A line in the primetime drama La Luna Sangre popularized by Angel Locsin, portraying the role as Lia and Kathryn Bernardo as Malia, who spent precious moments wishing to the moon for good luck and good fortunes. They are Filipino dramas which are purely fictional in nature.

Those wishing moments by Lia also hold true for the Kankana-ey indigenous people of Mankayan, Benguet. They have been reflected in their practice called basabas.

According to a study conducted by Leny Mendoza, Bachelor of Science in Development Communication (BSDC) graduate, basabas is the practice of shouting a wish by an elder for the people celebrating a caňao (festival of offering), sida (thanksgiving celebration for bountiful blessings and healing), Christmas, New Year, wedding, and fiesta.

Basabas, More Than Just Wishing

The study titled “Pannakabalin di Adawag: A documentation of basabas as part of rituals in Mankayan, Benguet,” the practice is conducted to take away bad luck so that happiness, peace, wealth, and all sorts of good luck and blessings of Kabunyan (highest supreme being) will be showered to the celebrating family, the community, and to the people who attended the event.

The practice of the basabas remains to be sacred. It should be done by elders in the community who uttered basabas in the past. The elder involves his heart and mind in uttering the basabas so that the wish will be granted.

Basabas in Different Community Occasions

In every occasion where the basabas is practiced, dances like sadong (for women) and tayaw (for men) are always demonstrated. The men begin beating the gangsa (gong) and solibao (drum) while the celebrating family or audience join them in the dance. Then an elder ends the dance and shouts the basabas. Without the gong, the basabas will not be uttered as it is believed that the sound it produces honors the ancestors of the celebrating family.

The contents of the practice depend on the dancers who perform the tayaw and sadong such that if the dancers are couples, the elder will wish them to be blessed with a dozen children and a long life.

It can also be done for unmarried persons. In a particular event called sida, the elder will utter the basabas asking Kabunyan for a more fruitful living to the host so that they can call for another event in the future. For other dancers, the elder will wish them to get married in other nations and for a brighter future.

Further, the basabas can be practiced for participating youth and students. The elder asks for the release of the blessings as well as for them to have a good future and good luck.

As cited in the study, Alfredo Matute, who is an elder of Mankayan said that the participation of the youth in rituals in their place may help prevent the extinction of their culture.

Meanwhile, the basabas is also uttered for healing a sick individual. In this case, there will be no other wish that an elder will utter but only for the healing of that person.

Basabas as a Value-Formation Agent

According to the study, the basabas does not only satisfy the wishes and needs of concerned community folks but it is also a way of thanking Kabunyan for the bountiful blessings. It is also a symbol of hope that Kabunyan will grant the wishes uttered.

The study also revealed that the practice brings oneness to the community particularly in helping others.

On the spirit realm, respect to Kabunyan and to their ancestors is exhibited and valued during the ritual. Accordingly, these play an important role in protecting them from diseases, evil, enemies, and even in war.

Claire Cleto, BSDC III student and a resident of Balili, Mankayan, said that learning the culture is like gaining gold medals.

“The young generations should maintain the value of culture because it is an achievement that we inherited from our ancestors,” she ended.

Further, the Center for Culture and the Arts (CCA) Director Stanley Anongos said that the practice of basabas is the belief in other beings such as the unseen spirits.

“Basabas reflects the worldview of the community,” said Anongos.

Worldview, as defined by asa3.org ritual, is a mental model of reality, a framework of ideas, attitudes about the world, ourselves, and life, a comprehensive system of belief.

Indeed, the practice of the basabas is not just all about asking for blessings. Beyond the superficial, we see the unique cultural symbols and values embedded within it. It is a reflection of community’ is unique traditions. Like the locals of Mankayan, their practice led them to the formation of their values. These are integral factors which shaped their pride and identity in the midst of modernization.