The Elders, Women and Youth from Tiwi Agta Youth Organization of the Tiwi Agta Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous Peoples including the Taos and Dubaba Councils (the two governing bodies of Tiwi Agta or the Indigenous Political Structure), performed Pagdusay Ritwal at Joroan Tribal Hall, Joroan, Tiwi, Albay on October 25.
Pagdusay is a thanksgiving ritual where they offer local fruits (i.e. Piña, Lukban, Pili, Banana), meat (chicken and pig), sweetened delicacies made of glutinous rice and root crops (i.e. suman, ibos, binutong), liquor, and mama-un (betel nut mixed with lime, mint leaf and tobacco) to the dead IP spirits and to umalaw, spirits of nature representing the four elements; paros (air), daga (earth), tubig (water) & kalayo (fire). The ritual is also intended to pray earnestly for a good weather, bountiful harvest and protection from catastrophes. This ritual is also open for guests.
The National Commission of Indigenous Peoples’ Albay also joined the ritual which was performed to celebrate the 25thanniversary of the creation of the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA).
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Photos: NCIP Albay