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Description
This study explores the indigenous astronomical knowledge of the Bontoc people in Barangay
Maligcong, Bontoc, Mountain Province, Philippines, and its continuing influence on subsistence
practices, language, and sociocultural identity. As Ambrosio (2010) notes, the ways celestial
bodies are interpreted often depend on the natural resources available in the area and the daily
activities of local communities. Using ethnographic fieldwork that included interviews with
community elders, alongside a review of historical and linguistic sources, this research shows
how lunar phases once guided planting, constellations marked seasonal changes, and
astronomical objects informed ritual and language. Although the community today depends on
weather forecasts and climate observations, these star traditions remain important cultural
markers. Linguistic analysis further suggests that celestial terms in the Bontok language stem
from Austronesian roots, reinforcing links between astronomy, history, and heritage. By
preserving these perspectives, this study contributes to the archive of Philippine
Ethnoastronomy and underlines the value of indigenous knowledge in enriching science and
encouraging more inclusive approaches to education.
