A visit to ancient Mainit village

COMMUNITY BILLBOARD

Francis B. Degay

BONTOC, Mountain Province -- About two hours of normal hike from the Mainit village is an old settlement once called Cheychey.

It was perceived abandoned sometime in the 17^th century when the late chieftain Fanitog was believed to have died due to old age. Some say he was killed by warriors of another tribe.

The trekkers passed through gigantic and beautiful rice terraces hovering the mountainsides and ridge covered with pine trees and grasses.

The hike was a tiresome due to heat and lack of warm up. As we found our seats for respite, we saw the rice terraces we passed by were likened to Goliath steps zigzagging the mountain slopes.

The villages and rice terraces of Guinaang and Dalican carved in sloppy mountains were observable.

And the houses in barangays Amtadao, Kilong and Tetp-an of Sagada sparkled like sun lighted pebbles in beaches.

As we entered the old village, we were cradled by the chirping of birds and insects and cool fresh air brought about by the mossy forest. Wild pigs abound in the area due to visible footprints along the pathway.

In our exchange of pleasantries, Bontoc Ili kagawad Antonio Pat-ogan, one of our companions who traces his blood ties with the late chieftain, informed us that Fanitog was believed to be one of the bravest chieftains during his time.

Due to old age and seeing no one could  take over his post, he told his community members that if one day he will be killed by opponent warriors, they would leave him and the community and find other places to live, he related.

After his death, some found their routes to Sadanga, Bontoc Ili and Mainit. Fanitog’s youngest male child trekked down to Bontoc Ili. He was later on adopted, married and produce offsprings, the Ferwas.

Though covered with mossy forest and giant pine trees, we saw relics that prove that Cheychey was once an abode.

We saw two ato. One was believed to be the main ato where Fanitog was entombed. It is here where his descendants from Bontoc Ili and Mainit perform walit. The second  ato below was constructed with a khongoan.

Walitis a cultural belief and practice of the Bontoks where elders offer tapey or fayas, tobacco and chicken or pig in a designated place to appease the spirits who went ahead to abandon or make the relative sick regain his or her health.

Accordingly, there was a third ato that was destroyed due to natural weathering.

In one of the stone walls, a head replica of a carabao was inscribed that shows the artistry of the ancient villagers.

A few meters from the ato, which is believed to be part of an entrance to the village, is a creek where the inhabitants connect their irrigation to low lying terraces. Some portions of the creek are supported with toping (indigenous riprap) to avoid erosion.

Surrounding the village is well engineered riprap of about more or less 1 meter high that are covered with mosses and shrubs. Within it are several wide subdivisions which according to our guides were used to be uma (gardens).

As we descended through another route, we were told by our guides that the toping was used to prevent the entry of wild animals in their village and at the same time supported the irrigation canal.

The trekkers were composed of personnel of the provincial sports and development office, provincial security, maintenance section of the provincial engineering office, provincial tourism office, Bontoc Ili barangay office and two guides from Mainit.