The main form of order within their community is a kinship system. Leadership in this system is accomplished via bravery, skills, knowledge of customary law, and wealth, in order to achieve the status of mingal or great warrior.

MINGAL - is a status in the Gaddang tribe, often translated as “great warrior”. It is achieved through displays of bravery, skills, knowledge of customary law, and wealth.

They also employ peace pacts called pudon, as well as trading partnerships called kolak .

One remarkable Gaddang marriage practice is the absence of prevailing rules of exogamy or endogamy that affect a woman’s status in their society. Instead, both men and women acquire status by marriage, while single women still have opportunities in the church, government, and business.

Some of the marriage traditions of the Gaddang include ballauan, a song ritual performed as an appeal to the anitos to bless the newlyweds with good health; mangakkit, the last piece of advice through song and dance given by the anito masters; and mattakkilala, a means to exorcise the spirit of sickness or problems.

The Gaddang religion is based on the dichotomy between the earth world and the afterworld, with rituals performed by both men and women. The men hold prestige feasts that occur once in their lifetime. Some of their rite of passage include palancing, an initiation for children into the rites of the anito; kayaw / palagfu (jumping), conducted to recognize their member’s change of status or lifestyle; and darawun, a ritual for children seven years and up.