English - Balay Mindanaw

LUMADNONG PAGKINABUHI NGADTO SA KALINAWAfter the successful cutting of the rattan, the datu may alsolight candles or a salumayag torch and break an egg while makingdawit-dawit or invocation of the spirits. The rattan and the chickensymbolize the devils that rule the conflict. “A chicken is offered tothe malevolent spirits who dwell under the soil who are behindthe person who has killed. The offering is intended to covertheir eyes so they could see no further and thus could no longerrepeat the conflict.” Then the parties would shake hands as a signthat their good relationship has been restored. Tampuda is thenfollowed by panlitub, where the remaining ritual paraphernaliastill unburied would be buried.Panlitub and PaggimokodThe panlitub is directed towards ibabasok (the spirit ofthe farm), talabugta (the spirit of the land), pamalayag (spiritguiding the travelers), and panumanod (the guardian spirit).The spirits are invoked to finally put an end to the conflict andto arrest further complication. The spirits are asked to restoregood relationships among the people. The spirits talabugtaand ibabasok are further invoked in the panlitub to accept theofferings that will be buried.The rattan, chicken and the broken egg will be buried onthe ground and in some cases they include a burning salumayagtorch or a candle which will be put off the moment it touchesthe ground. The putting off of the torchlight symbolizes theending of the conflict, like putting off anger and hatred. Thebreaking of the egg symbolizes the shattering of the conflict,which is then impossible to reconstruct. During the dawitdawit,the datu would tell the parties, and also as if talking tothe egg, that whenever they would try to revive the conflict,the earth would open and bury all their constituents. Hence,the parties are made to swear not to resurrect the conflict. Ahuge stone is placed on top of the soil covering the area wherethe items were buried. The panlitub simply means ending andforgetting the conflict. Therefore, no one should resurrect118