Indigenous Faith: The 'Ayag si Leng-ag' ritual of Bontoc

BONTOC, Mountain Province -- While modern technology is seemingly directing how the people of the world run their lives, the culture and faith that was passed on among the indigenous people still persist.

A collision occurred involving a small elf truck, a Ford Fiera body, and another mini dump truck. The elf truck then plunged approximately 150–170 feet into a ravine before submerging in the Chico River, resulting in the deaths of five individuals.

On the day of the tragedy, responders and volunteers immediately recovered the bodies of three victims from the crash site. They then searched along the riverbanks and waters of the Chico River for the remaining two. As night fell, the elders of Bontoc conducted a cleansing ritual known as “Palanga: Khaeb si Uminuman” at the Bontoc “Ato” (referred to as dap-ay in other parts of Mountain Province, a place where elders and men gather for prayer or community meetings) to appease both the unseen spirits and the living before responders and volunteers returned home.

The following day, elders once again held a ritual at ground zero, seeking the blessings and guidance of “Kabunyan” (the Creator). Later that day, the Search and Retrieval Teams (SRRTs) found the fourth victim. That evening, another “Khaeb si Uminuman” ritual was performed.

On the third day, October 29, 2025, SRRTs resumed their operations. Personnel from the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) of neighboring Tinglayan, Kalinga, also conducted search activities along the Chico River within their jurisdiction.

That same day, the aunt of the fifth victim, Nida Romeo, arrived from Pangasinan, hoping her nephew Edmond would be found. While the search continued, women elders from Barangay Tocucan, together with local officials, approached her and encouraged her to go down to the river—the last known location of her nephew—to call out his name and speak to his spirit.

The Bontoc community refers to this practice as “Ayag si Leng-ag”, a traditional ritual believed to guide the lingering spirit (Leng-ag) of a missing person toward peace and help rescuers locate their body. According to the elders, it is a way of “reaching out—acknowledging the connection between the living and the spirit world, and asking the departed to come home.”

Standing on a cliff, Nida began calling out to her nephew: “Edmond, agpakita kan, malemen, agawid tayon idiay Pangasinan...” (“Edmond, show us where you are now, it is already afternoon, we will go home to Pangasinan”), she cried, facing the spot where Edmond was believed to be.

As she performed the ritual, responders below continued to battle the river’s strong current while attempting to pull the submerged vehicle’s hood. At 4:38 P.M., about 45 minutes after the “Ayag si Leng-ag” began, responders spotted a body floating downstream, carried by the Chico River’s current. The sighting was quickly reported to the Emergency Operations Center.

By 5:02 P.M., Edmond’s body was successfully retrieved—marking the end of the long search. A cleansing ritual was again performed before Nida and her nephew were sent off.

For the people of Bontoc, this moment was more than coincidence—it was a profound affirmation of Cordilleran spirituality, where tradition and modern rescue efforts worked hand in hand. The successful recovery of Edmond’s body right after the “Ayag si Leng-ag” strengthened the community’s belief that ancestral wisdom continues to hold great power, even in today’s modern world.

This collective act, known among the Indigenous Peoples of Mountain Province as “Ug-ugfo” or “Ug-ugbo”, symbolized the union of professional responders’ dedication and the community’s compassion, transforming deep tragedy into a moment of healing and homecoming.

As the world observes All Souls’ Day and All Saints’ Day, the Indigenous Peoples of the Cordillera not only honor their departed but also reaffirm their profound connection to the Creator and the Earth.