Professional Documents
Culture Documents
PANAGSALUKAG FESTIVAL
OF GATTARAN, CAGAYAN
Penned by
FERDINAND BULUSAN
Assistant Professor III | Batanes State College
THE HISTORY
In the place where Gattaran lies today were three former ecclesiastical
towns: Nassiping, Dummun, and Gattaran proper. Nassiping is the oldest among
the three, founded on June 15, 1596 with Santa Catalina as the patron saint;
Dummun was founded on May 24, 1598 and Gattaran, May 20, 1623. Since each of
these towns had few inhabitants and had only one priest to administer to their
religious needs, they were merged for ecclesiastical convenience into one
municipality in 1877 by virtue of a Diocesan Order from the Bishop of Nueva
Segovia (Lallo). Fray Francisco Suejos, O.P. was the first Gobernadorcillo.
During the Spanish regime, the natives grew spiritually; but with the
Americans, they grew educationally and the inhabitants assimilated a more
sophisticated lifestyle. Under the Commonwealth Government, the first
Municipal Mayor was Melencio Adviento, who begun the construction of the
present municipal building. The building was finished during the term of the next
mayor, Atty. Hipolito Mandac. The municipal building was inaugurated in
With the coming of the Americans, the whole province was liberated from
the Japanese forces. The first election of the Republic in 1947 made Delfino Liban
the mayor. The administration marked the building of roads in the barrios,
improvements of streets and others.
In 1950, the barrios of Gattaran to the west of the Cagayan River was
separated to form the town of Lasam.
THE CONTEXT
The festival celebrates the traditions of the Hispanic and post-hispanic era
up to the early years of the New Millennium. It highlights the activities of the
Gattarenio farmers, who are the main reflections of simplicity and diligence of
the townspeople. With Gattaran as mostly agricultural land, it is said that this
farm festival is done during November—the time when everyone is gathered to
thank the Almighty for the bountiful harvest, through its patron St. Catherine of
Alexandria.
The literature, therefore, is seen through the lens of a typical male farmer.
Because the context dates back during the patriarchal timeline of the country,
when the society followed a male-dominated family, the literature is written in
the eyes of a male farmer. Nonetheless, the role of women in society is also
highlighted in the literature. Informants were 70-to-80-year-old native Gattaran
people, who have ventured into farming in the town.
THE LITERATURE
At 5:00 to 6:00 in the morning, as early as the sun rises, he does the land
preparation through his arado, padulang, or paragos [sled]. At 10:00, he stops for
a while and takes his late breakfast, usually brought from the house. He continues
his land preparation, and during the lunch break, he is brought by his wife or a
young family member of his lunch. He does his siesta, thereafter, under the
shade of a tree in the farm or inside his kalapaw [hut]. He goes home at 4:00 or
5:00 in the afternoon.
The night before transplanting starts, elders say a prayer and do some
rituals. This is influenced by the strong Hispanic beliefs and religiosity of the
people. Elders usually put eggs inside the “sarukang,” say a prayer, and leave it
on the farm. Others usually sacrifice diket [glutinous rice], tobacco, piper betel
[gawed], and bitternut [buwa] to the unseen beings.
Also, when drought comes, the farmers cling onto their sturdy religiosity
brought about by the Catholicism through the Spanish. In one late afternoon, they
usually gather for the prosisyon and pray to San Miguel for the rains to come.
When the reaping season comes, beliefs are usually practiced. They
usually tie five pieces of rice stalks or straw with their grains and dangle them
over the kitchen hearth. This is called the kikdulan. It is believed that when
people do this, it is faster for the grains in the farm to get ripened, ready for
harvest.
When the place for “taltag” is prepared, the keeled grains are separated
from the stalks. Specific rhythm and movements are observed in this process.
THE FESTIVAL