2023
The rich culture of the Karay-a tribe manifests a century’s worth of varied art forms, languages, and traditions that have been enriched by its people.
REGION: PROBING THE KARAY-A TRIBE
By: Francine Marielle Gonzales & Janeen Gabrielle LimThe terms Karay-a, Kinaray-a, or Hiniray-a come from the word "iraya" which means "upstream," combined with "ka" which means "companion," and the infix "in" which means "to have undergone something."
Due to its mountainous areas, lack of fertile lands, and remote area, Antique has a unique economy and output. Antique has had to generate most of its food, unlike other areas that can depend on cash crop economies like Negros, which makes sugar, or Bicol, which specializes in abaca.
Palay, the locals' main source of food, is the main crop farmed in Antique. The Karay-a tribe is hence mostly dependent on agriculture for their means of subsistence.
Lifestyle of the Karay-a Tribe
About 40% of the people in Antique live in poverty, which has sparked a significant rate of emigration. Many Karay-a people from Antique have been employed as migrant workers in the sugarcane haciendas of Negros since the turn of the 20th century During the time of Spanish colonization, the hacendero paid for the sacadas' transportation costs, and fees on their cedulas (required for travel beyond the province), and they served the rich to feed their families More than this, they started working in the sugarcane fields already owing money to their employers
TELL TALES
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T H E C U L T U R E O F K A R A YA
The culture of Kinaray-a before colonization can potentially be understood by studying the Sulod, who are upland people that speak Kinaray-a. In 1968, Jocano observed that the Sulod maintained peace and order through officials known as office fillers. These representatives are appointed by the community rather than elected by the general populace. They include both male and female parangkutan (adviser), mirku (a healer), and baylan (shaman). To treat illnesses or decipher dreams, they are asked to conduct seances and ceremonies. The baylan may also be employed for their sorcery-related expertise. The mirku specialize in recommending plants for specific health issues and can also assist with childbirth, but this is uncommon since most households have knowledge of the process. The role of the parangkutan is to resolve conflicts or misunderstandings within the community or family, especially those involving relatives.
The traditional Kinaray-a culture values courtesy and respect for all, regardless of age. Although Kinaray-a does not have an exact equivalent to Tagalog and its variations, the language emphasizes the importance of using polite and respectful language. In Antique, it is customary to use specific terms to address individuals who are older than the speaker based on their relationship. Additionally, it is considered impolite to address a younger person without using their pet name in Antique
“Culture is the arts elevated to a set of beliefs”
by Thomas Wolfe.
karay-a's karay-a's belief in belief in myth:
myth: aswang aswang and and maranhig maranhig
In Kinaray-a culture, there is a belief in the aswang, a creature from the netherworld that can take on human form during the day and transform into a variety of beings at night, such as a ghoul that feeds on flesh and viscera, a shape-shifter, or a practitioner of witchcraft. It's also believed that some residents of towns or barrios may be aswang. It is believed that the aswang possesses the ability to transform shapes effortlessly and has a doppelganger. Another supernatural entity is the maranhig, which is the spirit of a departed soul that cannot rest until a family member takes its place. The maranhig is unable to cross a stream and will metamorphose into worms if it tries to. These spirits and supernatural creatures are considered to be the cause of the sickness and misfortunes that people face.
kinaray-a kinaray-a
llanguage anguage
In the past, Kinaray-a used to be an important language, but during the Spanish and American periods, it lost its significance to Hiligaynon, which became the language of the affluent. As a result, even Kinaray-a writers had to switch to writing in Hiligaynon.
However, the emergence of Kinaray-a literature in a national journal and the recognition of writers like Maria Milagros Geremia-Lachica and Alex de los Santos brought some attention to their language. The literary writers were encouraged to revive the language.
To teach more authors, the national government and the neighborhood non-profit organization Paranubliun Antique launched classes. In the province, books and anthologies were released and distributed. Additionally, Kinaray-a was recognized as a language by the government. The name of the local language was a source of uncertainty before 1988
Some called it Kinaray-a, while others called it Hiniraya. The authors decided to adopt Kinaraya following the release of the issues of Ani in 1988. The Emergence of Kinaray-a by de los Santos, published in 2003, added credence to this moniker After the publication of the anthologies, people from Antique began calling their ethnic group Karay-a more frequently.
CUTTING CUTTING DOWN THE DOWN THE LLIVELIHOOD IVELIHOOD OF THE OF THE KARAY-A KARAY-A TRIBE TRIBE
The Karay-a community
in the Philippines is currently facing a serious issue that is endangering their livelihood. Largescale logging and the operations of international mining corporations have drastically damaged the highlands. Several families turn to fish while they are in the middle of planting and harvesting. Notwithstanding the dangers, it is unreasonable to prohibit indigenous groups from protesting against these unfortunate circumstances.
The state must understand the actual circumstances to fully comprehend why these groups are joining rallies and forming progressive groups As previously mentioned, corporations are seizing land, using mercenaries to kill indigenous peoples, and displacing them to other parts of the country, which is causing further protests. Despite years of requests from indigenous peoples for land reform, justice, and the right to their ancestral lands, their calls have been ignored It's clear that these actions are taking place, without any thought or consideration for the concerns and welfare of the affected community
"What we are doing to the forests of the world is but a reflection of what we are doing to ourselves and to one another."
Mahatma Gandhi
Just like any other indigenous tribe, the Karay-a tribe needs recognition for the culture they uphold and the lands they preserve. More than this, they need saving from the impending doom caused by the penetration of multinational companies in their areas which seek to get a hold of their ancestral lands, leaving them helpless when political power takes the side of the foreign power. From all these pronouncements, the Karay-a tribe is rich in culture and it is most rightful that the masses continue to promote IPs such as this to strengthen the Filipinos’ foundation of national identity
References:
Cruz-Lucero, Rosario, Arbeen Acuña, John E. Barrios, and Dante Javier. With contributions by E. Arsenio Manuel. 2018. “Karay-a.” In Our Islands, Our People: The Histories and Cultures of the Filipino Nation, edited by Rosario Cruz-Lucero https://ourislandsourpeople wordpress com/karay-a/
Mostrey, D. (2018). Honoring Antique’s Kinaray-A Culture and Language | Articles - Puerto Parrot. Retrieved April 7, 2023, from https://www.puertoparrot.com/articles/honoring-antique-s-kinaray-aculture-and-language?lang=en
The Karay-a Tribe of the Philippines: History, Culture and Arts, Customs and Traditions [Antique, Panay Island Indigenous People | Ethnic Tribes]. (2022). Yodisphere.com. https://www yodisphere com/2022/09/Karay-a-Tribe-Antique-Culture-Traditions html
Umali, M. S. (2013). The dialogical processes of vernacular mediation: new media and the Karay-a ethnic group of the Philippines (Doctoral dissertation)
