BAGUIO CITY, Philippines—Candy Pangilinan is forgiven, but told to undergo a traditional cleansing ritual.

The city council withdrew its resolution declaring the actress a persona non grata (unwelcome) on Monday, after she appeared in a council session to apologize for her remarks about Igorots, the natives of the Cordillera.

The resolution was filed right after Pangilinan’s stand-up gig in SM City Baguio on May 9, during which she jested, “Akala n’yo Igorot ako? Tao po ako (You think I’m Igorot? I’m human).”

The councilors agreed Pangilinan’s apology before the council was sincere, and decided to forgive her.

“I am overwhelmed and thankful,” the comedian said in a press conference following the meeting. “I have to learn more about history and the Igorots.”

Pangilinan had been severely criticized by bloggers from the Cordillera, even those based abroad.

In tears

In her own blog and on national television, the comedian repeatedly apologized after the incident, but the city council sought to ban her from the city “to teach her a lesson.”

Pangilinan was in tears on Monday as she read a letter of apology, which she also addressed to the governors and representatives from the region.

“What happened in Baguio is the most embarrassing, disappointing and painful moment in all my years in the [entertainment] industry,” Pangilinan said.

People in the packed session hall jeered. But they applauded after the councilors agreed to forgive Pangilinan.

Councilor Fred Bagbagen, principal author of the resolution, agreed to a proposal by his colleagues for Pangilinan to undergo a cleansing ritual called “dawes” to close the issue.

Dawes is a traditional practice, particularly of the Kankana-ey tribe, to ward off bad spirits after a crisis by slaughtering pigs or dogs.

George Dumawing, former chair of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines Baguio-Benguet Chapter, said a group of Igorot lawyers likewise agreed to withdraw the civil case they were planning to file against Pangilinan.

“I hope you will learn from us and share with the entertainment industry that it should stop portraying Igorots in a negative manner,” Dumawing said.