Ibaloys are originally from the Southern part of Benguet province in Northern Luzon, Philippines. Some now live in other provinces like Nueva Viscaya in search of better economic gain.
"Homecoming" is the story of being back in one's old village to attend to the traditional ways of the clan. As the youngest male sibling, my grandfather's cousin Lorenzo Bodong came home to make sure that his brother's funeral would follow tradition. The wooden coffin was from a pinetree cut from across his brother's house. The wake was full of relatives that had not seen one another in months and sometimes years. It was also my way of reconnecting with my heritage as an Ibaloy.
When the gambler tires and takes a rest.
Family and neighbors come to share the grief.
The youngest brother takes the night shift.
Morning in the village.
Mourning does not mean people cry all the time.
Ibaloy men drink outside during the wake.
The wooden coffin is finally finished.
The carpenters in the community volunteer their services.
Anas Bodong, 86 years old.
Pig meat is served during the Ibaloy wake.
Walking down to the village for the wake.
Widow watches friends and neighbors who have come to condole.
The youngest brother arrives and pays his respects to his dead brother.
The family recieve monetary contributions that relatives also expect the dead to carry as a "gift" to the ones who have gone before.
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