By Abbey Gross, Bea Ilacad, Gabs Ilagan, Daniela Jacinto, Jackie Keyser and Gen See

It is a ritual where in Spanish and Asian traditions were combined together invoking Christian saints and spirits of nature with chants and food offerings in asking good favors. These are invoked by the magsanghiyang in a metered chant, half-spoken and half-sung. It is often accompanied by Sayaw sa Apoy, where firewalkers dance.

It is believed to have started in Naic as a Pagan rite long before the arrival of the Spaniards and the friars suppressed its observance. Then the people learned to incorporate some Catholic elements into the rituals and the majority of spirits invoked are Christian saints.

Cavite, especially in the provinces of Alfonso and Indang “Sanghiyang” = “Isa” (one) +“hiyang” (compatible) = compatible whole or “nagkakaisang kabuuan”

-As an offering to Bathala for a bountiful harvest -Rite to cure the sick -Thanksgiving for a recovery from illness -Deliverance from death -For the evil spirits to go away -To celebrate a new house

ASSDGHFGH

Today, "sanghiyang" is held for various reasons. A sanghiyang performed to celebrate a new house is called basang gilagid, while a sanghiyang conducted to cure the sick is called lawit.

There used to be so many “magsasanghiyang” who can perform the ritual but many of them have already died and only a handful of their descendants inherited the capability to do the ritual, so it is still done but not as much as before.

Alfonso. (2007). In Local Philippines. Retrieved on February 12, 2011 from Cavite. (n.d.). In Philippine Provincial Profile. Retrieved on February 12, 2011 from Granda. (2009, December 11). Philippine Music During the Spanish Times. In Music Room Extension – Music 1. Retrieved on February 12, 2011 from 2nd-trime-handout.pdf 2nd-trime-handout.pdf Jetterr. (2008, September 5). Sanghiyang. In BlogSpot. Retrieved on Febrary 12, 2011 from