THE TAGAYAN RITUAL

Among the Tayabasin, drinking lambanog is a ritual that entails responsibility. The Tagayan ritual revolves around an umpukan; an informal yet intimate circle of drinking peers.
The tanggero who is in charge of passing the shots, opens the bottle and pours the first drops of lambanog into the shot glass or tagayan. The liquor is then whisked to the earth as he says, “Para sa demonyo” (for the devil) This is a gesture to pacify the evil spirit; otherwise one gets easily drunk.

Everybody drinks from one tagayan to indicate camaderie. The first drink goes to the tanggero who raises his glass with a regal touch announcing, “Naay po” (here’s the drink).
“Pakinabangan po” (make good use of it) the fellow drinkers utter in chorus accompanied by cheers and clapping of their hands.

Henceforth, the phrases “Naay po!” and “Pakinabangan po!” shall be the refrain to begin and every round, or tagay.

When a newcomer joins the table, the tanggero, who is responsible for the passing of tagay, immediately gives him a shot of lambanog to drink, which is called pasalubong.

But before the newcomer is allowed to take more shots, he will be asked: “Nagsapin ka na ba?” (Have you eaten already?) Only after everyone is assured that the newcomer had eaten will they allow him to drink some more.

If anybody take a shot and then announces that he has to leave, the drinkers will not allow him to go without having another drink. “Isang tagay pa muna para pantay. Mahirap maglakad kapag tagilid” they will say. (One more shot to make it balance.Otherwise you will limp).

But before they finally allow him to leave, they will tell him: “Mahirap magluto kapag hindi tungko. Tutumba ang kalan” (Its difficult to cook if the stove is not three-legged; or it will collapse).

Thus, there is no choice but to accept the third shot.

The tagay can also jump to another person. But before the glass is offered, permission will have to be asked: “Pagkatapos ko po’y iyo” (After me, it is your turn).

In case somebody would like to refuse a shot, he will say: “Hindi po ako pwede, pero titimtiman ko na lamang po”. One will then let the brew touch his lips.

And if someone is taking too long time to drink his tagay, the menfolk would say: “Magtagal na sa suso, Huwag lang sa baso”. (It’s fine to linger on the breast, but not on the glass).

Source: The Manila Times: LIFESTYLE Published on May 17, 2002 (Friday) Page 5B