The great Ibaloy nation from Baguio City and Benguet celebrated the Ivadoy Day 2022 at the Ibaloy Heritage Garden at Burnham Park on Feb. 23 with a theme: “Mansaksahi tan mantitinudong kitjo pansegshan ni kaivadoyan”.
The celebration was marked with the beating of the gongs that followed a day after descendants and heirs of the great Ibaloy chieftain Mateo Cariño held a “dawit” a century-old ritual of the Ibaloys to call on the spirits of their ancestor while the elders performed the “keshew”, another form of Ibaloy ritual.
Organized by the Onjon Ni Ivadoy Association, Inc. led by its president, Max Edwin Bugnay, in coordination with the City Government of Baguio, this year’s celebration was also a reunion of sorts after similar gatherings were prohibited during the past two years since the declaration of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.
Esteemed guests and political leaders joined the celebration where they performed the “tayaw” and gave inspirational messages to the Ibaloys.
The celebration of the Ibadoy Day on Feb. 23 has significance to the Ibaloys in Baguio and its environs, as it was on Feb. 23, 1909 that the United States Supreme Court released its decision on the Native Title which recognized the legitimacy of the claims of the old man Cariño.
Thanks to the former city council for approving Resolution 395 s. of 2009 declaring Feb. 23 as Ibaloy Day.
This year’s Ibaloy Day was culminated with “indusek”, a form of ritual performed by the elders on Feb. 24 to call for protection and more blessings from above. (Photos: Ofelia C. Empia)
