THE SOUL ACCORDING TO SOME ETHNOLINGUISTIC GROUP
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In various indigenous cultures of the Philippines, such as the Ifugao, Isneg, and Kankanaey, the
concept of the soul plays a central role in understanding life, death, and illness. Let's delve into
these beliefs through a comparative analysis:
The Ifugao people refer to the soul of the dead as "Linnawa." For them, Linnawa represents the
essence or spirit of a departed individual. They believe in the existence of an afterlife where the
Linnawa resides, reflecting a continuation of existence beyond physical death.
Similarly, the Isneg, an Igorot tribe, conceptualize the soul as "Kaduwa." According to Isneg
beliefs, the Kaduwa (soul) embarks on a journey to the aglalanawan, a realm of the afterlife.
This journey involves crossing a mystical pond on a ferry guided by a spiritual entity known as a
kutaw.
The Kankanaey (another member of the Igorot people) they perceive the soul as "ab-abiik."
They believe that humans possess both a physical body and an ab-abiik, with the latter being
the spiritual component. When spirits summon a person’s ab-abiik, he or she becomes sick. To
remedy this, rituals are performed to appease the summoning spirit, allowing the ab-abiik to
return to the body and and the person recovers from the illness.
Meanwhile, among the Tagalog people, the concept of the soul is termed "Kaluluwa." However,
Kaluluwa primarily pertains to the soul of the deceased. For the living, the soul is referred to as
"kakambal," which is believed to depart from the body at night and roam, potentially leading to
encounters with spirits and resulting in nightmares or bangungot.
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Four souls of the Ilocano tribe
The kararua, or the soul proper. It is the same concept of soul in Christian.
The karkarma stands for natural vigor, mind, and reason, karkarma is not static but dynamic, it is
capable of leaving the physical body under specific circumstances. For instance, fear can trigger
its departure, leaving the individual vulnerable and potentially leading to psychological distress.
Also the notion that a karkarma can be stolen, if the soul fails to return to the body, the person
becomes insane. One way to lure back a lost karkarma is through performing a Sacrificial ceremony.
The "aniwaas," which denotes a soul's ability to leave the body during sleep embarking on journey
to a familiar places. However, when the person wakes up while the aniwaas is still visiting the
familiar places. He or she may lose the aniwaas and losing the aniwaas can cause insanity to the
person.
Upon death, the soul transitions into the "araria," representing a liberated state where it can
fulfill unfinished obligations or seek solace among loved ones through visitations. The
symbolism of dogs howling signaling the presence of araria adds an eerie yet poignant element
to the narrative, suggesting a bridge between the living and the deceased.
Ritualistic practices, such as sacrificial ceremonies or offering prayers to the araria, serve as
tangible expressions of these beliefs.
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Ibanag/Ybanag Concept of Soul
The Ibanag/Ybanag people, inhabiting the provinces of Cagayan, Isabela, and Nueva Vizcaya,
possess a nuanced understanding of the soul, distinguishing it as both baggi (body) and
ikaruruwa (soul). Unlike Western dualism, which often separates body and soul as distinct
entities, the Ibanag/Ybanag perceive them as intricately connected yet possessing distinct
characteristics.
Central to their belief system is the notion that the soul, while ethereal, bears physical
attributes. This belief manifests in their conviction that the soul can exhibit color, Also, they
hold a unique perspective on the soul's journey, asserting that the souls of deceased babies or
infants can reach adulthood in the spirit realm suggesting a continuity of existence beyond
physical death.
The Ibanag/Ybanag acknowledge the body's ability to survive without the soul—a concept that
challenges conventional understandings of life and consciousness. This belief underscores their
holistic view of human existence, wherein both body and soul contribute to the individual's
identity and well-being.
Hanunoo Mangyan Notions of Soul
The Hanunoo Mangyan of Mindoro believes in the plurality of souls., recognizing various forms of
soul essence. Within their worldview, the soul extends beyond human beings to encompass
other living entities such as animals, with each possessing its own distinct soul.
The Hanunoo Mangyan categorize souls based on their associated entities, for instance they
have karaduwa tawu/tawo (human soul) and karaduwa of animals such as manok (chicken soul)
baboy (pig soul) , karaduwa kuti (cat soul) and karaduwa hipon (shrimp soul) .This classification
reflects their deep connection to the natural world and underscores their belief in the shared
essence of all living beings.
One of the most intriguing aspects of Hanunoo Mangyan belief is the concept of soul projection
during sleep. According to their tradition, the soul can detach from the physical body during
sleep, and roams the world. What the person dreams of are actually the experiences of the karudawa
while roaming around.