presenting this morning. its Pasig Day here. Anak ng Pasig naman kayo..
Yes, Pasig. Think it was called Palengke Day. Saturday or Sunday? Folks from the probinsya made the trip to the Pasig churchyard in their covered wagons (similar to those covered wagons seen in western films like “How the West Was Won”). Except that the wagon is pulled by a cow. Bringing their homemade wares (pinuti, caldero, kutsilyo, etc) to the Pasig churchyard to sell. Sometimes walk there from my place near Rizal Provincial Hospital. Heard from them about those psychic healers up north (around Baguio City). Most famous was Mr. Antonio Agpaoa. But they said he was losing his power because he was later using it to enrich himself.
Also heard about kanyao.
Kanding reminds me of a Kanyao up north once upon a time way back when. Kambing was one of the main course.
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Cañao or kanyao is simply a "festival" or ceremony or liturgy, or service or rite/ritual, of offering. It is a generic term. "Witchcraft" would be too limited or off the mark to describe it. A "kanyao" may be performed for thanksgiving for the health of the community, there could be a kanyao (petitionary/intercessory) for a bountiful harvest; a family kanyao may be performed for healing such as a very simple ritual of "sedey" with the use of water and prayer; a "grand kanyao" has the focus of entertainment, cultural shows and festivities.
Widespread in the Cordilleras would be the term "menkanyao" lit. "to perform kanyao" or ritual. I know some rituals for witchcraft and had attended several of those rituals and never is the word kanyao ever used as alternate name for any of these. The main ethnic tribes, Ibaloi and Kankana-ey, are not far apart in their system, except that they are dissimilar in linguistics. Their belief system is common to both with little deviation in methods of performance but do not change the intent and purposes.
The Benguet people believe in the existence of unseen beings that emanate from the sky world and the underworld. That these unseen beings are called spirits thought to have power over man. It is further believed that these unseen beings or spirits can be manipulated by men to his advantage. With this, the people strive to win the favors of the spirits using prayers and material offerings in a ritual. Knowing their attributes and whims is important as a basis to classify said spirits as to hierarchy and generosity.
It is interesting to note that the head of the goat is used as a symbol of the devil by many satanic cults. Its icon is placed in front of the altar during satanic rites.
Oh, yeah, the covered wagon is also similar to the caravan in Aus. Except that the caravan is made of aluminium (?) and pulled by a 4WD. Hehehe.