TABUK CITY, Kalinga – The Inanong and Imagaogao (Gamonang) sub-tribes met on August 24 and 25 for the ‘dolnat di bodong’, held in Sitio Banat, Brgy. Bagumbayan.
The ‘dolnat di bodong’ serves as a forum for the two participating sub-tribes to revisit and review the existing provisions of the ‘pagta’ and to negotiate any additions or deletions to the provisions.
As stated by Peter Lumaday, the bodong holder for the sub-tribe of Nanong, this bodong with the Imagaogao was forged more than a century ago by their ancestors and has never been broken, nor has there ever been a ‘dimmuk’ of their pudon throughout its history.
The purpose of the “dolnat di bodong,” of the two sub-tribes”, according to Heriberto Barila of the City Barangay Affairs and Community Relations Office, is to make sure that the “pagta” is in tune with the evolving needs of the time. It often occurs every five years, he further said.
According to Barila, the pudon is passed down to the bodong holder’s immediate family; nevertheless, in situations where the family is unable to hold the bodong, the most esteemed tribal elder is typically chosen to be the bodong holder. People over 40 who are extremely knowledgeable about the “pagta” may occasionally take on the role of bodong holder.
Additionally, he said, there is no cap on the number of bodong holders in a tribe because each one has a peace agreement with one or more sub-tribes in the provinces of Kalinga and some indigenous peoples in Mountain Province because they are regarded as “persons in authority.”
The Imagagao tribe is officially invited to the event prior to the “dolnat di bodong” and will remain until the very end of the ceremony.
The new ‘pagta’ was presented and approved on August 25, and shortly after that, it will be codified. The same will then be submitted for filing and recognition to the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples and the Matagoan Bodong Consultative Council (MBCC).
Additionally, the city government through the MBCC will award financial assistance to the host tribe (Inanong) after complying with all the required documents.
The Inanong tribe, represented by bodong holder Peter Lumaday, includes the barangays of Bantay, Lucog, Bagumbayan, Naneng and Dupag, while the Imagagao, the precipitation of the Gamongans, represented by Gilbert Cos-agon, the bodong holder, includes the barangays Magaogao, Sucbot, Pinococ, Camalog, Mapaco and Cawagayan, in Pinukpuk.
These two tribes have had a strong relationship from the beginning of time and have never engaged in hostilities or conflicts. The members of both sub-tribes share the same goal of preserving peace and keeping the Pagta free of any “dimmuk.” By Darwin S. Serion
