Tribu Biscayano launched at Grand Ammungan festival

BAYOMBONG, Philippines – Ammungan is to Gaddang while ummungan is to the Iloko (Ilocano) dialect, both connotes one meaning – gathering. Traveling past the plains of Bulacan and Nueva Ecija to the north, a long and winding pass across the Caraballo Mountains leads to Nueva Vizcaya, a landlocked province in Region 2 (Cagayan Valley region) where the 1st Grand Ammungan Festival began on Wednesday. The event was popularized during the earlier Ammungan festivals in 1989 and 1996 before it was replaced as the annual Panagyaman Festival during the term of Gov. Rodolfo Agbayani. But being well received by local and foreign tourists as it was, the present leadership deemed it fitting to revive the former event due to the Vizcayanos’ silent clamor to include the ethno-linguistic groups in the province to actively participate in the yearly fete. “This celebration exemplifies unity and cooperation among the various tribes in the province, hence the launching of a new tribe which will be called Tribu Biscayano," said Vice Governor Jose Gambito, over all chair of the event. Rudie Bueno, festival publicity and promotions chairman and former regional director of the Philippine Information Agency, explained that the new tribe is a natural conglomeration of diverse cultural heritage handed down through generations by indigenous inhabitants from the highlands and the lowlands of the province. “Ilocano is the lingua franca or the common language used by various groups with varied mother tongues, ammungan is now commonly understood to mean gathering among ethnic tribes," he said. Nueva Vizcaya is host to about two dozen tribes which include the Gaddang, Maalat, Isinay, Kankanaey, Bugkalot, Kalanguya/Ikalahan, Ibaloi, Ayangan and Tuwali, to name some. However, the province’s rich natural resources, particularly in agriculture, have attracted tribes from other regions of the country to relocate. Among the migrants who form a big portion of the population are the Ilocanos, Tagalogs, Pangasinenses, Pampangos, Bulakeños, Visayans and Mindanaoans. “No particular group can lay claim to be the majority tribe," continued Gambito, whose own family originates from Pangasinan “Everybody belongs to the minority since Nueva Vizcaya is a melting pot where inhabitants from other provinces have converged through the years. However, all present settlers here can now claim membership to the “Tribung Biscayano" regardless of their origins or ethnic backgrounds," he added. Happening at the capitol grounds, the celebration’s major event is dubbed as the watwat food festival, which will take place at a simulated tribal village inside the capitol grounds. Watwat is intended to dramatize a major practice among indigenous peoples of giving out meat during community feasts in the form of cañao, kelleng, padaya and other forms of tribal offerings, the tradition is equivalent to the padigu among the Ilocanos. Conjointly highlighted is the parade of exotic dishes and native menus which will be featured during the affair not only as a palatal delight but also as an educational and spiritual treat in reference to not more than just giving away of food but sharing of blessings. All 15 municipalities in the province are expected to show off each traditional exotic food, which includes some unusual menus like abuos (red ant’s egg) and abal-abal (Philippine Beetle). Traditional rice cakes like the renowned tupig and inuruban (black rice) will also be served to visitors who have to partake of a welcome swig of tapuy (rice wine) before entering the tribal village. In a statement, Gov. Ma. Luisa Cuaresma said: “We extend our invitation to everybody to join us in this celebration of unity amongst our people as we hope it to be the model of community teamwork and collaboration regardless of race, religious and political background." Free concerts will be held daily at the Ammungan Park featuring local and guest artists while the customary street dancing takes center stage on Sunday as the celebration comes to a close with tribes exhibiting their multi-colored costumes, floats bedecked with fruits and flowers and ethnic musical instruments playing in symphony. - GMANews.TV