They came knocking at the door, telling the homeowners in a song that they are spirits from the hereafter, pleading for help, for some kind of relief. The song sung by the cantores is called “Taotaoag.” It is a dramatization of the poor souls in purgatory’s need for intercessory prayer.
Members of the Municipal Council for Culture and the Arts, together with Rotary Club of Bayambang and the Office of Senior Citizen Affairs, knocked on the doors of six prominent Bayambangueños in the late afternoon of October 31 to sing the “Taotaoag,” which is a traditional chant in the Pangasinense language. Sung in freestyle and monotone, it opens with an appeal to Christians and ends in a lively counterpoint:
“Ay denglen yo pa Cristiano/So pantaotaoag mid sicayo”
…
“Say irap mi pay talineng yo/A lilicnaen mid purgatoryo.”
The houses of Dr. Henry and Julie Fernandez, ex-Vice-Mayor Jose ‘Boy’ Ramos and wife Judith, Vice-Mayor Raul Sabangan, Municipal Engineer Eddie Melicorio, Mayor Cezar T. Quiambao and Ms. Niña Jose, and Mr. Danilo Gozum were visited one after another by the MCCA led by its Executive Director, retired Professor Januario Cuchapin, and wife Prof. Erlinda, Dr. Clarita Jimenez, Dr. Annie Manalang, Prof. Salome Malicdem Montemayor, and Mr. Rafael Saygo; Municipal Administrator Atty. Rodelynn Rajini Sagarino; Municipal Librarian Leonardo Allado; Rotarians including President Leticia Ursua, Secretary Gloria Valenzuela, Lita Bautista, and Asteria Perez-Wilhelm; and OSCA Chair Iluminada Mabanglo; among others. Telbang Kagawad Oscar Ora served as the guitarist.
Part of the tradition in the singing of “Taotaoag” is the old-time practice of panagkamarerwa, which is said to be an indigenous version of Halloween trick o’ treat. The house being visited either had to offer treats in the form of native delicacies or be subjected to panagkamarerwa (the trick part), which is somewhat a legalized form of stealing anything around the house that could be spirited away in the gathering darkness.
Some of those who were visited were prepared, while some were caught by surprise. Mrs. Julie Fernandez invited the ‘intruders’ to a spread of puto Calasiao, latik deremen, pancit sotanghon, and fresh lumpiang ubod. By the time the “Taotaoag” cantores reached the second house (the Ramoses’ mansion nearby), which prepared an equally lavish set of afternoon snacks, the cantores were too full for more. Thankfully, the next households offered treats in other forms (drinks, juice, cupcakes, cash). Apparently, no one of the homeowners wanted to get tricked.
To all the participants, the experience was an unforgettable revival of an almost forgotten cultural tradition. It is hoped that, as Prof. Cuchapin put it, the event would become a yearly tradition once more from hereon in. (Bayambang PIO/Media Affairs)
***
Lyrics: Taotaoag
Republished from: https://www.bayambang.gov.ph/2016/10/31/taotaoag-tradition-revived/ (Originally posted on Monday October 31, 2016)
Members of the Municipal Council for Culture and the Arts, together with Rotary Club of Bayambang and the Office of Senior Citizen Affairs, knocked on the doors of six prominent Bayambangueños in the late afternoon of October 31 to sing the “Taotaoag,” which is a traditional chant in the Pangasinense language. Sung in freestyle and monotone, it opens with an appeal to Christians and ends in a lively counterpoint:
“Ay denglen yo pa Cristiano/So pantaotaoag mid sicayo”
…
“Say irap mi pay talineng yo/A lilicnaen mid purgatoryo.”
The houses of Dr. Henry and Julie Fernandez, ex-Vice-Mayor Jose ‘Boy’ Ramos and wife Judith, Vice-Mayor Raul Sabangan, Municipal Engineer Eddie Melicorio, Mayor Cezar T. Quiambao and Ms. Niña Jose, and Mr. Danilo Gozum were visited one after another by the MCCA led by its Executive Director, retired Professor Januario Cuchapin, and wife Prof. Erlinda, Dr. Clarita Jimenez, Dr. Annie Manalang, Prof. Salome Malicdem Montemayor, and Mr. Rafael Saygo; Municipal Administrator Atty. Rodelynn Rajini Sagarino; Municipal Librarian Leonardo Allado; Rotarians including President Leticia Ursua, Secretary Gloria Valenzuela, Lita Bautista, and Asteria Perez-Wilhelm; and OSCA Chair Iluminada Mabanglo; among others. Telbang Kagawad Oscar Ora served as the guitarist.
Part of the tradition in the singing of “Taotaoag” is the old-time practice of panagkamarerwa, which is said to be an indigenous version of Halloween trick o’ treat. The house being visited either had to offer treats in the form of native delicacies or be subjected to panagkamarerwa (the trick part), which is somewhat a legalized form of stealing anything around the house that could be spirited away in the gathering darkness.
Some of those who were visited were prepared, while some were caught by surprise. Mrs. Julie Fernandez invited the ‘intruders’ to a spread of puto Calasiao, latik deremen, pancit sotanghon, and fresh lumpiang ubod. By the time the “Taotaoag” cantores reached the second house (the Ramoses’ mansion nearby), which prepared an equally lavish set of afternoon snacks, the cantores were too full for more. Thankfully, the next households offered treats in other forms (drinks, juice, cupcakes, cash). Apparently, no one of the homeowners wanted to get tricked.
To all the participants, the experience was an unforgettable revival of an almost forgotten cultural tradition. It is hoped that, as Prof. Cuchapin put it, the event would become a yearly tradition once more from hereon in. (Bayambang PIO/Media Affairs)
***
Lyrics: Taotaoag
1. Ay denglen yo pa Cristiano
So pantaotaoag mid sicayo
Say irap mi pay
talineng yo
A lilicnaen mid
purgatory.
2. Ay ama, ina, denglen yo pa
So pantaotaoag da ray anac yo
Say irap mi pay
talineng yo
A lilicnaen mid
purgatoryo.
3. Alai ermin min ag nabalsacan
Alai apoy sancasulitan
Alai dosai Dios Cataoan
A liicnaen mi dia natan
Ta agkami acasipot ditad mundo
Yan manbayar na otang mid sicato.
Say irap mi pay
talineng yo
A lilicnaen mid
purgatoryo.
4. Alai caaoetan yon manbilay
Alai poso yon binmalatyang
Alai lingo yo! Alai calamangan
Sicamid purgatoryon manaayam
Sicami pay linguisen yo
No angan mogmo lan itolong yo.
Say irap mi pay
talineng yo
A lilicnaen mid
purgatoryo.
5. Siguin cacanayon min dili
Asaoa mi no anac mi
Anto lay tipel yo casi
A manaquilingoanan ed sicami
Italineng yo pay laiag yod
Cairapan min panusai Dios.
Say irap mi pay
talineng yo
A lilicnaen mid
purgatoryo.
6. Sicato laya angaan la
Na pantaotaoag min cacamarerrua
Andi ibas a picasi yo cami pa Ed Dios tan Virgin Maria
Pian dead taoen minabang itayo
Ed glorian ando lang ando.
Say irap mi pay
talineng yo
A lilicnaen mid
purgatoryo.
(English Translation by Resty Odon)
1. Hear oh hear, oh Christians
Our call on you
Please take notice of the suffering
that we endure in purgatory.
2. Oh, father, mother, listen please
To the calling of your children
Please take notice of the suffering
that we endure in purgatory.
3. Oh how deep is our sadness
How unquenchable the fire
How punishing is our Lord
Ah, the pain we are going through now
Because we were unable there on earth
to pay for our debts to Him.
Please take notice of the suffering
that we endure in purgatory.
4. How hard-hearted you live your life
How your heart has turned into steel
Oh the mistakes that you make! You have no idea
We dwellers of purgatory
Would you please take a look at us
and help us even just a bit.
Please take notice of the suffering
that we endure in purgatory.
5. You who are our relatives from of old
Whether our spouses or our children
How could you be
ever forgetful of us?
Would you please lend your ears
to the hardship of God's punishment.
Please take notice of the suffering
that we endure in purgatory.
6. This is the end
Of our calling on you as souls
Please pray for us without ceasing to God and the Virgin Mother
So that in heaven we will benefit
From the unending glory.
Please take notice of the suffering
that we endure in purgatory.
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