The document provides information on the Kalinga people, an indigenous group in the Philippines. It discusses their history, traditions, culture and way of life. The Kalinga traditionally practiced headhunting and engaged in tribal wars. Their society had a bodong peace pact system and stratified social classes. Tattoos held important cultural meanings for warriors. The traditional clothing, language, livelihood and religious beliefs are outlined. The techniques for applying tattoos and meanings of motifs are described. The last practicing traditional tattoo artist is a 92-year-old woman apprentice is passing on the art form.

1. The Land and the Tribe of Brave

2. Inhabiting the rugged terrain of the
Cordillera Region of Northern
Philippines there are six ethno-
linguistic tribes known as the Ibaloy,
Kankana-ey, Ifugao, Kalinga,
Apayao/Isneg, and the Bontoc. They
are referred to by a generic term,
Igorot, a word coined from the root
word, “golot” meaning mountain.

3. The Kalingas are the
indigenous peoples of
Kalinga, Philippines. They
are generally known to be
tall, dark-complexioned, and
lissome with high bridsed
noses. Physically they are
very sturdy and well-built so
that their war-like
characteristics make them
more like soldiers.

4. The name Kalinga is
believed to have come
from Ibanas Kalinga and
Gaddang Kalinga which
both mean
"headhunters." The
Kalingas must have
acquired their name
because of their
tradition of headhunting
during tribal wars.

5.  Tribal wars occur when a
bodong peace pact system was
broken or violated.
 The bodong is the most
admirable and efficient
Kalinga institution. It is a
peace pact or treaty between
two tribes, wherein the Pagta
or laws on inter-tribal
relations are made.
 The bodong is also the Magna
Carta of the Kalingas.

6. According to the National
Commission on Culture and the
Arts, there are 31 sub-tribes of
the Kalinga ethnolinguistic
group. They are live in Kalinga
province's eight towns.

8. Kalinga covers a total area of
3,231.25 square kilometers
(1,247.59 sq. mi.) occupying
the central section of the
Cordillera Administrative
Region in Luzon. The province
is bordered by Mountain
Province to the south, Abra to
the west, Isabela to the east,
Cagayan to the northeast, and
Apayao to the north.

9. The topography of Kalinga
province is rugged and sloping,
with mountain peaks ranging
from 1,500 to 2,500 meters (4,900
to 8,200 ft.) in elevation. The
province’s western side is
characterized by sharp, crested,
interlinking peaks of steep slopes,
isolated flatlands, plateaus and
valleys. The eastern lands are
mainly of rolling and gradually
sloping foothills.

10. Large swaths of the province's
lowlands are open grassland
suitable for pasture, while the
highlands have extensive areas of
tropical rainforest. In higher
elevations to the west, particularly
in the mountains of Balbalan, lie
some of the most intact pine forests
of Luzon island. Biggest rice
production are the mountainous
area of the rice terraces of
Balbalan, Lubuagan, Pasil,
Pinukpuk, Tinglayan, and
Tanudan.

11. CLIMATE
The province experiences an average
temperature ranging from 17 to 22 °C
(63 to 72 °F) with Type 3 weather
patterns. The dry season extends from
November to April, while the rest of
the year is considered the rainy
season, the heaviest rains usually
occurring from July to October.

12. HYDROLOGY
The province is drained mainly
by the Chico River, with its
headwaters in the Mountain
Province and emptying into the
Cagayan River. The Chico River
has several tributaries: Bunog
River in Tinglayan in the south;
the Tanudan and Biga Rivers in
the east; Pasil River in the
central area; and Poswoy, Dao-
angan, Mabaca and Saltan
Rivers in the west.

13. ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS
Kalinga comprises one city and
seven municipalities, all encompassed by
a single legislative district.
Tabuk was proclaimed a component city in
2007, but in November 2008 the Supreme
Court of the Philippines ruled that its cityhood
was unconstitutional. However, Tabuk had its
city status reinstated by the Supreme Court
on December 22, 2009.
•

15. The main source of livelihood among
the Kalingas is the payew
(ricefields) and the uma (swidden
farm). Aside from food production,
cattle are pastured there, and
poultry is raised in the backyard.
Small fish (gadiw), shell, and
marine life are taken from the
rivers. Men hunt for wild pigs, deer,
and wild fowl in the forest using
spears, indigenous traps or rifles.
Fruit trees, coconut, coffee, and
bananas are grown while sugarcane
is planted and made into basi(wine).
LIVELIHOOD

16. The Kalinga household consists of a nuclear
family and an aged grandparent for they
show great respect for elders.
The Kalinga society may be stratified into
lawa or kapus (poor) and the baknang
(wealthy). Among the signs of prestige and
wealth are possessions of several ricefields,
working animals, heirlooms like china plates
and jars, agate head/necklaces, and brass
gongs.
FAMILY

17. The identification of self with
the kinship circle could be
such that whatever an
individual does is the
responsibility of the group,
and whatever threatens the
security of the group must be
opposed by the individual.
Kalinga women are strong
and would kill their husbands
if caught cheating.
FAMILY

18. Animist rituals with
Christian worship.
Religious beliefs generally
nature-related, and they
make proprietary offerings to
“anitos” (spirits) as well as to
household gods.
RELIGION

19. Kalingas are also known as Limos or
Limos-Liwan Kalinga.
The speak the Kalinga and Limos
languages.
KALINGA - TAGALOG
* ampiya - masarap
* laweng - pangit
* gona ogom - nasaan ka
* awadak sina - nandito ako
LANGUAGE

20. The male Kalinga
native costume is very
simple. It consists of a
woven, long rectangular
cloth which could be
used to cover the male
private organ. There are
no upper clothing.
Feathers could be worn
as a head dress.
CLOTHING

21. In the olden days,
tattoos were worn by
proud warriors. The
more tattoo a male had,
the more prized heads,
he had cut off. It is a
proud symbol of
bravery and courage, in
the olden times.

22. BABAI: TAPIS
LALAKI: "BAHAG" or G-string
BONGOL = necklace made of beads.

23. THE EXTINCTION OF
ETHNIC EXPERTISE

25. Lasoy, 84-year old
Kalingan elder,one of
the few surviving
members of her
generation with
compulsory Kalinga
tattoos, on what it
meant to be a Kalinga
woman, and her
personal journey of both
love and loathing for her
skin art.

26. REASONS OF TATTOOS
CUTURE
• As a symbol of their strength, coming of
age and beauty.
• Special privileges and lifelong respect.
• Specific motifs are saved only for men in
order to communicate their bravery,
battles won and how many people they
have killed.

27. TATTOO TECHNIQUE &
MAMBABATOK MEANINGS
• The tattoo tools themselves are made from a
instrument constructed in bamboo and razor
sharp lemon thorns. The design is marked
onto the skin using long strips of straight
grass, dipped in simple a mixture of charcoal
and water. Then thorn tip is submerged in the
charcoal solution before rigorously hand
tapping the piercing point into the design on
the skin.

28. Apo Whang-Od, world renowned
Apo and the last practicing
traditional Mambabatok in the
whole region. At 92 years old,
time is running out for her to
pass on the time honored hand
tapping technique and tribal
motifs to her 13 year old grand
daughter and apprentice.
Tourists are currently flocking to
Buscalan village to have the last
living legend of Philippine
artistry scar their skin.

29. Sukran
Kamayo Ubus!
Madyaw na
Maserum.