The jars

CULTURAL NOTES

Richard Kinnud

One time, I attended an occasion back in my hometown of Hingyon, Ifugao and the host served the native rice wine bayah.    Many of the guests were appreciative of the maturation and smoothness of the wine that prompted one to remark how couldn’t it be so good when it was fermented in the jar of the gods, pointing to a porcelain jar at the middle of the gathering.
    That sparked some good conversation on how could that jar be considered as the gods’ stuff. One asked for an explanation from the one who claimed it.  The uncle who said it laughed and told a tale that probably was just a spur of the moment creation.  He said, “Haven’t you heard that in time past, the container for wines isn’t jars but the aluwog?”  He was referring to a container made from the type of bamboo with the thick culms.
    He continued that once upon a time, there was a man who was to deliver rice wine in his aluwog to harvesters at his rice field many hills away from his home.  Surprisingly, he lost his way and wandered to a place he didn’t know.  He was so amazed yet troubled of those he saw in that place for they were taller and rosier than the people he sees. 
    He got so hungry finding his way that he has to take courage exchanging his wine for food.  He was surprised though that the taller and rosier beings were not suspicious of him and he learned that he was in the world of the gods who lords over the rice fields of his kind.  The gods were so delighted with his rice wine, that aside from provision of food, they gave him jars with the strict orders of taking care of them, and that the jars are to be considered as ascribed to his field that when he endows the same to any of his children, the jars are to go with it.
    “Neyya?  A’aapom! (Really?  Your mere fiction!)” someone exclaimed after the uncle finished his narrative.  Then each one spoke of what they know of the jars.  The common conclusion was that the jar at the center from which the bayah is served is of Chinese origin noting the porcelain and the flowery designs.  Uncle’s story, entertaining as it was, was completely laid bare as fiction.  Someone got earnest though and pointed to the last part of uncle’s story. 
    He said it is true that a jar or jars are attached to a certain rice field and gave the advice to for those who would inherit never to sell those jars.  They were part of the material culture of the people and will remain a symbol of how one holds dearly land, particularly rice fields, in the heart.
    Buhi or dunug is the general term for the jars used in rice wine making in Ifugao.   In particular milieu though, the dunug would refer to an earthen jar.  There are more special kinds.  One is the dinalman referring to a brown jar made of finer material than a dunug and has some designs, usually a dragon, on its ears.  Another is the galgalit, named so because of the print (guli or galit) designs, usually flowers or dragons, on its white porcelain material.
    Obviously, the jars are not native products of Ifugao or even nearby Cordillera provinces.  Even so, the buhi, whether it be dunug, dinalman, or galgalit are considered heirloom.  The fact that that it has been part of inheritances attests to the value given to it. 

As scholars would point out, jars have reached the land because of trade even at a time when it was not easy to transport pigs or carabaos or whatever they produce in the mountains for goods that are available in the lowlands or at the shores for products from beyond the ocean. 

The difficulty of bringing it in certainly was a factor on its valuation.  The utility of these on family occasions and even on rituals further enhanced its value that at times, the jars are considered as status symbols.

On the other hand, cultural changes are a constant and we observe much of them happening today. For instance, there is the simple preference of manufactured spirits such whisky, brandy, or even the popular two-by-two over home-brewed rice wines during occasions.  And of course, there is the more significant instance on the basis of today’s society on who is “kadangyan” which also affects how people view land particularly the rice fields which have been in times past were given so much premium.  Also, there is that easier access to foreign goods like porcelain jars as compared to the past.  Thus, what could be the only advantage of the jars purchased with maybe pigs or carabaos in the past is their antiquity.  At any rate though, the jars have been and are still part of Ifugao culture even if they are of foreign or particularly of Chinese origin.

Meanwhile, Xin nian kuai le!  Happy Chinese Year!