Kankana-ey and Bontok popular contemporary songs

Abstract

This descriptive qualitative research was limited to an analysis and close investigation of the social conditions and social values reflected in the selected 15 contemporary popular songs of the Kankanaeys of Benguet and Mountain Province and the Bontoks of Central Bontoc, Mountain Province. The study comprises a historical background of each song, a song summary, literary analysis and social values with emphasis on societal realities described in each selected songs. The study used content analysis as an instrument through descriptions of social phenomena from the songs used for the study. The songs are closely linked with the social conditions of the Kankanaeys and Bontoks from which these are based. They based their songs on the common themes which are on social judgment, injustice and materialism, love, courtship, marriage, adoration and devotion, family life and parental upbringing, spirituality and pride of place. They use their songs as channels for the portrayal of the social actual realities in Kankanaey and Bontok contemporary society. Although there are a multitude of social values revealed in the selected songs, it was found out that the common social values in the selected songs of Kankanaey and Bontok are concentrated on the concept of og-ogfo (bayanihan/helping one another), concept of Inayan (taboo), close and strong family ties, social acceptance, respect for elders and superiors, high regard for women, hospitality and the concept of industry. These common values are revealed not only from the songs selected in this study but also common among other songs composed today. The study recommends that the study of Cordillera history and Cordillera songs should be included as a specific topic or lesson in the study of literature and humanities in Mountain Province State Polytechnic College (MPSPC). The songs may be used as readings for the development of social awareness and responsibility among students of Mountain Province State Polytechnic College (MPSPC) in awakening in them the needed moral and cultural upliftment of Igorot society. More students output on literary analyses should be undertaken to enrich knowledge about their own literary heritage. Mountain Province State Polytechnic College (MPSPC) and other state colleges and universities should incorporate literary researchers similar to this study in the instructor’s literary module or material in classroom activities and discussions.