Libacao at GMA-7

Dateline LIBACAO
By: Alex E.Dionela


Libacao at GMA 7


It is said that Libacao is considered the repository of Aklan’s ethnic culture whose practices and traditions had been spared from undue influence of modern civilization. A cultural heritage that began during the pre-colonial period was delicately handed down from one generation to another and still being religiously observed by the inhabitants of the upland barangays of this town and their neighboring areas which are part of the provinces of Antique, Capiz and Iloilo.
These upland people that continue to practice their ethnic lifestyles are now called “Indigenous People” whose communities are being supervised and assisted by the National Commission on Indigenous People, (NCIP) in order to promote their general welfare and ensuring that their individual and collective rights and privileges are being upheld and protected. The most important of which is the granting by the government of ancestral domain to these indigenous people of the land they till and occupy in recognition to their inherent right over these lands that had been occupied by their ancestors for centuries.
The reason for having preserved this ethnic culture is Libacao’s strategic location and the mountainous terrain of its upland areas that for a very long time had been denied access to transportation and communication, its far distance to the lowlands particularly Kalibo, the center of trade and commerce and the seat of civil government in the past. Added to this, is the abundance of traditional farm and forest products that were easily available to them thus, enabling them an economically stable and prosperous life and finds no compelling reason of going down to the lowlands. This therefore had enabled them to preserve their ethnic culture and traditions which is distinct from the rest and subsequently the gradual formation of a “closed community” of Libacaonons.
This ethnic culture which could probably be found only in this part of the country was Libacao’s “come on” attraction to national television program, specifically the “Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho” a popular tv show of GMA 7, whose segment crew came over to document the traditional ethnic “hongaw” marriage which was subsequently aired nation-wide on June 16th.
.”Hongaw” is a local dialect which means a pre-arranged marriage of the groom and bride’s parents with the concurrence of close relatives of both parties. Most often the bride ages only from 12-15 years old. This marriage arrangement is being made without necessarily the knowledge and consent of the future spouses because the parents enter into this contract agreement when these children are still on their early ages. And in keeping with their cherished tradition the marriage parties involved just abide by the decision of their elders. The marriage rite called “hongaw” is being presided over by the tribal head followed by a sumptuous banquet, the drinking of native wine, dancing of ethnic dances and merry making.