| bikol
agtas
by: Jose Arceo |
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Agta is the generic term used in Bikol to refer to its 40,000 natives with
dark-colored skins, short stature and kinky hair. There are three other
terms for them in Camarines Norte where they have managed to preserve their
indigenous culture. "Kabihug" is what they call themselves; "Manide" is
the term for their language; and Abian, meaning "friend" is how they are
referred to by non- Agtas.
While many of the Bikol Agtas now live in permanent "settlements" , there are still some in Camarines Norte who are semi-nomadic and who build temporary elevated shelters called butukan made from tree branches and leaves. The other parts of the Agta shelter are: an upper compartment called tinabaw where hunting weapons and fishing materials are stored; a tug-onan or hearth for cooking purposes; and a wooden seat called pasingolan located outside the shelter for receiving visitors. An area is believed to be ideal for building a butukan if six tagbac tubers planted there will grow or where decayed organic matter is present or where the shelter can be reached by reflected light from a river. The light purportedly prevents evil spirits from having access to the shelter and bringing death to its occupants. A tree with vines is not advisable as housing material, because the vines allegedly signify snakes which might frequently visit the shelter. The traditional attire of the Agtas is the tapis (skirt) or bahag (breech cloth) made from the bark of the gumihan tree, although nowadays they have shed these off for the wear of their lowland brothers. They still adorn their heads, however, with a multi-purpose container called takupis made from the kalagimay plant where they keep their lime from burnt seashells, nganga (betel nut) and pepper leaves called ikmo or lukmoy. In lieu of ornaments, the natives scar their bodies (asde) with designs bequeathed to them by their ancestors. Asde is supposed to rid the body of "dirty " blood and protect it from different illnesses. To carry her baby, a breastfeeding native wears the uban, a piece of cloth slung from the shoulders.
The Agtas grow rootcrops, rice and vegetables in their farms. Rice is often
hard hard to come by and is readily substituted with a boiled root crop
called dugma. They also have a favorite drink concocted from the lakad
bulan or sambong plant. The Agtas still observe certain practices and beliefs
for ensuring a good yield. For example, the presence of cumulus clouds
at the moment of planting is believed to enhance the size of the camote,
while planting during high tide or the full moon is said to result in a
bountiful harvest. The camote should be planted in big earth mounds by
a man and not by a woman or else, the camote will form cracks. The ideal
time of the day for planting is during late afternoon. The man first takes
a bath so that the camote crops will remain unspoiled and delicious. Camote
vines are then planted together with betel nuts and camias so that camote
roots will multiply in each mound. The man must be naked so that the camote
skin would not thicken. He must also be in a sitting position with his
feet astride the mound and his penis pointed to it. It is also said that
sugar placed near the mounds will produce sweet camotes. During really
hard times, some families dig for nami, a root crop with a milky poisonous
sap but which becomes edible after being soaked in running water for two
days.
The Agta family has very close ties. The relatives on both the father's
and mother's sides are called kaka. The following kinship terms are used
by the Kabihugs for members of both the consaguineal and affinal families.
Grandfather, dadong; grandmother, lala; father, tata; mother, nana; uncle,
ama; aunt, mina; eldest brother, kaka or bihion; subsequent older brother
or sister , kawedian na inyog; son, anak a bihion; daughter, anak a babaye;
child, batet; grandchild, apo; nephew or niece, kumangkon; older cousin,
pinsan a kaka; younger cousin, pinsan a wedi; and father or mother-in-law,
lis-ikan.
http://www.ncca.gov.ph/ORGANIZATION/SCCTA/AGTA_AETA/agta_bikol.htm |
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