Just as the Tagbanua have a ritual to thank the spirits for a good harvest, so they also have a ritual to ask the spirits to keep sickness away. This ritual is called Runsay.
The Tagbanua believe that the source of all illness is the salakep, small, kinkyhaired creatures with pockmarks on their faces and all over their bodies. The salakep sail outriggered bancas blown by the northeast wind.
There was a time when the Tagbanua and the salakep were friends. But some Tagbanua played a trick on the salakep, who in revenge ate up all the people, except for one man and one woman. Then the salakep sailed away to the end of the world, where the northeast wind is born, taking with them all the Tagbanua who had died of rampaging illness. The salakep vowed that they would return to eat all the living Tagbanua unless offerings were made to them at a ceremony.
For a while the salakep sailed whenever they wished, laying the Tagbanua low with sickness and death. Until Magindusa, the most powerful spirit of all, decided to stop them. He sent warrior sailors to keep the salakep away, allowing them to sail only when the northeast wind begins to blow in great gusts. During this period that the northeast wind blows, the salakep, led by their captain, Sumurutan, sail to spread their malice. The Tagbanua must hold the ritual of Runsay to stop them.
Usually, Runsay is held on the fourth evening after the full moon in December. The people gather at the place where the great Aborlan River joins the sea.
As soon as the waning moon begins to rise, the Tagbanua build a raft to carry the offerings. It is a very large raft, because it must carry the offerings of all the families.
The symbol of the raft goes back to ancient times, when people traveled mostly by sea. They mastered the making of many kinds of boats-some small and slim to skim the waves, some large and sturdy to carry the warriors to battle.
The most famous of the early Filipino boats is the barangay, which was low, light and straight, holding as many rowers on the left-hand side as on the right. As they paddled, the rowers sang heroic songs, timing their rowing to the beat, slowing the rhythm when the boat needed to slow down, quickening the tempo when the boat required speed.
Many kinds of boats sailed the seas and rivers of the Philippines in early times. Swift boats with sails were called vintas. Boats that were uncovered were called lapis or tapake. To and fro, on the sea and up the river, the early boats traveled, bringing men and goods. The largest boats often carried a hundred rowers on the sides and thirty soldiers on the top. Of such grand tradition is the raft of offerings for the Runsay.
When the raft is finished, the Tagbanua families lay a feast on it. The leader takes a bowl of rice as offering to the spirits, then he lights a candle on the raft. Once again he takes a pinch of rice and throws it in the air. Seven times he does this to fulfill the ritual.
The people wait for a strong wind to blow on the beach.
They take this wind as a signal from the heavens that the children may enjoy the feast. There is a merry scramble for the food as soon as the signal wind blows.
When the children have feasted, the raft is tidied up. Once again, the leader calls the spirits of life as the Tagbanua women bring their offerings in baskets. A big family brings a generous offering, a small family a small offering. Finally the leader ties a little chick on the middle of the raft, away from the edges that touch the sea, and lights many candles around it.
At the high point of the ritual called Runsay, the men lift the laden raft as far as they can into the sea. The people ashore watch and pray that the surf will carry the raft afar. If the raft returns, it is considered a bad sign. If the raft disappears with the current, it is believed a good sign. The salakep will not rampage. Secure in the thought, the Tagbanua drink and dance on the beach until day breaks.
KAHULUGAN SA TAGALOG
runsáy: ritwal ng pag-aalay ng balsang may liyutyut, kakanin, at iba pa upang pigilan ang mga espiritung may daláng salot
