1
Republic of the Philippines
PHILIPPINE NORMAL UNIVERSITY
National Center for Teacher Education
The Indigenous Peoples Education Hub
North Luzon Campus
Alicia, Isabela
THE CULTURAL IMPLICATIONS OF THE DIFFERENT FOOD
PREPARATIONS AND PRESERVATIONS OF GADDANG ETHNIC GROUP
A RESEARCH PAPER
Presented to
PHILIPPINE NORMAL UNIVERSITY
National Center for Teacher Education
The Indigenous Peoples Education Hub
North Luzon Campus
Alicia, Isabela
In Partial Fulfillment
Of the Requirements for
Science, Technology and Society
OBTEC NL 01 Researchers
ABAD, Rose Ann M
ABIG, April Joy D
ALBANO, Princes Anne B
ALIPAN, John Carlo B
ALVARO, Lyra Valerie P
ANQUILLANO, Jordan F
ASUNCION, Carol M
BABAS, Edjane G
BUSWAY, Kristell A
2019
2
Republic of the Philippines
PHILIPPINE NORMAL UNIVERSITY
National Center for Teacher Education
The Indigenous Peoples Education Hub
North Luzon Campus
Alicia, Isabela
CHAPTER 1
THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND
INTRODUCTION
To define the term ‘indigenous’, Grim (2004) claimed that it is a general term
in referring the thousands of small scale societies who have kinship system, distinct
language, mythologies, ancestral memories and homelands. And one example of
indigenous people are the Gaddangs.
“Gaddang” also “Gadang” or “Ga’dang,” derives from “ga” meaning “heat” or
“fire,” and “dang” meaning “burn,” and means “burned by heat.” The word Gaddang
itself can account for both dark huge of the people’s skin as well as a major part of
their subsistence method. But as for Andres (Understanding the Values of the
Gaddangs & the Nueva Vizcainos, 2005), he defined the term Gaddang as a carabao
hide or pelt since Gaddangs have been using carabao hide for making rope for a long
time before abaca was discovered. The term Gaddang was used in referring
indigenous people settling in Nueva Vizcaya, Central Isabela, Quirino and Cagayan.
The Gaddangs are very dark, sturdy and well-built with long and straight black
hair falling over their shoulders and considered as the best known Philippine
headhunters. They usually practice hunting, fishing, gathering and farming to live.
Rice, mushrooms and sweet potato or camote are the main crops of Gaddang. Corn
has also become increasingly common, especially with the rise of lowland
Christianized population of the Gaddang. Also grown are taro, yams, cowpeas, lima
beans, okra, legumes, sugarcane, tobacco, coffee, jackfruit, rattan, citrus, areca,
3
Republic of the Philippines
PHILIPPINE NORMAL UNIVERSITY
National Center for Teacher Education
The Indigenous Peoples Education Hub
North Luzon Campus
Alicia, Isabela
coconut, banana, guava and cacao. However, they sold their crops for profit rather
than consumed by the highland Gaddang themselves.
According to Buendia et al (2006), traditionally, the way they manage their
subsistence has great effect on their social status. Hunters are said to be more likely to
rise in society, marry into wealth or become wealthy themselves. Hunted animals
include deer, wild buffalo, pigs, civet cat, wild cat, python, iguana, cobra and bats.
The Gaddang also head to rivers to catch fish, clams, minnows, eels, frogs and snails.
Occasionally, they will also eat locusts and ants. However, it is not usually part of
their diet because they are mostly vegetarian. Domesticated animals like dogs, pigs
and chicken are also commonplace. Water buffalo are also kept in highland
households, but never taken for food.
Moreover, the love and concern for the Gaddang community is really evident
in their rituals and rites regarding the protection of the pregnant woman, for the
unborn child, and for their family members. The Gaddang tribe of Solano, described
in the article “Family Life and Customs” (n.d.), the family was and the most
important institution. This includes extended family and kinship ties. Within the
nuclear family, the father had the final authority but the wife could also voice her
opinion in all decisions. Respect for the parent and elders are the top most priority in
raising their children. Fathers trained their sons to hunt, use weapons, work in the
fields, recite myths and learn the family genealogy. Girls learned to take care of the
home, work in the field and recite numerous ballads that were a major part of the
culture. Children learned their ancestry from an early age; they may have known their
4
Republic of the Philippines
PHILIPPINE NORMAL UNIVERSITY
National Center for Teacher Education
The Indigenous Peoples Education Hub
North Luzon Campus
Alicia, Isabela
relatives to the fifth degree on both sides of the family. Knowing their genealogy was
important, for it would determine where they fit into the society and their status in
various situations. Marriage was a way of extending kinship ties, and marriage to a
second cousin was acceptable. There was an informal courtship, and traditionally
there was child betrothal. Arrangements for the marriage were taken care of by a go-
between who would settle the bride’s price. A large feast would signify the marriage
itself and then the couple would be given inheritance from each set of parents. After
the wedding, the couple would live with the wife’ family so the husband could spend
a year working for them as a bride service.
The Gaddangs are God-fearing people and even though they were already
influenced by Christianity and the tools they have used in ancient times are influenced
with technologies, they are still loyal to their beliefs and practices. Hence, they belief
and practice a certain act in every stage of life: from conception to birth, childhood,
puberty stage and adolescence stage. The life of the Gaddangs is full of offerings of
sacrifices to the spirits or anito or anitos and rituals. Ghost deities “karangat” and the
soul of the dead “carallua na natay” are believed that are guiding and surrounding
them. Fear of these gods affects their behavior, guides their every act and governs
their existence. Even the modernization have occurred, and majority of the Gaddangs
are already educated, there are still existence of the ancient Gaddang custom called
‘the usual way of the elders’ or “gagangay nga mananacam ira”.
The Gaddangs’ beliefs and practices are part of their identity and culture, “the
threat of technological advances and industrialization may reduce the influence of
5
Republic of the Philippines
PHILIPPINE NORMAL UNIVERSITY
National Center for Teacher Education
The Indigenous Peoples Education Hub
North Luzon Campus
Alicia, Isabela
these beliefs to younger generation but may not totally eradicate those”, Alindada
(n.d.).
CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
INPUT
Interview,
Questionnaire and
Conduct a survey Gathering of data by
asking the food PROCESS means of
preparation and questionnaire and
preservation interviews
OUTPUT
The food preparation and preservation of
the Gaddang group settling at East
Tabacal, Cauyan City
Paradigm of the Study
The paradigm of the study shows the process structure of the study. It
describes how the researchers surveyed and tend to discover the food preparation and
preservation of the Gaddang group. After the process, is the output of the study
6
Republic of the Philippines
PHILIPPINE NORMAL UNIVERSITY
National Center for Teacher Education
The Indigenous Peoples Education Hub
North Luzon Campus
Alicia, Isabela
explaining the culture and indigenous practices of the Gaddangs in terms of food
preparation and preservation.
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Basically, this study aims to know the culture and indigenous practices of
Gaddangs. To fully complete the foresaid objective, the research sought to answer the
following questions:
1. What are the examples of the food they eat or recipes they serve and the
process?
2. Are there cultural implications in their culinary practices?
3. Are there specific foods they will serve in accord to what event they will do or
celebrate in terms of the birth to death life cycle:
3.1. Wedding
3.2. Illness or healing
3.3. Child’s initiation
3.4. Jumping or recognition to a person’s change of lifestyle
3.5. Gender sensitive
3.6. Longevity of life
3.7. Baptism
3.8. Agricultural Rites
3.9. Birthday
3.10. Religious events or novenas
3.11. House Blessing
7
Republic of the Philippines
PHILIPPINE NORMAL UNIVERSITY
National Center for Teacher Education
The Indigenous Peoples Education Hub
North Luzon Campus
Alicia, Isabela
3.12. Home coming
3.13. Passage Rituals
3.14. Festivals
3.15. Death
4. What are the different ways how they preserve food? Is it manually or with
technology?
5. Is there any tools they use in preserving food?
6. Are there any basis in serving foods? How did they come up serving these
foods? What are their inspirations?
7. How is the state of their food practices nowadays? Do the elders transfer their
traditions in to the younger ones? In what way?
8. Where did the recipes originated? Pure Gaddang ways or with influenced of
any other tribe?
9. Do the Gaddangs also eat any other foods of other ethnic group?
SCOPE AND DELIMITATIONS
The main focus of this study is all about discussing about food preparation and
preservation of the Gaddang group. The researchers picked 5 Gaddang respondents
mostly the elders to answer the given questionnaire.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
This study will also provide facts about Food preparation and preservation and
its best methods on how to prepare and preserve foods. And the beneficiaries of this
study will have knowledge about understanding of Food preparation and preservation.
8
Republic of the Philippines
PHILIPPINE NORMAL UNIVERSITY
National Center for Teacher Education
The Indigenous Peoples Education Hub
North Luzon Campus
Alicia, Isabela
The researcher views or believes that the findings of the study are helpful to
the following:
CULINARY ARTS STUDENTS. They will gain ideas how food preparation and
preservation does affects Gaddangs life. They will know the best methods on how to
prepare and preserve foods.
GADDANGS. They will be guided as well an information about their food
preparation and preservation. It will give them a concept that their practices and
beliefs on preparing and preserving food is useful.
FUTURE RESEARCHERS. This would be a great help for the future researcher for
them to have a source on their research. This can give them empirical data as bases
for suggestions on preparing and preserving foods of Gaddangs.
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
Generally, by means of this study, this is intended to know the effects of
Mobile Legends among the Senior High School students of Alicia National High
School.
Especially it aims to:
1) To determine the practices and beliefs of Gaddangs on how to prepare and
preserve foods.
2) To examine the best methods on how to prepare and preserve foods.
3) To identify how Gaddangs’ food affects Gaddangs life.
9
Republic of the Philippines
PHILIPPINE NORMAL UNIVERSITY
National Center for Teacher Education
The Indigenous Peoples Education Hub
North Luzon Campus
Alicia, Isabela
4) To calculate the percentage of Gaddangs experience to prepare and preserve
foods.
CHAPTER 3
RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES
This chapter includes the research design, the setting of the study, the
respondents, instruments, data-gathering procedure and statistical treatment.
RESEARCH DESIGN
This study is descriptive- interview in nature. It investigated the food practices
of the Gaddangs of East Tabacal, Cauayan City, Isabela.
Descriptive interview method of research is used to collect demographic daat
about people's behavior, practices, intentions, beliefs, attitudes, opinions, judgments,
interests, perceptions and the like then such data are analyzed, organized and
interpreted. Survey reveals problem for which timely remedial measures may be
instituted (Seville, et. al. 1992). Since the research was concerned with the food
preparation and preservation of the Gaddangs of Barangay East Tabacal, Cauayan
City, Isabela, the descriptive-interview method of research is the most appropriate
method to be used. It sought to descry the present the Gaddangs in relation to the food
preparation and preservation.
QUESTIONNAIRE
Dear Respondents,
10
Republic of the Philippines
PHILIPPINE NORMAL UNIVERSITY
National Center for Teacher Education
The Indigenous Peoples Education Hub
North Luzon Campus
Alicia, Isabela
We, the researchers are currently conducting our study entitled “The Customs and Practices
of the Gaddang People In Terms Of Food Preservation and Preparation”. The goal of this study is
to gather informations regarding their cultural practice in their food processes to fully complete the
foresaid objective. Your requested profile information will be treated confidentially and will be used
for academic purposes only. Please state your answers legibly and with full honesty. Thank you for
your participation.
Name: _________________________________ Age: _______
Gender: ______________
1. What foods do you usually eat or recipes do you most cook or serve? What and how are the
processes?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
2. What are the specific foods you serve for different events?
FOODS
EVENTS
WEDDING
ILLNESS OR HEALING
CHILD’S INITIATION
RECOGNITION TO PERSON’S CHANGE
OF LIFESTYLE
LONGEVITY OF LIFE
BAPTISM
AGRICULTURAL RITES
BIRTHDAY
RELIGIOUS EVENTS OR NOVENAS
11
Republic of the Philippines
PHILIPPINE NORMAL UNIVERSITY
National Center for Teacher Education
The Indigenous Peoples Education Hub
North Luzon Campus
Alicia, Isabela
HOUSE BLESSING
HOME COMING
FESTIVALS
PASSAGE RITUALS
DEATH
3. Do you have other ways to preserve your food? Is it done manually or with the use of
technology?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
4. What urged you or inspire you to make some of your delicacies?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
5. Where did you base your foods?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
6. Do you teach your children to prepare and preserve? Is it being passed on to your generation?
How?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
12
Republic of the Philippines
PHILIPPINE NORMAL UNIVERSITY
National Center for Teacher Education
The Indigenous Peoples Education Hub
North Luzon Campus
Alicia, Isabela
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
7. Where did your food originated? Who introduced it to your tribe? Is it purely Gaddang ways
or with the influence of the other ethnic tribe?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
8. Have you ever tried to eat other ethnic group’s food? Give some.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
