Tugmahunon

Category: Significant Intangible Cultural Heritage - Oral Traditions and Expressions, including Language

District of Madalag

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

A. TYPE:

Riddles

B. GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION AND RANGE OF THE ELEMENT:

This study was conducted in Barangay Medina, Madalag, Aklan, one of the farthest barangays, about 15 kilometers from the Poblacion. If the Dumalaylay River is not flooded, it can be reached in about five hours by foot or in one hour by single motorcycle, known as habal-habal.

During the rainy season, the ordeal is even worse. People will hike through steep mountains to avoid the flooded river. It is geographically located in the southwest of Madalag town and has a land area of 34,297,715 square meters that resembles an oval shape. Barangay Maria Cristina, San Jose, and Mamba bound its north. South is Panipiason, and East is Dumalaylay River. Across the river is Barangay Dit-ana, and West is the Municipality of Culasi, Antique.

Medina, Madalag, Aklan has a population of 1,162 distributed in the different sitios of Agbubunga, Agtadlop, Buray, Dalibog, Lakawon and Mamaea.This is where one can find Medina Integrated School, headed by Efren N. Narral, with a total school population of 256 pupils from Kinder to Grade 12 and 17 teachers. There is a Roman Catholic, two of the Born Again Christian, and one of the Jehovah’s Witnesses chapels.

C. RELATED DOMAINS OF THE INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE:

Social practices, rituals and festive events

DESCRIPTION OF INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE

A. SUMMARY OF THE ELEMENT

The Akeanon Bukidnon of Medina, Madalag, Aklan are good at composing riddles, even if unschooled. These riddles are passed on orally. The riddles are composed of rhyming words and two or more phrases. It is used to test the wits of those who are listening.

Examples

May manok akong burukiki, sa ueo do eawi.	Ueang
Gaeopad owat pakpak, gasinggit owat puwak.	Baril
Maisot pa si Nonoy, gasaka sa kahoy. .	Guyom
Itlog ni amamo, puno it karonggo.	Mais
Daywang sundalo, nagabilikbalik sa kampo	Sip-on

B. CULTURE-BEARER/S AND PRACTITIONER/S OF THE ELEMENT

Chieftain, IP teachers, Learners and community

C. MODE OF TRANSMISSION

The mode of transmission is oral. Elders passed these riddles to their children through their mouths because most Akeanon Bukidnon had never been in school.

D. LIST OF SIGNIFICANT TANGIBLE MOVABLE HERITAGE USED/ASSOCIATED WITH THE ELEMENT:

Name of Object	Photo	Year produced or estimated age	Dimensions	Material	Use of the Object in the Practice
Utak (itak)		unkown	No fixed size	Iron with wood	Isda nga bilong-bilong, sa bukid ga panginaon.
Sudlay (Comb)		unkown	No fixed size	Plastic	Sa puno nagsaka, sa punta nanaog.
Kandado (Lock)		unkown	No fixed size	Brass iron	Bugtong-bugtong, amarugtong.

E. LIST OF SIGNIFICANT FLORA/FAUNA USED/ASSOCIATED WITH THE ELEMENT:

Name of Flora/Fauna	Photo	Use of the Object in the Practice
Bayawas (Guava)		Baeay ni Korodo, puno it bato.
Kamote (Sweet Potato)		Baboy ko sa kaingin, nagatambok nga owa it pagkaon.
Mais		Itlog ni amamo, puno it kaeonggo.

STORIES/NARRATIVES ASSOCIATED WITH THE ELEMENT

Tugmahunon (Bugtungan) it Taga-Medina is done after the day’s work while drinking tuba. At night, when there is no light, and everyone is not yet sleepy, the family would gather on the balcony while watching the full moon or while lying in bed. There are no dull moments with them, especially if the riddles have a censored word. They enjoy most to relieve a day of tiring work on the field.

STORIES/NARRATIVES ASSOCIATED WITH THE ELEMENT

Entertainment

After being tired from their work on the field, Akeanon Bukidnon gathered in a nipa hut to do the riddles or at night while drinking tuba. They ask their children to guess the riddle. Reciting riddles is their way to relieve their heavy days of work that, until now, are practiced by IPs as part of their culture.

ASSESSMENT OF THE PRACTICE

A. CONDITION/STATUS OF THE PRACTICE

It is still practiced in some far-flung sitios, especially during wake but deteriorating.

B. CONSTRAINTS/ THREATS/ ISSUES/ CHALLENGES:

There is diminishing culture because of new technology, intermarriage, and migration of IP in the city.

C. MEASURES AND DESCRIPTION OF SAFEGUARDING MEASURES TAKEN:

Tick one or more boxes to identify the safeguarding measures that have been and are currently being taken at the level of community, provincial, and/or national with regard to the element

[ x ] transmission, particularly through formal and non-formal education

[ x ] identification, documentation, research

[ x ] preservation, protection

[ x ] promotion, enhancement

[ x ] revitalization

D. DESCRIPTION OF SAFEGUARDING MEASURES TAKEN:

Educating children and informing parents and communities to preserve their culture and tradition.

REFERENCES

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION:	PhotographS, Sketches and Oral
KEY INFORMANT/S:	Chieftain, Elders, Culture Bearer (IP Teachers) and Community
REFERENCE/S AND OTHER RESOURCES:	Agapito, Jornalyn N. (2015) Culture and Traditions of Indigenous Peoples (IPs) of Barangay Medina, Madalag, Aklan
NAME OF PROFILER/ MAPPER	JORNALYN N. AGAPITO Master Teacher 1 Medina Integrated School
LANGUAGE EDITOR	MARIA FE A. RICAMONTE Teacher III Regional Science High School for Region VI
LAYOUT ARTIST	SALVIE MARIE A. FUENTES Teacher III Makato Integrated School
CONTENT EVALUATORS	JOSEPHINE P. VICENTE Teacher III Regional Science High School for Region VI DENNIS E. BONTOGON Master Teacher III Kalibo Pilot Elementary School
APPROVED	RUBY AGNES B. ESTRADA, PhD Education Program Supervisor
WIKI EDITOR	ROSE ANN N. PRESENTACION District Secondary LR Coordinator/Teacher III Loreto N. Nedic National High School
DATE PROFILED	July 26, 2023

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