by Virginia Gaces

Created on: September 08, 2008

The Bethrotal System of The Kalinga Native in Northern Philippines

The betrothal practice in Kalinga, specifically Taloctoc, is done by having a "contract" between parents for the marriage of their children. The practice was binding among the natives.

It starts of when a family decides to have its son or daughter be betrothed to another by sending an emissary who is a respected and influential member of the community. This emissary must at least know how to sing the "ullalim" as it is through this that he would make the initial proposal. In most cases, the proposal is accepted by the other family.

When the proposal is accepted, the emissary would go back to the proposing family and everyone would be informed about the acceptance. An announcer from each family would go around and inform all of their relatives and the community and everyone would be invited to the celebration. They would then agree on the date of the celebration, this is to officially inform everyone in the community about the contract.

During the day of the celebration,the emissary from the girl's family would go to the house of the boy as early as 6 AM to officially announce the celebration. All the relatives of the boy should be there to receive the emissary. As soon as the emissary arrives, the father of the boy would instruct any of his relatives to slaughter a pig in order to entertain the emissary with "ullalim" until such time that the breakfast is ready. After breakfast, all the male relatives of the boy would line up and one of them would carry the head of the butchered pig. This is called the "lungos" which is taken then to the house of the girl to signify the start of the celebration and to manifest acceptance of the proposed marriage.

The emissary would then lead the march followed by the boy, who must carry a bundle of firewood. All of the male relatives would also carry bundles of wood or one of the 6 musical instrument called " patonggok". This 6 musical instrument would produce rhythmic sounds. The "patonggok" is made from bamboo and are whittled to regularly, decreasing sizes, from 1 & 1/2 foot to 6 inches in length. The alternate beating of the "patonggok" would produce a melodious sound that would accompany the group to the girl's house. The sounds is loud enough for the whole village to hear and thereby are prompted to go to the celebration.

All the relatives of the girl will gather at the girl's house and wait for the marching men. As soon as the marching group arrives at the

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