Irungan: The Chair in Pangasinan Household Tradition

Irungan: The Chair in Pangasinan Household Tradition

(House Furniture/Works of Industrial or Commercial Arts) 

Long before the advent of monoblocs, collapsibles, and ergonomic swivel chairs with a shelf life of a few years, there were narra chairs so durable that lasted for generations.

In this photo is an example of a traditional irungan ed sala, which refers to an ambassador-type of chair, a chair with a slightly leaning backrest and two armrests. 

This particular narra chair is an example of domestic material culture that reflects both craftsmanship and social life in Pangasinan households.

Acquired in 1943, the chair set is estimated to be around 75 years old. It is made of narra wood and distinguished by its floral carvings, a design element often associated with durability, status, and aesthetic refinement during the mid-20th century. The chair’s dimensions include a 17-inch support length, a 16-inch seat, a 21-inch backrest, and a 19-inch apron. Despite its age, the piece remains functional, although the support has undergone repairs.

All the parts are held together by iron nails, but older types of chairs are made non-corrodible with the use of wooden pegs as joinery technique together with basic mortise and tenon fittings.

The chair set is currently owned by Mr. Alex H. Igne of Barangay Tambac, Bayambang, Pangasinan. According to Mrs. Rhoda M. Igne, also of Barangay Tambac, the original owner was the mother of Virginia R. Igne. Oral history recalls that the chair was customarily used by the elder matriarch when entertaining visitors, underscoring its role not merely as furniture but as a symbol of hospitality and familial respect within the home.

In Pangasinan culture, seating furniture carries specific names that reflect form and function. 

Irungan or yurungan (from the verb "irong," meaning "to sit") is a general term for chair, but it typically refers to any four-legged chair with a backrest typically made of wood or iron.

Another term is bangko, a simple backless chair. A long wide bangko may also serve as a mini-papag, an improvised bed to recline on during the day.

Bangkito is a smaller version often used for low-seated tasks such as washing clothes.

Taborete means stool.

Palangka is a low bamboo chair with crossed legs. 

Palangkito is its smaller counterpart. 

For comfort and rest, especially among the elderly, a butaka or tumba-tumba is used, which refers to a reclining, oftentimes rocking lounge chair made of wood or rattan. 

In contemporary usage, the term sala set has evolved to describe a coordinated set of chairs or sofas — made of wood, upholstery, rattan, or bamboo — arranged in the living room where the family watches TV or entertain important visitors. 

As an artifact, the irungan stands as a tangible reminder of Pangasinan domestic life, craftsmanship, and the value of shared family spaces.

(Documented through cultural mapping on September 23, 2018, this heritage object was profiled with Mrs. Rhoda M. Igne (50 years old) as key informant. The profiling was conducted by Rymel Lee G. Igne, then 17 years old, a Senior High School student of Bayambang National High School (STEM–Exodus), under the guidance of Mr. Christopher Q. Gozum.) 

Reference: Samuel C. Lomboy