‘Kalikad nan Puchon’in Barangay Lacnog: How the Masadiit and Butbut tribes keep kinship, culture, and history alive across generations

FEATURE

LACNOG, Tabuk City — Members of the Masadiit tribe of Boliney, Abra, and the Butbut tribe of Tinglayan, Kalinga, have gathered in Barangay Lacnog, Tabuk City, for this year's “Kalikad nan Puchon,” a cultural reunion aimed at preserving traditions and strengthening the bond between the two tribes.

The gathering, which runs from May 29 to June 1, 2026, features a series of cultural activities, fellowship events, and community gatherings designed to celebrate a relationship that has endured through generations.

Rather than staying in hotels or large venues, members of the visiting Masadiit tribe are being welcomed into local homes, where meals and fellowship activities are hosted by residents, barangay officials, and pangats. The arrangement reflects the tribes' long-standing tradition of hospitality, unity, and kinship.

One of the highlights of the gathering was the “Achang” ceremony held on May 29 at the Lacnog Gymnasium. The ceremony honored family lineages, elders, and departed loved ones while reminding participants of their roots, identity, and shared heritage.

According to the secretary of the Barangay Local Government Unit (BLGU), elders and leaders of both tribes are also scheduled to review their “Pagta,” with proposed revisions expected to be discussed and, if agreed upon, formally adopted.

“Pagtutung-tungan dan to metlang sir or ireview da diay pagta, dagijay lalakay, tas nu ada ti maisuggest da nga maimprove or mabaliwan, ket iammend da,” the secretary relayed in a phone interview.

The Pagta serves as the laws, rules, and constitution governing the Bodong or peace pact established between the two tribes before World War II.

In the succeeding days, meals and fellowship gatherings will continue in Sitio Catao, where residents and visitors are expected to reconnect with relatives, friends, and fellow tribe members.

The activity will conclude on June 1 with a farewell fellowship before delegates depart for Butbut Proper later that morning.

In an interview with GURU Press Cordillera, Barangay Captain Joel L. Alunday, a member of the Butbut tribe, emphasized that Kalikad nan Puchon is more than a celebration or reunion. For him, it is a living expression of the tribes' shared culture, respect, and history.

“Daytoy nga Kalikad nan Pochon ket saan laeng nga okasyon ti pannagragsak wenno panagsisinarak no di ket panangipakita nga uray adda iti nagduduma nga lugar dagiti pamilya, agtultuloy latta ti panagkaykaysa tayo kas tribu,” Alunday emphasized.

Through the gathering, Alunday said the younger generation is being reminded of the importance of preserving their identity and traditions despite modern influences and the distance that now separates many tribal families.

“Kayat mi nga maamuan dagiti ubbing nga adda pay laeng ti kultura ken relasyon a masapul nga mapagtalinaed,” he added.

As families reconnect, stories are shared, and traditions are passed on, Kalikad nan Puchon stands as a testament to how the Masadiit and Butbut tribes continue to nurture the bonds of kinship, ensuring that their culture and heritage remain alive for generations to come.