National Living Treasures: Masino Intaray

The Palawan people, residing in the highlands of southern Palawan, are one of the primary indigenous groups in the region, alongside the Batak and Tagbanwa. Their culture is deeply spiritual and intricately connected to both the visible and invisible realms of their mountainous environment. Unlike the ornate Maranaw or the elegant Yakan, the Palawan culture is marked by a profound cosmology, rich poetic and literary traditions, multi-tiered architecture, unique musical concepts, social ethics, and rituals that reflect their harmonious relationship with the natural world.

The Palawan people do not believe in the concept of property. They view the earth, sea, sky, and natural elements as communal, belonging to no one. Their social ethic revolves around sharing, which is vividly expressed in their key rituals like the tambilaw and tinapay. The tambilaw is a communal cooking and sharing of rice, offered to Ampo’t Paray, the Lord of Rice, while the tinapay is a rice wine drinking ceremony. These rituals emphasize the sharing of food, drinks, skills, and ideas, fostering community cohesion.

Music, particularly the basal or gong ensemble, plays a central role in these rituals. The basal connects the Palawan spiritually with Ampo, the Great Lord, and Ampo’t Paray, the Master Rice. The ensemble includes the gimbal (tubular drum), sanang (small gongs), and agung (large gongs), which create a collective sound through interlocking rhythms, counterpoint, and alternation. This musical collaboration mirrors the Palawan’s ethos of sharing, as no single instrument dominates; instead, they work together in harmony.

A unique non-musical element of the basal is the tarak, a rhythmic dance performed by young women who stamp their feet on the bamboo floor of the kolon banwa (big house) while holding taro leaves. This adds a percussive layer to the music, enhancing the communal experience.

The Palawan’s poetic and musical traditions further highlight their deep connection to nature and each other. The kulilal is a lyrical love poem sung with the accompaniment of the kusyapi (a two-stringed lute) and pagang (a bamboo zither). The bagit, played on the kusyapi, is instrumental music that mimics the sounds and rhythms of nature, such as birds, insects, and rustling leaves.

Masino, a master of the basal, kulilal, and bagit, exemplifies the Palawan’s artistic and spiritual heritage. Born in the Makagwa valley near the Mantalingayan mountain, Masino is a gifted poet, musician, and storyteller. He is skilled in playing various instruments, including the aroding (mouth harp) and babarak (ring flute), and is renowned for his ability to chant epics, narratives, and myths for hours on end. His creativity, memory, and spiritual depth make him a preeminent figure in Palawan culture.

Together, Masino and the basal and kulilal ensembles of Makagwa valley represent the highest form of traditional artistry, embodying the Palawan’s profound connection to their environment, community, and spiritual beliefs.