Kankanay Ceremonies / (American Archaeology and Ethnology)

by C. R. Moss

Mantuis Bilig

Mantuis bilig is one of the ceremonies celebrated to cure pains in the chest. A chicken, a jar of tapuy, and a basket of blankets, breech-clouts, and headbands are necessary. The mambunong holds the chicken in one hand, puts the basket on his head, squats beside the tapuy, and says the following:

Wada si Damogo ay manīli us Natoo. Sīa say Mantūis Bilig ay makagayang si ipūgau. Inapūna ūsay galui, ūsay budbud, ūsay wanus, ya ūsay manok. Wada’s Mayang ay manīli ud Ampūngut. Wada’s Bokosan ay manīli ud Odosan. Wada’s Sigmayo ay manīli ud Tabayo. Wada’s Gomi ay manīli ud Kasili. Wada’s Palatang ay manīli ud Manalang. Omali kayo ta badanganyo dakami si mugmug ya pakan tamo waday kamanīna ya waday pangay ay yaganmin dakayo.

There is Damogo, who lives in Natoo. He is Mantuis Bilig who spears the people. He requires one blanket, one breech-clout, one headband, and one chicken. There is Mayang who lives in Ampungut. There is Bokosan, who lives in Odosan. There is Sigmayo, who lives in Tabayo. There is Gomi, who lives in Kasili. There is Palatang, who lives in Manalang. You come to help us in feeding our chickens and in feeding our hogs, so that there may be (a ceremony) like this, so that there will be (something) for calling you names.