Family Life and Customs

The family was and is the most important institution; this includes extended family and kinship ties. Within the nuclear family the father had final say but the wife could voice her opinion in all decisions. Children were raised to respect their parents and elders. Fathers trained their sons to hunt, use weapons, work in the fields, recite myths and learn the family genealogy. Girls learned to take care of the home, work in the field, and recite the numerous ballads that were a major part of the culture. Children learned their ancestry from an early age; they may have known their relatives to the fifth degree on both sides of the family. Knowing their genealogy was important, for it would determine where they fit into the society and their status in various situations. Marriage was a way of extending kinship ties, and marriage to a second cousin was acceptable. There was an informal courtship, and traditionally there was child betrothal. Arrangements for the marriage were taken care of by a go-between who would settle the bride's price. A large feast would signify the marriage itself and then the couple would be given inheritance from each set of parents. After the wedding the couple would live with the wife's family so the husband could spend one year working for them as a bride service. Status within the Gaddang society was determined by bravery, knowledge of customary laws, ability to speak at public occasions, and possibly wealth. The epitome of this was mingal, the warrior-headhunter, headhunting being an important part of the Gaddang culture