They Called it Punishment for a Reason!

They Called it Punishment for a Reason!

Charl Justine Darapisa

The newly-constructed 'tinsid'.

We reached Sitio Calomintao by 9. Baffled by our Team's arrival, the sitio's captain greeted us with a logbook that comes with a sweet smile. This is the glory of living peacefully in rural areas---everyone smiles to everyone and anyone. The newly-constructed tinsid was moved closer to the center of the sitio. It was originally located at the entrance where you will be immediately greeted by the assigned guard for the day. Now, this looks like a common plaza where men of different ages gather.

The old tinsid that welcomed us during our first visit to the sitio. 

The old tinsid looks exactly alike from the one we saw earlier, exactly alike! Apart from the missing wood logs and planks sitting quietly at the right open corner of the tinsid, not much has changed. The tinsid is an important space for the Mangyan Iraya tribe. It is a place to inspect the outsiders who wish to visit the sitio, specifically the ones who take wood logs from the ancestral land. On some days, it becomes a space for a spectacle to witness those who disobeyed the law and order of the sitio.


The most common punishment held here is the pangaw, a tradition long practiced by the tribe. Here, one places his/her ankles in between two wooden planks with relatively small chippings for one's ankle to place for a long time. Depending on the severity of the crime, one normally stays for the whole day, even weeks.  The pangaw waits for anyone who commits theft, adultery (aha, I know so many people), public scandal, or sexualizing women (if this is in town, the municipality would be needing thousands of these). Assisted by Mr. Reynaldo Renangyan, I instantly screamed the very second he places the other plank on top.  The punishment requires a lot of concentration to divert the pain from the soared ankle, reflecting on your misbehavior, perhaps? The tinsid is a place where everyone gets to see the punished member. I tried to remain calm for 15 seconds and believe me, they called it 'PUNISHMENT' for a reason.

The cut portion of the plank where one has to place their ankles.

Nanay Caridad and I try to share our punishment with old stories
of those who get punished by pangaw.


Written by: Charl Justine Darapisa
Photos by: Shaira Salazar

Credits to the DENR Mamburao for the field assistance!

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