Tinglayan tribal folks perform ‘Forcha’ to keep COVID-19 at bay

June 22, 2020 Provincial

TINGLAYAN, Kalinga, June 19 (PIA) – Households of this municipality will perform the “Forcha” to keep the COVID-19 virus away.

Mayor Sacrament Gumilab reported during the 2nd Quarter Joint Provincial Peace and Order Council and Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council meeting that all tribal people will simultaneously perform the forcha, a ritual setting a boundary between the populace and all forms of illnesses.

Similar to the Biblical practice of asking providential intervention, the chicken which is the sacrificial animal will be put on fire the “Pinikpikan” way. “The smoke going up symbolizes the prayers and intentions of the tribal people lifted up to the Supreme Being (Kabuniyan) to protect them from COVID-19.

The smoke is the protective veil that envelopes the municipality against the disease so that it shall be forever banned entry,” Gumilab explained. The municipality remains COVID-19-free.

In a related development, Tinglayan reported 100% utilization of its Bayanihan Grant amounting to Php9.4 million for activities and responses to the COVID-19 situation.

Gumilab reported that Php4, 095,000.00 was used to purchase personal protective equipment medical supplies and equipment, and medicines while Php5, 320,879.00 was utilized for relief goods.

“We have scheduled the distribution of the third wave of relief goods containing one half cavan of rice and one chicken per household” in time for the performance of the “Forcha” ritual. The Bayanihan Grant to Cities and Municipalities is a one- time assistance equivalent to one-month Internal Revenue Allotment share of the LGU released by the Department of Budget and Management to be exclusively used for COVID-19-related programs, projects, and activities.

Of the seven municipalities and one city in Kalinga, only Tinglayan reported 100% utilization of its Bayanihan Grant.