Camatagan Sabangan Mountain Province

A. Introduction:

           Camatagan is one of the fifteen barangays of Sabangan municipality in Mountain Province created during the President Ferdinand Edralin Marcos governance. The barangay was then a sitio of Barrio Pingad. This barangay is located along the Halsema highway or so called "Baguio Bontoc road". According to the National Statistics Census of Population 2007, the barangay has 843 population. Farming is the main source of livelihood for most of family who lives here. Common agricultural products of this community are rice, cabbage, carrots, potatoes, sweet potatoes and etc. Farming alone can not sustain the community so most of the families relies on its working force to compensate income. Families with relatives working abroad or nearby towns and cities send needed resources for additional supplement.

            Working force migrates to near by towns like Bontoc or to cities like Manila or Baguio. Baguio is the favorite destination because of its  proximity and accessibility with the city. The city also serves as the educational center for students coming from this barangay to finish higher education.

            Visitors can easily feel at ease and comfortable in this community because the villagers are friendly, peaceful and warm. Even if the community has no lodging houses, the villagers welcomes visitors in their homes.

B. Education:

                  Pingad National High School:    (Pingad Barangay High School) is located in this barangay. The name of the school only explain that the barangay was only a sitio of Pingad barangay before it became an independent barangay. The old school was called "Pingad Barangay High School", the first and only Public High Scool in the municipality before the creation of other high schools. The creation of the school was in cooperation and partnership of the nine sitios of greater Pingad Barangay of upper Sabangan namely Bao-angan, Bunayan, Busa, Camatagan, Capinitan, Gayang, Namatec, Napua and Pingad, with the cooperation of then "The Kairuz lumber co. inc.". Fund raising activities are the source of funding for the bulldozing of the site and for  construction of the high school building. The high school was built in the lot owned by the Pingad Elementary School and lot donations.. Some funds were solicited from the first Philippine crowned Miss Universe Gloria Diaz. Dedicated elementary school teachers and community people were the prime movers for the creation of the school. Particular names were mentioned as follows: 1. Mr. Pedro F. Lardizabal Jr. teacher and wife 2. Mrs. Carmen Lardizabal the Community Health Midwife, 3. Mr. Purferio Fabro teacher and wife 4. Mrs. Revelina Fabro teacher, 5. Mr. Magdalino Pemintel teacher and wife 6. Mrs. Adelina Pemintel teacher, 7. Mr. Isabelo Batong teacher, 8. Mr. James Paredes teahcer, 9. Mr. Dionesio Pascual and wife 10. Mrs. Agapita Pascual teacher, 11. Mr. Teofelo Kairuz Businessman and wife 12. Mrs. Concheta Kairuz  Businessman and 13. Mr. Esteban Luis the tenyente del Bario of greater Pingad, Mr Wadasen working in the Government (PACD). Teachers of the Pingad Elementary school were the first teachers of the school. The recognition of the school by the national government pave the way for the development of the school into a National High School. Now the school is Pingad National High School.

             Pingad Elementary School: (Camatagan Elementary School) The fist established Public Elementary School in southern Sabangan before the creation of Bun-ayan elementary school, Namatec elementary school and Capinitan elementary school. The first public Elementary school in Southern Sabangan was situated at Ballan Bun-ayan, but because of the location and distance of the old school from the communities, the school was demolished and relocated here in this barangay. When the elementary school was located in Ballan, students are afraid to go to school because Ballan was considered as sacred by the villagers. 

                Day Care Center: a community center to care of children who are not yet at age to go to elementary school.

         Nonformal Education: education for individual who does not have a formal education to teach them how to read and write.

C. Tourism:

                Tiguing view point: A hill vantage point to view the chico river and the green farm land of Sabangan. small borial caves are also found in this hill.

                  
             Amegok undergorund water spring: The main source of fresh drinking water of Camatagan. Located in the sitio of Legleg.

               Barangay Fiasta: An annual barangay celebration of cultural dances and belief. Started as an teenagers Christmas activities 34 years ago by Youth barangay leader Jesson Lardizabal and supported by barangay kapitan Crispin Altaki.

            Sleeping Giant: Image naturally formed in human like giant sleeping in the mountain of Mangasi-it. The image can be seen prominently in the hill of Tiguing view point.

     Majestec Sunrise view at Mount Kalawitan: The scenic view of the sun rising in mount kalawitan. 

     Allan: "Echo" a fan way of understanding the sound. Hear the echo of your voice in a natural environment. Here along the road in Camatagan, the natural stone wall is a good site to experience the echo of any sound.

          

D. Religion:

                   Roman Catholic: It is the majority religious belief

                 Saksi ni Jehova: Member of this belief built the only church in the municipality in Camatagan barangay. 

                    Born Again Christian: A growing Christian belief in this barangay.

                  Paganism: Althoug Christianity is the belief practiced by the people, some of the community elders and their relatives still practices the traditional belief of anitos. Many say that paganism is the key for unity of this community for this is the practice of the people many years ago until the introduction of Christianity. Practices of old pagan tradition are continuously practiced in the barangay but slowly lost as elders dies with them. Some of the practices are enumerated and  describe as: read more here:

                The 1. "Tengaw" a tradition where all of the community people are prohibited to go outside the village to work the farm or any other work. This is done in respect when a member of the community dies, and the duration of such is to be determined by elders in accordance with the status of the dead to the community. This practice is also being done when an nu-explained disease occurred in the rice farm or to the livestock in the community or in near by community to prevent the spread of the disease.

                 2. The "Begnas" a tradition participated by the community people to pray for early rain fall and for good crop harvest.

                 3. The"Bayas" a tradition being practiced by a family as a thanks giving for a bountiful blessing. Commonly done by wealthy families wherein the family will invite all of the community people in all nearby places to come and join. Several animals are butchered to be offered to the anitos and to be partaken by all visitors and guest of the family. When a family will do Begnas, all of the people in the community lend a helping hand in the preparation, cooking, brew rice wine, gathering of fire woods and ect. The celebration is done for 3 days non-stop gong playing "Gangsa" and dances "Tayaw".

              4. "Nateyan" when a community member had died, the funeral services is a community participation. This is one of the most practiced tradition and is accepted by Christianity because of its services to the family and to that community. A traditional song or chanting "Dang-ey" or "Bay-ya-o" is done by elders to narate stories regarding the dead persons achievements in life or to give stories. It is done only to a dead male or female who has grand children of their own.

               5. "Lang-ay" is a practice wherein a group of individuals are gathered in one place or house to eat, drink wine "tapey" and to discuss matters regarding concerns of the community like hunting expedition, farm situation and many other things. 


                6. "Dao-es" is a tradition practiced by individual to drive away bad spirits or omen due to accident, sickness, or fight with other person or any other bad happening. This can be performed by group when it pertains to war or any other happening that involves group of people. All of this practices are done with the full supervision of an elderly called "am-a-ma" or "mambonong" who have learned the  sacred prayers to  invoke the power of "kabunyan" the spirit god. The "anito" are spirit of known person, maybe he is a warrior, leader, great farmer, or a person with good standing or status in the community. 

                  7. "Pudong" or "man-Pudong" A symbol put in the entrance of a property, a house or the entrance of the entire community to warn visitors or intruders that inside the "pudong" a sacred ritual is conducted or that the property is under spell of the "am-a-ma" or "mambunong". No person is allowed to enter or tress pass beyond the "pudong" or a bad omen might happen to whoever ignore the stern warning of the "pudong". The "pudong" is made up of leaves from bamboo grass or "Pa-o", The leaves of the "Pao" is tied or has a  knot, two or more are put on the side of the road or way easily noticeable by anyone who may pass.  


                 8. "Buyag" the prayer or chant by the "am-a-ma" to invoke the powers of "kabunyan". The prayer is sacred that it is not being told by anybody or anyone who has not accepted the responsibility of the elderly or "am-a-ma". (a big thanks to: Uncle Felix Salupen barangay kapitan Camatagan Sabangan Mt. Province who give information about this cultures). 
                         

Other readings for your information. Thank you!

Camatagan Sabangan Mountain Province

Pingad Sabangan Mountain Province 

Living in Baguio City in Poor man’s Perspective

Gayanga Sabangan Mountain Province

Sabangan Mountain Province

Kankana-ey di ePingad (Pertains to Upper Southern Sabangan)