The Indigenous People of

Kalinga
A presentation by Winaline Heddy Lantajo
Flow of presentation

Family, Kinship,
Background Demography Language Marriage

Introduction, etymology, Location The 31 ethnolinguistic Family structure, kinship,

distinct features subgroups and marriage rituals
Kalinga
The Kalinga people are an
indigenous ethnic group
whose ancestral domain is
in the Cordillera Mountain
Range of the northern
Philippines.
The Kalinga people are mainly found in
Kalinga province, the Northern region of
Luzon, in the Cordillera mountains. Some
of them, however, already migrated to
Mountain Province, Apayao, Cagayan, and
Abra.
Etymology
The name Kalinga is
actually an exonym which
came from the Ibanag and
Gaddang term kalinga,
which means “headhunter”
History
Migrated to the Cordillera
region of the Philippines
more than 2,000 years ago.

Main source of livelihood is

farming and livestock
production
The Distinct Feature
of the Kalinga People
Population
Not much is known about
the total population of the
Kalinga people. However, it
is noted that Kalinga
province has a population
of 229,570 as of 2020.
Language
Kalinga is a dialect continuum of Kalinga
Province in the Philippines, spoken by the
Kalinga people.
 The Subtribes of
Kalinga
According to the Kalinga author John Donqui-is there are 31 Subtribes of the
Kalinga Ethnolinguistic Group distributed over the eight municipalities of the
province.
North
Municipality of Balbalan: Alingag,
the Buwaya, the Dao-angan, the
Gobang, the Mabaca, and the
Banao

Municipality of Pinukpuk: the

Ballayangon, the Limos, and the
Gilayon
South
Municipality of Labuagan: Lubuagan, the
Mabongtot, and the Tanglag

Municipality of Pasil: Ableg, the Balatoc,

the Balinciagao, the Guinaang, and the
Kagalwan

Municipality of Tinglayan: Bangad, the

Basaso, the Botbot, the Dananao, the
Tinglayan, and the Sumadel
East
Municipality of Tanudan: Dacalam,
the Lubo, the Mangali, and the
Taloctoc

Municipality of Rizal: Gammonnang

City of Tabuk: Biga, the Nanong, and

the Calaccad
Language
Each of these subtribes can be identified, principally from their
dialect which has dissimilarities in diction, pronunciation and
most especially in the phonetic letters and the fricative and
voiceless expression of their speech.
Family, Kinship,
and Marriage
Write the author, source, or your thoughts
about the statement
Society
Society can be stratified into two: lawa/kapus
(poor) and the baknang (wealthy)

Identification of the self with the kinship circle

could be such that whatever an individual does is
the responsibility of the group
Kinship
Comprises a grouping of families and clans which
embraces a grouping of relatives from eight pairs of
great-great-grandparents ranging from first to third
degree of relations.

The larger social grouping is the Kalinga community

which is characterized by strong consensus inter-ili or
inter-village relationships
Family
A Kalinga household consists of a nuclear
family and sometimes, an aged grandparent
Courtship and
Marriage
1. Bilin - expressing intent to marry
2. Ngilin/Palanus - formal
announcement to the community
3. Donop - asking the blessing of the
elders
Courtship and
Marriage
However, arranged marriages may still be done
in the community, called Ab-aboryan Kabkabi-
in. It is a betrothal practiced by well-to-do
families where they arrange the marriage of
their children.
Culture & Tradition
of the Kalinga People
Music
The traditional music of Kalinga is primarily
characterized by the use of indigenous instruments.
These include the gong, a percussion instrument
made of bronze or brass, and the gangsa, a set of
small gongs that are played together to produce a
rhythmic pattern. The kulintang, another percussion
instrument, is also used in Kalinga music.
Dance
Gangsa or gong players, usually warriors, play the
binutbot (gong) to dance the tachok and joined by the
women. The men display masculine prowess while
the women imitate the movements of birds.
Batok
The people of Kalinga are famous for their intricate
tattoos, which are considered a sign of bravery and
status. These tattoos are often found on the arms, legs,
chest, and face, and are believed to have magical
powers that protect the wearer.
Weaving
The province of Kalinga is one of the many places in the
Philippines where the practice of traditional backstrap
loom weaving not only survives but thrives. The Kalinga
weavers produce handwoven fabrics for a variety of uses,
from traditional cloth for clothing and ritual use to
commercial fabrics intended for making household decor,
souvenirs, bags, and accessories.
Education
Education
Modern schools in Kalinga follow the typical school
system, with the incorporation of local traditions,
including weaving and farming.
Religion
Religion
The Kalinga belief in a Supreme Being,
Kabuniyan, the creator and giver of life,
who once lived amongst them. They
also believe in numerous spirits and
deities, including those associated with
nature (pinaing and aran), and dead
ancestors (kakarading and anani).
Economy
Kalinga Coffee
Coffee is an important part of Kalingas’ culture and
Cordillerans as a whole. Aside from being a staple
beverage in Kalinga homes. It is a symbol of hospitality
when visiting a household or a place.

Kalinga, as of 2012, ranks 7th nationwide in terms of coffee

production, according to DTI.
Political Structure &
Organization
Belief
The people of Kalinga believed that social order
which governs man's existential structure
constitutes the co-existence of man and his
spiritual world.
Leadership
Wisdom is the source of power of a Kalinga leader.
A leader is believed to be wise when he has
proven to have lived the true and authentic
Kalinga way. This calls for the leader's sustained
charismatic striving for knowledge on the Kalinga
culture and tradition which has to be lived faithfully
and by example.
Leadership
Requires the competence of a teacher, adviser,
counselor of tradition, and the power of the leader
to settle social or tribal conflicts.
Pacts (Pudon)
In the treaty of agreement, the two contracting (ili)
parties define in a set of provisions their territorial
boundaries, the extent of trade and commerce
between them, respective political and social
obligations towards each other and inventory of
punishable crimes and their corresponding
penalties.
The Papangat
Political authority and leadership are enforced by
some form of council of elders constituted by the
various heads of the kinship groups This council of
elders or the papangat makes decisions
concerning the internal affairs of the village.
Leadership
groupings
Papangat - the elders, highly cultural
Interest groups - the outcasts
Open-minded group - shares the same ideals
as the elders, but embraces modernization
Contribution to Modern
Society
Apo Whang-Od
Whang-od Oggay is known as the last
mambabatok (Kalinga tattooist) from the tribe
of Butbut in Buscalan, Kalinga. She has been
tattooing for the past 80 years — including head
hunters of the indigenous tribe, at the
beginning of her long career.
Alonzo Saclag
Alonzo Saclag is a
Filipino musician
and dancer who is a
recipient of the
National Living
Treasures Award.
References:
Atlas of Humanity. (n.d.). Kalinga. Retrieved from https://www.atlasofhumanity.org/kalinga

Department of Tourism. (n.d.). How the Kalinga Deals with Love, Life, and Death. Retrieved from
https://7641islands.ph/explore/how-the-kalinga-deals-with-love-life-and-
death/#:~:text=The%20art%20of%20Kalinga's%20courtship&text=The%20first%20step%20is%20the,or%20to%20have%20a%20conv
ersation

ICBE. (2021). Keeping the Kalinga Heritage Alive in Rituals. ICBE. Retrieved from https://icbe.eu/cordillera-rituals-as-a-way-of-
life/955-keeping-the-kalinga-heritage-alive-in-rituals

Jude the Tourist. (n.d.). Kalinga Tradition: Heritage of Cordillera. Jude the Tourist. Retrieved from
https://www.judethetourist.com/kalinga-traditionheritage-of-cordillera/

National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA). (n.d.). The Kalinga. Retrieved from https://ncca.gov.ph/about-ncca-
3/subcommissions/subcommission-on-cultural-communities-and-traditional-arts-sccta/northern-cultural-
communities/the-kalinga/