Mythologies of the Iwak Tribe

The Iwaks are not a homogenous people. They disperse themselves with dominant ethnic groups in the Cordillera region. And because of this, they are acculturated into the characteristics of the dominant groups. The Iwaks live in settlements which tend to cluster on the higher slopes of the mountains near streams. Iwak houses are box-like wooden structures covered with cogon-thatched roofs. Its walls are split boards, woven bamboos, or reed-matting. Pig pens are usually connected to the houses because pigs play a big role in their culture, as part of the prestige ritual. Their staple food is taro (gabi). They presently dress as the ordinary lowlanders dress themselves. Although the Iwaks speak Ibaloi, they differ from the Ibaloi people and remain in their own group identity. The main source of income is agriculture. Their agricultural system ranges from the intensive type of wet rice planting to slash and burn cultivation of both grain and root crops. Significantly, taro and sweet potato are two of the most preferred root crops. Taro is very important to the Iwaks as their staple food as well as for ritual purposes. The Iwaks also are producers of handicrafts. Their products are mostly back baskets, small shallow trays, large flat trays and brooms, and are sold in the towns of Santa Fe and Nueva Vizcaya. Because of their small number and geographic location, the Iwaks do not have a strong political representation, nationally and locally. However, because of their assimilation into dominant groups in the Cordillera region, the Iwaks have local leaders which function as village chiefs or leaders of bigger localities. Politics is still influenced by Iwak's traditional values.


The upland town of Kayapa in Nueva Vizcaya has all the reasons for celebrating the ‘Owag Shi’, the town’s annual festival. ‘Owag Shi’ is an ‘Ibaloi’-‘Iwak’ tribe term, which means a unified victory shout of the people. It is the annual town festival of Kayapa to foster and strengthen the tribal villagers’ solidarity. The festival is a way for the locals to honor the Almighty for His endless blessings and continuous guidance over the years. It is also an avenue to showcase the town’s tourism potential and well-preserved culture and tradition. The four-day celebration recently carries the theme: ‘Diverse Culture of Kayapa: The Foundation of Agro-Tourism Development’. The town’s clustered barangays showcased this theme through their well-crafted and decorated floats. The festival was visited by Sen. Bong Go together with movie actor Philip Salvador. The indigenous peoples of Kayapa, namely ‘Kalanguya’, ‘Ibaloi’, and ‘Iwak’, consider the lawmaker as a partner for the town’s continuing development. He was welcomed by Rep. Luisa Cuaresma, acting Vice Gov. Edgardo Balgos, amd board members Catillo Tidang,Jr.,  Jose Tomas, Sr. and Nickson Millo. He was formally adopted as a Son of Kayapa and named him ‘Lacbungan’ (honored man) through a performed ritual by the tribal elders. The senator’s recognition as an adopted son of Kayapa is a tribute to his big-ticket projects implemented in the municipality. Senator Go poured in P32 million for the construction of the Local Government Unit’s three-story building dubbed ‘Abong y Kayapa’ where he led the unveiling of its marker during his visit to Barangay Kayapa Proper. He was also instrumental in the establishment and completion of the P11.5 million Super Health Center in Barangay Castillo Tidang and the provision of jobs for  500 poor villagers in Kayapa, through the Tulong Pangkabuhayan para sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers Program. He also distributed gifts to the poor villagers of Kayapa.  The Senator vowed to provide sustained help for the municipality of Kayapa in partnership with its local officials.

Members of the IWAK Tribe used to live by hunting, gathering and farming. Farming produce include rice, sweet potato (camote), taro (gabi) and coffee. However, because of the entry of telecommunication towers for cellular phone signals, radiation from the towers affected the quantity and quality of camote produced. Furthermore, because of the influx of tourists to Mt. Ugo, men and women have ventured into guiding and portering for tourists and climbers to Mt. Ugo as an easier way to earn money. This is because reliance on farming and gathering for trade in the nearby town of Kayapa, Nueva Vizcaya, will entail them to carry their produce on foot for more or less three (3) hours, as most roads are still not cemented, and transportation is scarce. To give you an idea, a motorcycle ride by one passenger will cost not less than FIVE HUNDRED PESOS (P500.00) one-way. There are about 65 IWAK Tribe households. As in other Cordillera Tribes, community leaders are composed of the elders. Family is the basic unit of the Tribe, and BAYANIHAN is very much alive. Although there are very few written literature about the IWAK Tribe and Culture, members of the Tribe still practice age old tradition and rituals. Their history, culture and tradition are recorded through their songs, dances and rituals, which they pass on to their younger tribesmen up to this very day. They butcher pigs and other animals during special occasions, including celebrations to welcome the planting and harvest seasons. Life events such as marriage and death are still celebrated with the age-old rituals. One of the pride of the IWAK Tribe is their ABUNAN. The abunan is a centuries old sacred structure where they house their mummified ancestors. According to the locals, their used to be FIVE (5) ancestors house in the ABUNAN, a couple and their THREE (3) children. The IWAK Tribe have their home at the foot of the famous MT. UGO, located at Sitio Domolpos, Tinongdan, Itogon, Benguet, kilometers away from the famous Mt. Pulag, bordering Benguet and Kayapa, Nueva Vizcaya. Forefathers of the Tribe members came from the Kalanguya Tribe of Nueva Vizcaya, and Ibaol Tribe of Itogon, Benguet. Inter-marriage and migration to their current location hundreds of years ago gave birth to the IWAK Tribe. The IWAKs travel to Baguio in two (2) ways. First, they take a SEVEN (7) hour hike from Sitio Domolpos to Poblacion, Itogon, Benguet and take a One  (1) Hour Jeepney ride from Itogon to Baguio City. Second, they may also take a FOUR (4) hour bus ride from Baguio City to Kayapa, Nueva Vizcaya via the Ambuclao-Nueva Vizcaya Road, and take a three (3) hour treck from Kayapa, Nueva Vizcaya to Sitio Domolpos, via the Nueva Vizcaya make-shift road.













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