Critique in Cordillera Autonomous Region

Different provinces are included in the Cordillera Autonomous Region. Some of their tradition,culture,way of living and others are similar with the other people living in the different places in CAR region, however they have also unique characteristics and they also different in some ways.

First is the Isneg. They are one of the resident of the CAR region. They lived in Kalinga-Apayao. They possessed a righteous attitudes like being kind,hospitable and generous. Being hospitable are one of the best qualities that a Filipino have. They possessed with the spirit of self-reliance and courage and clearly artistic in their temperament. They are close neighbors to the Kalinga,Tingguan and Ifugao. They have cultural similarities and only the language differ. They practice a headhunting society and they believed in a good or bad spirits. Isneg are industrious person and they have an old style of courtship. The parents of the girl allow to take place courtship in their house unlike today that courtship is not important for the people who are in love.

Second is the Tingguians. Abra occupies the western portion of the Cordillera Region in northern Luzon. Most Tingguians are farmers, who tend rice in kaingin and their economy is agricultural based. Their major crops are rice,corn and they have also commercial product as coffee and coconut. Until now some of them believed in ancient and supernatural spirits however many of them are Christianized and Catholicism.

They are the most prominent of the mountain people. They are the Ifugaos which inhabit the most rugged and mountainous part of the country. Their ancestors are the one made the famous rice terraces. The American made friend with them and change the Ifugao's way of life. Agriculture is the main source of their livelihood and also engage in poultry and hunting. Like in Isneg and other tribe, Ifugao believed in spirits and dities. They expressed in various rituals which they performed in any occasion. Even the rice planting and rice harvesting include the important ritual of the Ifugao. They have also their own musical instrument and songs. Some of their instrument are made in bamboo and rattan. Ifugao people are very creative and industrious. They have a louge chair "hagibi" a symbol indicating the status of the family. They are divided in aristocracy and the lower class.

Bontoc are the only people in he area of CAR known to have laws on welfare,including the making of peace and pacts. Their skills in fighting discouraged the Spanish missionary work and military penetration. Bontoc believed that their laws 2were given to them by Lumawig,their culture hero. They have also social classes like the Ifugao,they are divided in 3 classes,the rich,middle class,and the poor. Their livelihood is the same with the other tribe,however they engaged in fishing. The Bontoc also believed in the anitos and spirits of their ancestors and in spirits dwelling in nature but they are essentially monotheistic. They have also christian baptism and courtship is just like the Isneg.

The Kankanays are the third largest cultural community in the mountain province. They are called Lepato Igorots both southern and northern Kankanay. Family is the basic social unit of the Kankanay. They practiced a monogamous relationship and all the members of the family are expected to do their responsibilities related to economic and ritual activities. They have also social classes like the Bontoc and other tribe. Their supernatural world recognizes male and female god features as well as spirit beings. Hunt and fish are their primary source of food,some of them engaged in seasonal jobs like carpentry and pottery. They have the traditional G-string which men wear and ornamentation by tattooing of the arm is popular for the both sexes.

Lastly,the Kalinga. When the Americans came,they provided the mountain people with vocational training and the mountain tribes remained loyal to the Americans when the Japanese came. The Americans teacher and missionaries changed the belief of the Kalinga that the Illnesses were caused by bad spirit. They also have a social classes that divided in 3 classes liked the other tribes. They practiced arranged marriage except among the wealthy families in southern Kalinga. Their literature consists of riddles,legends,chanted or sung myths and ballads. Most of their epics feature romance and magic and bravery. Their characteristics was reflected in their literary words.

From the different ethic groups in CAR we can compare them with the other tribes and their different way of living,their characteristic their religious belief and literary works today. We learn from their background that they are all industrious,creative/artistic kind and possessed good qualities. Their characteristics were reflected in their literary works and from there we can get information and lesson and we can easily traced them according to their unique qualities.