Tumba: A Paoayeños’ Celebration

Of All Saints Day

Asuncion, Angelo
Degollado, Warren M.
Langaman, Caira B.
Piedad, Maria Margarita
BCAED 4-A

Mariano Marcos State University – College of Teacher Education

January 04, 2023

CHAPTER I - PROBLEM
IDENTIFICATION
Abstract
• This paper discusses the belief system that can be seen in the
practice of Tumba, what made Tumba a trademark in Paoay, and
the initiatives of government in promoting Tumba. Barangay
captains and Barangay residents were purposively randomly
chosen from the 10 different Barangays nearby the municipal
office of Paoay, Ilocos Norte for personal reasons like financial
matters and safety of the researchers. Barangay captain and
residents respondents were given an open-ended question
regarding the initiatives of government in promoting Tumba while
the Barangay residents or townsfolk were given an open-ended
question regarding on their belief system in celebrating Tumba that
made it a trademark.
Abstract
• Furthermore, it is believed that Tumba is celebrated annually on
November 1st and is a mere tradition or practice not a festival.
Tumba is about the time and place in commemorating the dead
relatives and ancestors as they prepare offerings or atang from their
abundant harvest and dedicate a Dung-aw. Tumba remained being
celebrated for its social, cultural, historical and economic
significance where people get together as one. The initiatives of the
government officials made it happen as the municipal’s Barangay
residents joined them.
Abstract
• Given the modernized generation right now, the modification of
how Tumba is celebrated occurs wherein the real way of
celebrating Tumba fades. More research is needed to at least
publish a book about the original way of celebrating Tumba
knowing the possibility that the next generation might not invest
time in practicing this annual celebration.
 Background of the Problem
• The researchers conducted this study in order to find out if the town
folks of Paoay, Ilocos Norte are aware of how the Tumba festival is
celebrated. Due to the reason that not all Paoayeños are not aware of
how it was supposed to be celebrated.
• The researchers will provide solutions and ways for the town folks of
Paoay to be educated and knowledgeable through a documentary film
or video.
Statement of the Problem
The study aims to determine the Ilokano belief systems that can be seen
from the people of Paoay on Tumba Festival.
Specifically, the research study sought to answer the following
questions:
1.What are the Ilokano belief systems that can be seen in the practice of
Tumba?
2.What are the initiatives that the government has done in promoting
Tumba?
3.What makes Tumba as a trademark of Paoay?
Significance of the Study
This research study provides information about Tumba. The result of
this research will benefit the following:

Locals
Non-locals
Tourism Office
Students
Future Researchers
Scope and Delimitation
• The respondents of this study were barangay captains and barangay
residents. The barangays nearby the event place during the Tumba
Festival were chosen for safety purposes during the gathering of
data and will be conducted at Paoay, Ilocos Norte. This study used
purposive sampling and limits its coverage on 15 respondents
wherein 10 barangays consisting 1 respondent each, the barangay
captain and a townsfolk. This study used set of questions that are
personally constructed by the researchers.
 CHAPTER II -
REVIEW OF RELATED
LITERATURE
Related Literature
• The strong religious influence of Catholicism left includes
religious rituals held like the Tumba-tumba during All Saint’s Day.
Tumba-tumba is celebrated every 1st of November in the town of
Paoay. Mrs. Luz Reyno-Carpio, a retired Division’s Superintendent
and Municipal Cultural and Tourism Council Consultant said, that
the real essence of “Tumba has been celebrated for generations to
honor the dead. No records explain why old folk called the event
Tumba-tumba.” According to Sayre (2008), a culture that comes
from the stories that survived without writing is called oral culture.
Some of these cultures have been passed down over the centuries
from generation to generation, by word of mouth.
Related Studies
• The study The Axiological Relevance of the Tumba-tumba Festival
in Paoay, Ilocos Norte, Philippines by Caesar Ziggy Q. Perlas
explored the Tumba-tumba festival celebration of Paoay, Ilocos
Norte in the Philippines. During the celebration, different huts are
put up with altars inside them that have a lot of food offerings. The
study explored the value and meaning of the folk practices. The
study used the ethnographic observation, documentation, and
interviews of the participants of the 10 districts during the
celebration. The tradition was the blended values of Ilocano and
religious faith. The participants were devoted in the preservation of
the culture but few knew the meaning of the food offerings.
Related Studies
• In the practice of the tradition, the participants were not aware that
they were performing different fields of the arts. The local
government organizes other activities to promote the festival but
these usually result in divided interests of visitors towards the real
value of the tradition. The local government therefore, as the key
factor in the preservation of the cultural values of the tradition, is
recommended to develop and increase the awareness of the
program during the festival to promote its real meaning for the
younger generation to emulate.
 CHAPTER III -
RESEARCH
METHODOLOGY
Population and Sample
• The respondents of this study came from the Municipality of
Paoay, Ilocos Norte. Purposive sampling is used to select from the
different strata of the population. The population involves selected
Locals of the town with a total of 15 individuals. The sample of
the research consists of Barangay Captains and local citizens.
Research Design
• The descriptive method of research is used in this study. A
total of 15 residents from the municipality acted as the
participants of the study. Concepts and procedures of
general description analysis, and classifications was
discussed and illustrated in considerable detail. This
methodology was accomplished through an interview.
Research Design
• Since the present study was concerned with the
celebration of Tumba Festival the descriptive method of
research will concerning to the celebration of Tumba
Festival, it will be used to determine the Ilokano belief
systems that can be seen in the practice of Tumba and to
find out the ways on how the government promotes
Tumba.
Data Collection
• An open-ended question was used in collecting data. The
questionnaires are distributed to the stratified samples of
Paoay residents. The use of questionnaires is useful in
obtaining data from the targeted respondents with the goal
of generalizing credible results to a broader public. This
method is also flexible and easier to analyze, and can be
done face-to-face or virtually with ease.
Data Aanalysis
• The information acquired through questionnaires was analyzed
using content analysis. Moore and McCabe (2005) define this sort
of research as one in which data is collected and organized into
themes and sub-themes so that it may be compared. One of the
most significant benefits of content analysis is that it aids in the
reduction and simplification of data while also delivering results
that can be quantified quantitatively. Furthermore, content analysis
allowed researchers to organize qualitative data in a way that meets
study goals.
Research Instrument
• The method used in collecting data was the public opinion survey.
This was used to gauge the reactions of the townsfolk towards
Tumba, the Halloween tradition of Paoay. The public opinion
survey was the most appropriate method used in gathering data.
• This was used because it gathers data through a formal set of
questions posed to each interviewee and recorded using
standardized procedure. Besides, the respondents will be the
barangay captains and townsfolk of Paoay, Ilocos Norte.
• The semi-structured interview questionnaire was made at its
simplest and clearest form as the respondents can understand and
answer the questions with ease and comfort.
Research Procedure
• The semi structured interview questionnaire was constructed by the
researcher with the help of some knowledgeable people. The
researchers saw to it that there are enough items to be able to
collect data necessary to seek answers to problems and specific
questions under the statement of the problem. The questionnaire
was submitted to their research adviser for correction and
finalization for validation.
CHAPTER IV -
RESULTS AND
DISCUSSION
Tumba and the Ilokano belief systems portrayed on it as a
celebration

• “Tumba” is Paoay, Ilocos Norte’s unique celebration of the All-

Saints Day. It is a significant celebration that shows heritage and
belongingness to the people of Paoay. The researchers came up
with some responses of the different residents in Paoay, Ilocos
Norte about what is “Tumba” and what are those Ilocano belief
systems that are portrayed through this celebration.
• Tumba is an event when you commemorate someone you knew
who passed away, meaning it is just an honoring ceremony of the
dead. For at least one day in almost 365 days in a year, the people
gather and celebrate in unison making a commemoration and honor
to those who passed away.
The initiatives of the government in promoting Tumba

• As an annual celebration of Paoay, Ilocos Norte of All Saints’ Day,

Tumba has been so remarkable to people who came and celebrate
it. The local government of Paoay has been very supportive in the
celebration of Tumba. They are always willing to provide financial
assistance to those who are in need of costumes and props for the
shows on that particular day. People were also invited to grace the
celebration in order for them to feel the essence of tumba and
experience how it was uniquely different from the other
municipalities’ way of All Saints’ Day. There is also certain amount
of money which are raised and are connected with the officials,
particularly the tourism group, then financial assistant is being
given.
Tumba as a trademark of Paoayenos

• Paoay is famous because of its Tumba. People say that this

tradition has been a trademark of the said place because of its
cultural, social and economic significance.
• As for cultural significance, Tumba gives importance to the spirits
of the dead, just like considering them, as still among us in our
needs, as the cultural significance of the Tumba. As the cultural
significance of the Tumba, it is not a festival because that’s the
original term. It is not celebrated with revelry that’s why people
could not qualify it as a festival.
 CHAPTER V -
CONCLUSION AND
RECOMMENDATION
Conclusion
• Tumba is a traditional way of celebrating the dead which is
annually held at Paoay, Ilocos Norte during All Saints’ Day. The
people celebrate it by honoring their love ones through practices
like dung-aw and preparing atang. The celebration of Tumba
evolved as time passes as the government’s way to promote it to
the neighbor municipalities and the tourist, it is far colorful
compared to the traditional way on how Tumba is being celebrated.
Tumba is not festival, it is just a mere tradition. What made Paoay
famous about Tumba is that Paoay is the only place who can
celebrate it properly.
Recommendation
• This research study provides information about Tumba that will be
beneficial for the locals, non-locals, tourism office, students and
future researchers. The following recommendations are made:
1) The Local Government Unit including the tourism officers should
provide additional materials that will educate the townfolks of Paoay
such as brochure or atleast provide an informational video in every
tumba booth as well as in the front of the tumba horror house. In that
way, townfolks, visitors/tourists will not just only experience the
thrilling and horrifying horror house but they will also be educated
about tumba.
Recommendation
2) The tourism officers should not just only raise or focus in the
economic benefits of tumba but also to provide possible ways and
solutions to maintain, preserve, protect and promote the real essence
of the tradition or practice.
3) Similar Researchers should reconduct this study in the future
generations for further information.
Acknowledgment
• The researcher wish to acknowledge with sincere gratitude
and appreciation to the following people who extended their
full support in the realization of this manuscript, to with;
• Dr. Aris Reynold V. Cajigal, the dean of MMSU College of Teacher
Education for allowing and supporting us in our study,
• Prof. Maybelline B. Sta. Maria, the very supportive teacher for
this research study, allowing us to continue our study anf for
always checking our documents and supporting us in our way;
Acknowledgment
• To the tourism office of the Municipality of Paoay and each
barangay captains, for allowing us to conduct this particular study
on their respective place;
• To the respondents, for patiently responding on our research
interviews and surveys for our study;
• Above, all to our Almighty God, the source of wisdom and all
blessings and who guides us in finishing.
Dedication
• We humbly dedicate this research to our parent, always there to
nourish and guide us all the time. With their unending support, we
have succeeded our research and accomplished it thoroughly.
• We would like also to dedicate this research to the people who
wishes to explore Tumba, figuring out its real meaning, the
celebration and the significance of this particular event in Paoay,
Ilocos Norte.
• We would like to dedicate this research to our parents, teachers,
classmates and friends whom we truly love and grateful for having
them to our side.
• And especially to our almighty God who gave us the knowledge
and wisdom.
Bibliography
Anthropos Institute. (n.d.). The Phenomenon of Festivals: Their
Origins, Evolution, and Classifications. JSTOR. Retrieved May 28,
2022 from https://www.jstor.org/stable/43861801

Perlas, C. Z. Q. (2018). The Axiological Relevance of the Tumba-

tumba Festival in Paoay, Ilocos Norte, Philippines. International
Forum Journal, 21(1), 119-133. Retrieved May 21. 2022 from,
https://journals.aiias.edu/info/article/view/54