Sagada ‘begnas’ held to ward off Covid from locals

Dap-ay Malingeb of barangay  Dagdag hosts the annual Tangeb di Babayas with elder Jaime Capuyan imploring Kabunian for health, strength, procreation, longevity, and prosperity; especially praying that the Covid virus shall not enter the town.   

By Gina Dizon

SAGADA, MOUNTAIN PROVINCE- The Covid-19 pandemic did not deter central Sagada from holding its cultural and annual “Tangeb di Babayas and Tangeb di Ogas” led by host dap-ay Malingeb from the 12 dap-ay of central Sagada.

 A dap-ay here is a hut where community affairs are discussed and tribal ceremonies held. Dap-ay Malingeb  has replaced its cogon roofing to  anahaw which had created controversy among Sagada netizens.

 Some want the old cogon huts retained for their historical value but others say anahaw-roofed dap-ays are more practical.       

.            Clad in G string, rooster feathered headress  and a bolo he held, elder Jaime Capuyan from host Malingeb   chanted the prayers of the annual event- health, prosperity, strength, procreation and longevity.

And for this year’s begnas held in July 22, Capuyan with other elders from other dap-ay especially prayed that the Covid virus shall not enter Sagada.

Sagada is Covid free and the local government unit has been religiously practicing safety protocols including quarantine procedures in preventing the dreaded Covid-19 virus from entering the community.

Tangeb di Babayas is an annual event which caps the wedding season culturally held in May. Though there were no wedding celebrations due to the Covid pandemic, the begnas event went on as observed along with the Tangeb di Ogas or the closing of rice harvest.

Rice seedlings were planted in December and eventually the ripened palay harvested June to July.

Begnas in Sagada is an agricultural feast held five times a year- one in November in what is called Tanged di Yabyab to signify the start of the rice planting season with the legendary ‘Bangan’ doing the first rice planting.

This is followed by the second begnas in March to signify the construction of houses and milling of sugarcane thus Begnas di Lebek  followed in May to signify Begnas di Tiyagew  (dry season) and wedding celebrations.

                Another in June signifies the beginning of rice harvest or Begnas di Ani and on to July to mean Tangeb or closing of wedding celebrations and rice harvest thus Begnas di Babayas, Begnas di Latab and Begnas di Ogas. And the cycle repeats again in November’s Begnas di Yabyab depending on the phase of the  moon.

During the Begnas, the men clad in their G- strings and each holding a spear walk the pathway from river Tudey to the host dap-ay loudly chanting the ‘wawe’,shouts of men having began their walk from the river to the host dap-ay. Waters compose an integral essence of the agricultural feast.

Most of those who participated in the 'wawe' ritual are young men and so with a number of those who gave 'tambo' (gifts of wine and food) are young women.  

The giving of wine, ‘tupig’ or sticky rice wrapped in sugarcane leaves, bread by women followed and these materially collected for the dap-ay. From the earth, earth’s products are offered and the ritual begins.  

              The ritual implores  Kabunian for health, strength, procreation, longevity, prosperity, and good harvest for the people of the ili (community).

The event also witnessed  the new look of the dap-ay - anahaw roofing, painted wallings, “tinagtago” (sculpted human forms), and a painted  extended dance floor.  ( More stories next week)