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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Ancient ritual performed vs COVID-19 in Baguio

Ancient ritual performed vs COVID-19 in Baguio

Published Jun 13, 2021 02:26 pm

RITUAL VS COVID – Gabay, a ‘mambunong’ (Igorot priest), offers to ‘Kabunyan’ (native god) the bile of pigs that were butchered during an ancient cleansing and healing ritual in Barangay Tam-awan, Baguio City for the protection of the members of the media in the Summer Capital of the Philippines who have already lost some of their colleagues to COVID-19. (Zaldy Comanda)
BAGUIO CITY – As the pandemic continues to claim the lives of so many loved ones, members of the media here held an ancient ritual called “senga” to ask for protection against the dreaded COVID-19.

In Igorot culture, senga is a cleansing ritual that involves butchering of animals as offerings to “Kabunyan” (native god).

Coinciding with the celebration of the 123rd Philippine Independence Day last Saturday, members of the Baguio Correspondents and Broadcaster Club (BCBC) held the ritual performed by a “mambunong” (native priest) in Barangay Tam-awan here after a colleague succumbed to COVID-19.

Butchering two black pigs and three native chickens, the mambunong "read" the bile from one of the two animal offerings to see what is in store for the members of the media in the locality.

"We just lost a colleague due to COVID and we deem it proper to do the ritual to ask Kabunyan to continue protecting us,” BCBC president Aldwin Quitasol said.

Quitasol, a native of Mountain Province, said senga is sacrificing pigs and chicken for thanksgiving, healing, and asking for protection from Kabunyan.

"Members of the family and community are invited to the senga. During the senga, everyone is enjoined to eat their ‘watwat’ (share of the meat or food) as you are a member of the family or the community.” He said that in the Igorot culture, there are two cleansing rituals – the senga and the “daw-es.” He explained that the daw-es is done after an unfortunate thing took place causing the untimely death of people close to us such as accidents, calamities, and crimes. We do not do daw-es for deaths by sickness and other natural causes." He added all those who partook of the watwat are given by the host a "kapiya" before they go home. The kapiya is usually given to members of the family who are not living with their parents and siblings in the house where the senga was held.

"Kapiya means no matter what happens, wherever you will go, your family will always be there for you," he explained.

Quitasol said the cleansing ritual was also aimed at freeing “the minds and hearts of the family members from anxiety, worry, and negativity; and the healing ritual to wash away sickness and bad vibes from our body and strengthen our minds to move on." “We say 'kasiyana' (everything will be alright), badangan datako ken si Kabunyan (God will help us). Magtipon-tipon at magkaisa tayo, magkumustahan at magkuwentuhan at kumain tayo, pagkatapos ay uuwi tayong magaan ang ating pakiramdam (Let us gather and unite, greet and catch up with each other and eat and go home feeling better),” he added.

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