’s
Fiesta. This festival features a trade fair for sugarcane products and other agri-based items. The Dapil Festival also has events like basketball tournaments, beauty contests, parades and cultural shows.
Just A Few Places To Go
Abra River – This is the biggest, longest and most popular river in the valleys province. All rivers and streams meet here and is an ideal place for swimming and fishing. Also if you like swimming and fishing you can try the Manabo Irrigation Project and Lasuac Dam or just for swimming you can try the Malamsit Calm Spring
Don Mariano Marcos Bridge – This fantastic bridge is located along the Abra-Kalinga National Road which is the third longest bridge in the country with a total length of 886.8 linear meters (just over half a mile).
Victoria National Park -This beautiful park is located atop a hill overlooking the town of Bangued and neighboring municipalities of Tayum, La Paz, Pidigan and Penarrubia. A shrine of the blessed mother cradling Infant Jesus was built near a reservoir of waterworks of Bangued waterworks. A swimming pool is also available for swimmers.
Libtec Underground River – This is an enchanting underground river located in Barangay Libtec, Dolores. From a distance you can see a cave protruding at the surface of a seemingly empty field. Inside you’ll find the surface a flowing underground river mirrors the jutting stalagmites, giving one both a sense of wonder.
Source: http://pinoygetaway.com/philippines-travel-tips/philippines-cordillera-administrative-region-abra-province/
Category:
History
Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) Philippines
Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) is one of the prime tourist destinations here in the Philippines. In this region, we can see one of the eight wonders of the world, The Banaue Rice Terraces. Cordillera Region is the Philippines' Premiere Highland Region. This region has many spectacular scenic views and enchanting cool places. It also is rich in historical and cultural heritage. This region is the home of the indigenous tribes called Igorot. Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) consists of the provinces of Abra, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province and Apayao. Baguio is the regional capital center. The region is rich in ancient culture because the people's way of life in this place existed way back to the ancient Filipinos before the Spain colonize the country. The people live amidst the rice terraces that is towering the Northern Luzon. The Igorot, Tinguian, Apayao, and the Kalinga Tribes reign over Luzon's Mountain Terrain. It is generally cool throughout the year in the region. Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) is rich in natural resources and is abundant in mineral reserves. Metallic ores that can be found in this region are gold, copper, silver, zinc, and non-metallic minerals like sand, gravel and sulfur. Mineral reserves are found in all the provinces. However, mining is concentrated in Benguet. Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) is a mountainous and more heavily populated area. Great majority of Cordillera's population are in the below poverty line that are engaged in farming and small-scale production. These majority are composed of closely-related indigenous people popularly known as igorots. But they are also grouped into ethnic or ethno-linguistic identities, such as Apayao or Isneg, Tinggian, Kalinga, Bontoc, Kankanaey, Ibaloy, Ifugao, and Bago. |
Nowadays, Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) is already a mixture of indigenous, non-indigenous, and migrant people. Bigger and more diverse populations are found in Cordillera's melting pot areas, such as those in urban (or rapidly urbanizing) Baguio-Benguet and in the foothills and valleys adjoining the great lowlands of Luzon. In these areas, the original indigenous communities have given way to hybrid communities composed of varied mixtures of indigenous and migrant people. Source: http://www.etravelpilipinas.com/about_philippines/cordillera_administrative_region.htm |
Category:
History