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Republic of the Philippines

PHILIPPINE NORMAL UNIVERSITY
National Center for Teacher Education
The Indigenous Peoples Education Hub
North Luzon Campus
Alicia, Isabela

THE CULTURAL IMPLICATIONS OF THE DIFFERENT FOOD

PREPARATIONS AND PRESERVATIONS OF GADDANG ETHNIC GROUP

A RESEARCH PAPER

Presented to

PHILIPPINE NORMAL UNIVERSITY

National Center for Teacher Education
The Indigenous Peoples Education Hub
North Luzon Campus
Alicia, Isabela

In Partial Fulfillment

Of the Requirements for

Science, Technology and Society

OBTEC NL 01 Researchers

ABAD, Rose Ann M

ABIG, April Joy D

ALBANO, Princes Anne B

ALIPAN, John Carlo B

ALVARO, Lyra Valerie P

ANQUILLANO, Jordan F

ASUNCION, Carol M

BABAS, Edjane G

BUSWAY, Kristell A

2019
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Republic of the Philippines
PHILIPPINE NORMAL UNIVERSITY
National Center for Teacher Education
The Indigenous Peoples Education Hub
North Luzon Campus
Alicia, Isabela

CHAPTER 1

THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

INTRODUCTION

To define the term ‘indigenous’, Grim (2004) claimed that it is a general term

in referring the thousands of small scale societies who have kinship system, distinct

language, mythologies, ancestral memories and homelands. And one example of

indigenous people are the Gaddangs.

“Gaddang” also “Gadang” or “Ga’dang,” derives from “ga” meaning “heat” or

“fire,” and “dang” meaning “burn,” and means “burned by heat.” The word Gaddang

itself can account for both dark huge of the people’s skin as well as a major part of

their subsistence method. But as for Andres (Understanding the Values of the

Gaddangs & the Nueva Vizcainos, 2005), he defined the term Gaddang as a carabao

hide or pelt since Gaddangs have been using carabao hide for making rope for a long

time before abaca was discovered. The term Gaddang was used in referring

indigenous people settling in Nueva Vizcaya, Central Isabela, Quirino and Cagayan.

The Gaddangs are very dark, sturdy and well-built with long and straight black

hair falling over their shoulders and considered as the best known Philippine

headhunters. They usually practice hunting, fishing, gathering and farming to live.

Rice, mushrooms and sweet potato or camote are the main crops of Gaddang. Corn

has also become increasingly common, especially with the rise of lowland

Christianized population of the Gaddang. Also grown are taro, yams, cowpeas, lima

beans, okra, legumes, sugarcane, tobacco, coffee, jackfruit, rattan, citrus, areca,
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Republic of the Philippines
PHILIPPINE NORMAL UNIVERSITY
National Center for Teacher Education
The Indigenous Peoples Education Hub
North Luzon Campus
Alicia, Isabela

coconut, banana, guava and cacao. However, they sold their crops for profit rather

than consumed by the highland Gaddang themselves.

According to Buendia et al (2006), traditionally, the way they manage their

subsistence has great effect on their social status. Hunters are said to be more likely to

rise in society, marry into wealth or become wealthy themselves. Hunted animals

include deer, wild buffalo, pigs, civet cat, wild cat, python, iguana, cobra and bats.

The Gaddang also head to rivers to catch fish, clams, minnows, eels, frogs and snails.

Occasionally, they will also eat locusts and ants. However, it is not usually part of

their diet because they are mostly vegetarian. Domesticated animals like dogs, pigs

and chicken are also commonplace. Water buffalo are also kept in highland

households, but never taken for food.

Moreover, the love and concern for the Gaddang community is really evident

in their rituals and rites regarding the protection of the pregnant woman, for the

unborn child, and for their family members. The Gaddang tribe of Solano, described

in the article “Family Life and Customs” (n.d.), the family was and the most

important institution. This includes extended family and kinship ties. Within the

nuclear family, the father had the final authority but the wife could also voice her

opinion in all decisions. Respect for the parent and elders are the top most priority in

raising their children. Fathers trained their sons to hunt, use weapons, work in the

fields, recite myths and learn the family genealogy. Girls learned to take care of the

home, work in the field and recite numerous ballads that were a major part of the

culture. Children learned their ancestry from an early age; they may have known their
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Republic of the Philippines
PHILIPPINE NORMAL UNIVERSITY
National Center for Teacher Education
The Indigenous Peoples Education Hub
North Luzon Campus
Alicia, Isabela

relatives to the fifth degree on both sides of the family. Knowing their genealogy was

important, for it would determine where they fit into the society and their status in

various situations. Marriage was a way of extending kinship ties, and marriage to a

second cousin was acceptable. There was an informal courtship, and traditionally

there was child betrothal. Arrangements for the marriage were taken care of by a go-

between who would settle the bride’s price. A large feast would signify the marriage

itself and then the couple would be given inheritance from each set of parents. After

the wedding, the couple would live with the wife’ family so the husband could spend

a year working for them as a bride service.

The Gaddangs are God-fearing people and even though they were already

influenced by Christianity and the tools they have used in ancient times are influenced

with technologies, they are still loyal to their beliefs and practices. Hence, they belief

and practice a certain act in every stage of life: from conception to birth, childhood,

puberty stage and adolescence stage. The life of the Gaddangs is full of offerings of

sacrifices to the spirits or anito or anitos and rituals. Ghost deities “karangat” and the

soul of the dead “carallua na natay” are believed that are guiding and surrounding

them. Fear of these gods affects their behavior, guides their every act and governs

their existence. Even the modernization have occurred, and majority of the Gaddangs

are already educated, there are still existence of the ancient Gaddang custom called

‘the usual way of the elders’ or “gagangay nga mananacam ira”.

The Gaddangs’ beliefs and practices are part of their identity and culture, “the

threat of technological advances and industrialization may reduce the influence of

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Republic of the Philippines
PHILIPPINE NORMAL UNIVERSITY
National Center for Teacher Education
The Indigenous Peoples Education Hub
North Luzon Campus
Alicia, Isabela

these beliefs to younger generation but may not totally eradicate those”, Alindada

(n.d.).

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
INPUT

Interview,
Questionnaire and

Conduct a survey Gathering of data by

asking the food PROCESS means of
preparation and questionnaire and
preservation interviews

OUTPUT

The food preparation and preservation of

the Gaddang group settling at East
Tabacal, Cauyan City

Paradigm of the Study

The paradigm of the study shows the process structure of the study. It

describes how the researchers surveyed and tend to discover the food preparation and

preservation of the Gaddang group. After the process, is the output of the study
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Republic of the Philippines
PHILIPPINE NORMAL UNIVERSITY
National Center for Teacher Education
The Indigenous Peoples Education Hub
North Luzon Campus
Alicia, Isabela

explaining the culture and indigenous practices of the Gaddangs in terms of food

preparation and preservation.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Basically, this study aims to know the culture and indigenous practices of

Gaddangs. To fully complete the foresaid objective, the research sought to answer the

following questions:

1. What are the examples of the food they eat or recipes they serve and the

process?

2. Are there cultural implications in their culinary practices?

3. Are there specific foods they will serve in accord to what event they will do or

celebrate in terms of the birth to death life cycle:

3.1. Wedding

3.2. Illness or healing

3.3. Child’s initiation

3.4. Jumping or recognition to a person’s change of lifestyle

3.5. Gender sensitive

3.6. Longevity of life

3.7. Baptism

3.8. Agricultural Rites

3.9. Birthday

3.10. Religious events or novenas

3.11. House Blessing

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Republic of the Philippines
PHILIPPINE NORMAL UNIVERSITY
National Center for Teacher Education
The Indigenous Peoples Education Hub
North Luzon Campus
Alicia, Isabela

3.12. Home coming

3.13. Passage Rituals

3.14. Festivals

3.15. Death

4. What are the different ways how they preserve food? Is it manually or with

technology?

5. Is there any tools they use in preserving food?

6. Are there any basis in serving foods? How did they come up serving these

foods? What are their inspirations?

7. How is the state of their food practices nowadays? Do the elders transfer their

traditions in to the younger ones? In what way?

8. Where did the recipes originated? Pure Gaddang ways or with influenced of

any other tribe?

9. Do the Gaddangs also eat any other foods of other ethnic group?

SCOPE AND DELIMITATIONS

The main focus of this study is all about discussing about food preparation and

preservation of the Gaddang group. The researchers picked 5 Gaddang respondents

mostly the elders to answer the given questionnaire.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study will also provide facts about Food preparation and preservation and

its best methods on how to prepare and preserve foods. And the beneficiaries of this

study will have knowledge about understanding of Food preparation and preservation.
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Republic of the Philippines
PHILIPPINE NORMAL UNIVERSITY
National Center for Teacher Education
The Indigenous Peoples Education Hub
North Luzon Campus
Alicia, Isabela

The researcher views or believes that the findings of the study are helpful to

the following:

CULINARY ARTS STUDENTS. They will gain ideas how food preparation and

preservation does affects Gaddangs life. They will know the best methods on how to

prepare and preserve foods.

GADDANGS. They will be guided as well an information about their food

preparation and preservation. It will give them a concept that their practices and

beliefs on preparing and preserving food is useful.

FUTURE RESEARCHERS. This would be a great help for the future researcher for

them to have a source on their research. This can give them empirical data as bases

for suggestions on preparing and preserving foods of Gaddangs.

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

Generally, by means of this study, this is intended to know the effects of

Mobile Legends among the Senior High School students of Alicia National High

School.

Especially it aims to:

1) To determine the practices and beliefs of Gaddangs on how to prepare and

preserve foods.

2) To examine the best methods on how to prepare and preserve foods.

3) To identify how Gaddangs’ food affects Gaddangs life.

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Republic of the Philippines
PHILIPPINE NORMAL UNIVERSITY
National Center for Teacher Education
The Indigenous Peoples Education Hub
North Luzon Campus
Alicia, Isabela

4) To calculate the percentage of Gaddangs experience to prepare and preserve

foods.

CHAPTER 3

RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES

This chapter includes the research design, the setting of the study, the

respondents, instruments, data-gathering procedure and statistical treatment.

RESEARCH DESIGN

This study is descriptive- interview in nature. It investigated the food practices

of the Gaddangs of East Tabacal, Cauayan City, Isabela.

Descriptive interview method of research is used to collect demographic daat

about people's behavior, practices, intentions, beliefs, attitudes, opinions, judgments,

interests, perceptions and the like then such data are analyzed, organized and

interpreted. Survey reveals problem for which timely remedial measures may be

instituted (Seville, et. al. 1992). Since the research was concerned with the food

preparation and preservation of the Gaddangs of Barangay East Tabacal, Cauayan

City, Isabela, the descriptive-interview method of research is the most appropriate

method to be used. It sought to descry the present the Gaddangs in relation to the food

preparation and preservation.

QUESTIONNAIRE

Dear Respondents,
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Republic of the Philippines
PHILIPPINE NORMAL UNIVERSITY
National Center for Teacher Education
The Indigenous Peoples Education Hub
North Luzon Campus
Alicia, Isabela

We, the researchers are currently conducting our study entitled “The Customs and Practices
of the Gaddang People In Terms Of Food Preservation and Preparation”. The goal of this study is
to gather informations regarding their cultural practice in their food processes to fully complete the
foresaid objective. Your requested profile information will be treated confidentially and will be used
for academic purposes only. Please state your answers legibly and with full honesty. Thank you for
your participation.

Name: _________________________________ Age: _______

Gender: ______________

1. What foods do you usually eat or recipes do you most cook or serve? What and how are the
processes?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
2. What are the specific foods you serve for different events?

FOODS
EVENTS

WEDDING

ILLNESS OR HEALING

CHILD’S INITIATION

RECOGNITION TO PERSON’S CHANGE

OF LIFESTYLE

LONGEVITY OF LIFE

BAPTISM

AGRICULTURAL RITES

BIRTHDAY

RELIGIOUS EVENTS OR NOVENAS

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Republic of the Philippines
PHILIPPINE NORMAL UNIVERSITY
National Center for Teacher Education
The Indigenous Peoples Education Hub
North Luzon Campus
Alicia, Isabela

HOUSE BLESSING

HOME COMING

FESTIVALS

PASSAGE RITUALS

DEATH

3. Do you have other ways to preserve your food? Is it done manually or with the use of
technology?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

4. What urged you or inspire you to make some of your delicacies?

___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

5. Where did you base your foods?

___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

6. Do you teach your children to prepare and preserve? Is it being passed on to your generation?
How?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
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Republic of the Philippines
PHILIPPINE NORMAL UNIVERSITY
National Center for Teacher Education
The Indigenous Peoples Education Hub
North Luzon Campus
Alicia, Isabela

___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

7. Where did your food originated? Who introduced it to your tribe? Is it purely Gaddang ways
or with the influence of the other ethnic tribe?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

8. Have you ever tried to eat other ethnic group’s food? Give some.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________