Paang: A Healing Rite and Swine Problem

Cultures and traditions are never forgotten when it is practiced every now and then. As one who belongs to a tribe there are rites being performed when a certain disease or terrible disaster strikes one person or the whole community is affected. Yes, we are christians but the elders of the village said that such occurrences strike because their gods were already forgotten, thus, some rites weren't being performed in the past. And the outcome of it is the resentment of the anito or anitoes.

Just for example, the village had experienced terrible crop loss for almost three years I think. The villagers primarily grow heirloom rice once a year during the crop rotation and the harvests were devastating during those three years. Rice crops were nearly or totally eaten by pests, rats to be specific. It was only these past two years and the present harvest when the fields were bountiful. So, during those lost of crops that the elders of the village, mainly the elderly men of the Ato came to realize that one practice was forgotten. It is when it was performed and observed that the crops began to go back the way it was.

Another one is a rite performed when a road accident happen that includes the demised of many.

Then, when the pandemic struk the village there's also a rite performed for it.

Traditionally, it is like to appease the gods, ask for its' protection, drive the evil spirits causing trouble off of the place or other related matters. There is also a thanksgiving each year but only the members of the Ato can participate. Ato, is a council place in the old days. It is where the umato- members come to perform the rites. Nonetheless, every household is collected a part of palay or milled rice.

While each rite has its own name, today's article is called "Paang." I won't go into details on how it is done because I lack knowledge about it. If only my maternal grandfather who was a chief of an Ato is still alive then I will have someone to narrate how it is done.

Paang is for the village's cleansing and healing. Who would've thought that the village would not be spared from ASF- the airborne swine disease that could inflict and kill pigs.

Our village was free from ASF even during the pandemic but the hog raisers problem was on how to dispose it since lockdown was still imposed. Buyers and butchers in town were lined up with pigs to butcher. However, it's such a relief when buyers came to import pigs from our locality to the city. It is of course with certificate signed by the barangay captain that we are free from any pest.

Live weight price begun to increase and it's hog raiser-buyer friendly due to the fact that hog feeds are increasing by the day. Even piglets cost 5000 php each.

Unfortunately, this past month many pigs were struck by the pest. Many burried their hogs that are mostly mother pigs and those that are big enough to be dispose. Because of the good price for live weight that many had their own mother pigs for breeding which means they either sell the piglets or raise it. This led to the ballooning of the number of swine.

This incidence greatly affected the supply and demamd in the market which affected the hog growers the most but is very beneficial to the butchers because the price of pork is still high but they buy pigs at a very cheap price.

The increasing number of pigs getting sick and dying alarmed us. This caused the elders of the Ato to perform the "Paang." It was done on the first two days of this month.

The rite was accompanied and observed with two days "tengaw" as it is being performed. It means the villagers in the said barangay is not allowed to go in or out of the community within those two days time. No one is also allowed to attend the fields. Just a complete stay in the community. Even visitors are not allowed to enter the community during those time.

Coincidentally or whatever it may be called, the number of sick and dying pigs begun to decline.

Closing thoughts

We may be living in the digital world but because our elders who knew that certain things should be done for the betterment of the majority, then it must be done. We younger generations only respect it because it is what or how they do it in the olden days as part of their living.

Needless to say we found it effective. Or is it just coincidence? So whenever the elders of the Ato perform some rites to cleanse, heal, protect human race and livestock and crops, and thanksgiving then the entire barangay must abide. Because when one was caught exiting the community in broad daylight during the tengaw then that someone will be fined.

Ps. As I was typing (Oct.16) I have learned that one of my neighbor's pig is ill. It just gave birth during the night which the owner unfortunately forgot that it is its due to give birth. So, the following morning she only saw that it self delivered its piglets but somehow can't manage to stand to eat. Hopefully it will get better...

10-20-22

Z_Graeden