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Updated: May 8, 2025
It sometimes happens, when the basi has been flowing freely, that the participants become so boisterous and the pace so fast that spectators are run down or the dancers are piled in a heap, from which they emerge laughing and shouting. The common dance, the tadek, is a part of nearly all gatherings of a social and religious nature.
When all is prepared, the men and boys arm themselves, and with shouts and hostile demonstrations drive the sickness toward the town whence it is thought to come. Returning to the center of the village, the people dance tadek, and the mediums may summon several spirits. Next, the pigs are killed, and their livers are examined for a sign.
Then she bids the spirits from near and far to come and eat, and to be kindly disposed. In Bakaok and some other villages it is customary for the medium to summon several spirits at this time, and this is followed by the dancing of tadek. The people of Luluno always hold a ceremony at the pináing before the planting of the rice and after the harvest.
A medium goes to the guardian stones of the village, and there offers rice mixed with blood; she oils the stones, places new yellow headbands on each one, and after dancing tadek, returns to the gathering. Often she is accompanied by a number of men, who shout on their return trip "to frighten away evil spirits."
On the first day the house is decorated as in Tangpap and Sayang; a bound pig is placed beside the door, and over it the mediums recite a diam and later summon several spirits. Liquor is served to the guests, who dance tadek or sing songs in praise of the family.
Holding the latter in his outstretched arms, as he would do if dancing tadek, he squats repeatedly over a dish of water. As he finishes, the medium takes the tube of water from between the pigs, and pouring a little of it on her hand, she applies it to the abdomen of the man's wife and children. The animals are now cooked in yard, while a quantity of rice is made ready in the house.
Another sprinkling with water follows this act, and then the medium swings a bundle of rice and a lighted torch over the head of each member of the family, while she assures them that all evil spirits will now depart. The guests go down to the yard, where they are served with liquor, and where they dance da-eng and tadek.
At the guardian stones, they pause long enough to sacrifice a pig and a rooster, and offer blood and rice to the spirits, and then they proceed to the center of the village, where they dance tadek and da-eng until dusk. At nightfall a pig is killed, its flesh is divided among the people, and a lono stalk, after being dipped in the blood, is given to a member of each family.
As a final act basi is served to all, and tadek is danced until the guests are ready to return to their homes. In San Juan they make the spirit raft taltalabong as in Tangpap, and set it afloat at sunset. The mediums are paid off in rice, a portion of the slaughtered animals, beads, one or two blankets, and perhaps a weapon or piece of money.
During the preparation of the meal, the musicians play incessantly, but as the food is brought out, they cease and join the others in the feast. It is late in the afternoon before much activity is again manifest. At first a few gather and begin to dance tadek; little by little others come in until by nightfall the yard is full.
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