ARAWATAN FESTIVAL 

Arawatan is a Mangyan term from the Hanunoo tribe which means “cooperation” and “helping each other”. This is not merely a word which denotes something but is part of the tribe’s culture. Arawatan comes from the root word awat which means “help” or “assist”.

In a Mangyan society, arawatan spirit is experienced throughout the year in every activity or endeavour. The Mangyan’s livelihood is basically agricultural and arawatan is employed by the people in their activities. During planting season, friends and relatives are invited to help in the preparation of the land known as Durok. Durok is an activity which involves the clearing of the forest, cutting down small trees and weeds, drying them under the sun and burning them in the later part of May, when the first heavy drops of rain occur. No monetary or any payment is given to those who come and help in planting. Food is prepared only by the owner of the land and offered to those who help.

It is a unique activity because it is a gathering relatives and friends. Just like friends coming together, sharing everything in any activity.

After the preparation of land, the so-called “panggas” or “hadik” takes place. This is the sowing of the seeds such as palay, corn, and other crops. Prior to this, chicken or pig is butchered and the blood is poured on the land as an offering to the deities known as “Apo Daga” (spirit of the soil) to ensure the bountiful harvest. Planting is a noisy activity to ward of the evil spirits and pests such as rats and insects.

During harvest seasons, the same spirits of arawatan is also employed. Usually the same people who assisted throughout the cultivation of crops are invited to do the harvest activity. The helpers bring with them balulang (basket) and kayog, an equivalent of sickle. Before the sunset, each helper brings home about fifty percent of his harvest and the remaining fifty percent is left to the owner of the land. Harvest is one of the merriest activities in the community. Some families who do not own sufficient land for agriculture will just have to be more industrious by participating in different arawatan activities.

After the harvest, participation for the ritual; called “dulot” is performed about few days after the harvest. Dulot is a thanksgiving ritual for the “karadwa” or the spirits of the ancestors. There is a belief that the ancestors spirits continue to protect the Mangyan family helping them for good health, good rain and weather and bountiful harvest.

In its deepest sense, arawatan can be considered as a festival because it embodies unity, communal spirit and cooperation. It is the time of the year when people converge for significant activities to attain success and positive results.

This Arawatan spirit, aside from mountain isolation has helped the Mangyan culture alive uop to this day and unique for the island of Mindoro.