Biliran Province State University (BiPSU) Sentro ng Wika at Kultura (SWK) Director Jeson V. Viñas presented a research paper titled Pagtikang: a Rice Harvesting Ritual in Leyte, Philippines during the Echoes of the Earth Conference 2026: Cultural Education for the Environment in the Visayas held on June 18–20 at Rigney Hall, University of San Carlos (USC) Talamban Campus in Cebu City.

The conference was jointly organized by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and InOtherWords Incorporated, in partnership with the USC Cebuano Studies Center, Mamugnaong Anak sa Dagang, and the USC Department of Communication, Linguistics and Literature.

The paper, co-authored with Gay M. Sulla, May Ann D. Dagasdas, and Ernil D. Sumayao, examined Pagtikang as a living cultural heritage practice that embodies indigenous knowledge systems, communal values, spiritual beliefs, and traditional agricultural practices passed down across generations.

Using a mini-ethnographic approach, the researchers documented the ritual’s origins, participants, temporal context, stages, and material tools, as well as its cultural meanings and significance to local farming communities in Leyte. The findings showed that Pagtikang serves as an intergenerational knowledge system that reinforces collective identity, preserves local traditions, and strengthens communal cooperation among farmers.

The study also underscored the ritual’s connection to lunar cycles, tidal patterns, and indigenous ecological knowledge that guide the timing of harvest activities. Beyond its agricultural function, Pagtikang was found to carry symbolic meanings related to prosperity, gratitude, and spiritual protection.

Viñas’ presentation reflects BiPSU’s continuing efforts to strengthen research on local history, culture and traditions, while contributing to the documentation and preservation of indigenous knowledge and heritage in the region. 

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