Barangay Saclit, Sadanga performed a te-er, a community rest day where elders uphold a tradition of asking their Kabunian for a bountiful harvest before reaping their crops. The community concluded their te-er to mark the harvest season last month.
Sadanga is rich in culture and traditions. For the farmers, everything has a process including the practice of culture. For them, this yearly tradition is full of cultural meaning and represents good fortune, well-being, and plenty for the coming year.
Time-honored practice
Barangay Saclit, Sadanga residents have observed Te-er for generations, a practice embedded with cultural significance.
“As part of our tradition in the community, before planting and before gathering rice, Sadanga folks undergo the practice of te-er,” shared Lani Parangchao, a resident.
Te-er is not confined to specific dates. “There are no fixed dates or fixed days for this ceremony to be conducted because anytime can be a te-er day,” explained Parangchao.
Accordingly, there is no exact date for planting and gathering rice but it is usually done in the month of March-April for planting, and in June for harvesting.
Sacred Space
Te-er is a century-old tradition that happens every year in line with the rice farming process including before planting, before gathering, and after gathering where community members close off their community from outsiders they also conduct te-er when disaster strikes and there are some instances when the town closes during special occasions like chono (mass wedding).
The te-er ceremony begins with a solemn gathering of the revered elders at the Sacred “ATOR” which is their place of communication. Here, it involves negotiations as the council deliberates on the key decision to seal off the community. Once a consensus is reached, the elders partake of traditional wine, and a repeated proclamation echoes through the valley, signaling the commencement of the ancient rites.
Respecting the rest
According to Meriam Pangket, Sadanga Municipal Office Public Information Officer, individuals are mandated to remain until the ceremony quarantine is completely practiced. Typically, the tradition lasts for one to three days. This period of isolation is non-negotiable in respecting community tradition. Any defiance of this mandate may result in fines and, or penalties charged to the trespasser if just in case someone has violated the town’s law, the town will demand a pig as an offering.
“No marpash da inkeraw na amam-a wada na umey mangitvek si runo wenno purdosh sina in vangil wenno in etad nan shumgepan ad karsha. Nandi purdosh na sign ai ninlugi et na te-er sunga wada gesh nan invantay ay umokcho si entrance ta maid shemgep ya dumakar (Signs like bamboo poles will be placed at the village’s entrance to announce that the rest day has been declared),” said Pangket.
“They were trained from this. So once those signages are positioned and located at the main point of entry of the community, we are no longer welcoming visitors,” Pangket added.
This tradition is being practiced so that the townsfolk can rest from their work and build a connection through communication with others in their community. It also strengthens the community’s connection by fostering public engagement with neighbors.
