BA-DIW

BA-DIW SHE KASAL

by Gamboa Alumit in Traditional Beliefs and Practices in Benguet by Biano L. Baucas)

                                                                                  English translation:

Sih-kayo men nan-ngilin,                                          You who are now wedded,                                

It-itneng jo’y bilbilin.                                                Hear all the pieces of advice.                             

kayo on-gasagasat,                                                     You shall have fortunes,

Kayo on-gabagabay.                                                   You shall be progressive.

Angken wara’y nowang,                                             Even if there is a carabao,

Eg mebagke’n ma-owang.                                          It can’t be sent alone to work.              

Angken wara’y baha,                                                  Even if you have a cow,
Eg met laeng mabegka,                                               It cannot be sent for an errand,  

Shi piyan ondawan to.                                                 In places where it should go.

Angken wara’y kabajo,                                              Even if you have a horse,

Eg mabegka’n manbajo.                                            It can’t pound rice for you.

Angken wara’y molmol mo,                                      Even if you have pigs,

Eg mabegka’n mani-mol.                                          They can’t feed other pigs.

Angken shahel i kanshing,                                         Even if you have goats,

Eg ira met mamising.                                                 They can’t cook vegetables for viand.

Angken shakel i manok,                                             Even if you have chickens,

Eg ira mabegka’d Antamok,                                      They can’t be sent to Antamok
Eg-mansayo ni balitok.                                              Where they can pan pieces of gold.

Egto inges i anak,                                                       You cannot compare to children,

Kamon manbu-bongakngak,                                      If they make rhythmic sounds,

Kita ka mandaddadsak.                                              They make us very happy.

                                         

Ba-diw is the most important and most common of the Ibaloi songs and chants.  It is a leader-chorus form of poetry or group prayer where a chant in near monotone is given by a leader and the rest in the crowd repeat some of the leader’s words in a laryngeal, undulating tone, called the etob/asbayat.  The language of the ba-diw uses ancient Ibaloi words and ancient pronunciations.  It also uses synonyms, poetic language and figures of speech.  At festive occasions, it can take the form of repartee.  If someone understands the figurative language of the ba-diw, he might take it up and respond.  A ba-diw should fit the occasion, otherwise, those in the crowd will not do the asbayat but reprimand the leader instead (Ibaloy Dictionary, 2011).

Ba-diw is done on various occasions as weddings, wakes, and ritual feasts.  In ritual feasts and wakes, Kabunyan, the ancestors, the spirits, and/or the dead relative(s) are asked look over those whom the dead has left behind, or the descendants of the ancestors. Elders pray for health, prosperity, longer life, more blessings, more animals to care for, etc.  In weddings, the elders ask Kabunyan and the ancestors to bless the newly-wed. They also share pieces of advice for the couple thru their ba-diw.  Some ba-diw may be funny but given much thought, they may have a deeper meaning.