Child Birth Rites of Kankanaey in Northen Luzon

Abstract

The study dealt with the child birth rites of the Kankanaeys in Northern Luzon. The Episcopal Diocese of Southern Philippines and the newly born Episcopal Diocese of Davao were established because of their presence since the Kankanaeys migrated to the Southern Philippines. Kankanaey, as one of the ethno-linguistic groups in the Philippines, embraced, blessed, possessed, practiced rites, rituals, traditions from their ancestors mostly in an oral form. It was the purpose of this study to enumerate, elaborate, and document Kankanaey Child Birth Rites. Descriptive narrative type of research was used in this study, along with photo-documentation, interview, personal observation, and paper recording. Findings reveal that different rites on child birth were performed, rites on this side was not so expensive compared to other ethno-linguistic groups who performed the same. It is therefore recommended that this practices become tools in transmitting such indigenous knowledge to others and further research on this topic is openly welcomed.