This traditional ritual is commonly performed during illnesses, injuries and deaths caused by accidents.
In the drowning incident at the Chico River, below sitio Kadchog of barangay Ili, Bontoc, Albert Longboan, a doomsayer (insup-ok) performed the ayag si leng-ag.
Near the tragic site the following day, the doomsayer butchered a female chicken (mangalak). After reading the bile, he informed the father of the victim that there were anito (unseen) that prevented the young boy to surface. The anito are souls of those who were drowned and died at the Chico river in the past.
Fayad si utang
The insup-ok (old man) then prayed and offered the cooked chicken meat, salted (etag) and rice, gin, tobacco, blanket, pairs of clothes for a male and female, kitchen utensils and money.
According to the doomsayer, the anito are hungry and feel cold. The kitchen wares represent replacement of what the victim broke while he was alive. The money represents repayment for what the dead victim borrowed while alive or and for the anito to buy other things they need, the elder stressed.
In the evening, the doomsayer butchered a male chicken (kawitan) in the victim’s house. After reading the position of the bile, he assured the family of the deceased that the drowned victim will soon be found.
The dead body of the boy was seen floating on the Chico river in the afternoon of the 3rd day at sitio Latang, a few kilometers down the accident area. The cadaver was retrieved and brought home for the wake and burial. **By Francis B. Degay
