This study was conducted in Tabuk, Kalinga. It covered the Municipality of Tabuk consisting of forty barangays. Although the population of Tabuk is a mixture of different ethnic groups, they are one among the greatest group in number which is composed of pure Igorots of Mountain Province who started migrating to the place between 1922 to 1923. This research endeavored to look into the practices of the Igorots in Tabuk which christianization and education have not succeeded to alter up to the present time. Among these practices are those on accident, house counstruction, sickness, child-birth, marriage, and death.
The respondents are the Igorot old folks who are knowlegeable in giving information regarding their living practices. Other informants were professionals who are knowledgeable of the culture. These informants were visited in their respective houses by the researcher during the duration of the study. When there were social gatherings or special occasions celebrated by the Igorots in said place of study, the researcher took opportunity to attend and participate in their celebration. This was supplemented by tape recording, documentary and library techniques.
Descriptive survey method of research in gathering, analyzing and interpreting the data was done. This method was used to present the prevailing conditions and facts on the practices of the Igorots in Tabuk. Contextual analysis and interpretation in accordance with objectives of the study was employed.
The findings of the study revealed that the practices of the Igorots in Tabuk related to accident are sakeb, liplipet, daw-es, and sabosab while that of house construction are the demeg, bakid, lasag, and kinaw-ang. The practices on sickness are abat and senga. On childbirth, a woman delivering a baby should not show any expression of pain. On marriage, the present practice is to combine the traditional and Christian practices characterized by singing, dancing, drinking and eating while on death they observe ngilin and perform inesa ceremony, bakid, lapsag, kinaw-ang for the dead.
The result of the study will provide teachers and social workers working among the Igorots in Tabuk be acquainted with their practices along accident, house construction, sickness, child-birth, marriage, and death for needed adjustments in the development programs being implemented in the place and to avoid conflicts in their work.
IGOROTS, Death practices of Igorots, Traditions of Igorots, Kalinga
