TUBA, Benguet -- Following the discovery of eight cadavers along Marcos Highway, a cleansing ritual called "daw-es" was performed on Saturday, October 19, to appease the dead and cleanse the mind of the search and retrieval volunteers.
A "mambunong" or native priest performed the ritual that requires sacrificing a dog.
Daw-es is a common tradition in the Cordillera conducted in case of massive death.
The native priest offered prayers for the departed souls to prevent the same incident from happening again, as well as for the souls of those who have participated in the two-day retrieval operations in Sitio Poyopoy in Tuba, Benguet.
The elder splashed water on the ground, followed by the burying of the dog along the search and retrieval area.
The activity was joined by Tuba Municipal Police Station, Bureau of Fire Protection, local government unit of Tuba and local disaster risk reduction and management office.
The ritual was organized by stakeholders and local government unit of Tuba to cleanse the mind of those who bear witness in the massive death amid the search and retrieval operations.
After the daw-es, a "pammakan" or a ritual seeking the help of ancestral spirits to help attain peace of mind for those involved in the search and retrieval operation was held.