IP BICOL

• What is the fifth largest cultural-linguistic group in the Philippines?

  Bicol
• What is the common name for the Bicol region?

  Bicolandia
• What are the main agricultural products produced in the Bicol region?

  Rice, coconuts, and hemp
• What is the predominant religion among Bicolanos?

  Roman Catholicism
• To which language family does the Bicolano language belong?

  Austronesian (Malayo-Polynesian)
• What are the six provinces that compose the Bicol region?

  • Camarines Norte
  • Camarines Sur
  • Albay
  • Sorsogon
  • Masbate
  • Catanduanes
• Which indigenous peoples groups are major in the Bicol region?

  The Agta Kabihug, Agta Tabangnon, and Cimarrones
• What do the indigenous peoples of Camarines Norte call themselves?

  Kabihug
• What is the term for the language spoken by the Kabihug?

  Manide
• What is the meaning of "Abian" in the context of the Kabihug?


  Friend
• What are the main features of the Agta shelter?

  • Elevated temporary shelters called butukan
  • Upper compartment (tinabaw) for storing weapons
  • Hearth (tug-onan) for cooking
  • Wooden seat (pasingolan) for visitors
• What materials are used to build the butukan shelters?

  Tree branches and leaves
• What is the traditional attire of the Agtas made from?

  Bark of the gumihan tree
• What is the purpose of the takupis worn by the Agtas?

  To keep lime, nganga, and pepper leaves
• What is the significance of the body designs (asde) for the Agtas?


  To rid the body of "dirty" blood and protect from illnesses
• What is the term for the cloth used by breastfeeding Agtas to carry their babies?

  Uban
• What are the main subsistence activities of the Agtas?

  • Farming (growing root crops, rice, and vegetables)
  • Hunting (using galud and labtik)
  • Fishing (using baslay, banwit, agahid, and kawit)
  • Engaging in copra making, charcoal-making, and gold panning
• What is the substitute for rice that the Agtas often use?

  Dugma (a boiled root crop)
• What is the significance of cumulus clouds during planting for the Agtas?

  They are believed to enhance the size of the camote
• How do Agtas catch birds?

  Using slingshots (labtik) and bird traps made from dikit
• What are the stages of life recognized by the Agta society?

  • Infancy: tayombon
  • Weaning: pagbubutas
  • Childhood: pagdako
  • Adolescence: pagsisiel
  • Marriage: pagbakis
• What is the term for social gatherings among the Agtas?

  Katapusan
• How does a boy declare his love for a girl in Agta culture?

  By throwing a fruit with a drawn design while she bathes in the river
• Who officiates the marriage ceremony among the Agtas?

  The tribe's oldest member
• What are the key elements of the Agta marriage ceremony?

  • Tobacco, local wine, and nganga are present
  • Final blessings and instructions from eldest relatives
  • Honeymoon in the hills or forest
  • Newlyweds wear a red cloth around their foreheads
• What do the Agtas believe about death?

  It is a journey to the afterlife, either to kamurawayan or gogombon
• What is the name of the Supreme Being in Agta belief?

  Gugurang
• What do the Agtas believe about the spirits of the dead?

  They may go to kamurawayan or gogombon depending on how they lived
• What is known about the Agta Tabangnon of Camarines Sur?

  Very little is known; research and literature are scarce
• What are the marriage practices of the Agta Tabangnon?

  • Kasal sa Duyan: marriage by cutting hammock ropes
  • Purong: exchanging children between families
  • Paglihi: newlyweds sleep back to back under parental supervision
• What is the significance of the sound made during the Kasal sa Duyan ceremony?

  The louder the sound, the stronger the marriage is believed to be
• What is the role of the father in the Tabangnon family structure?

  The father makes the decisions
• What are the beliefs practiced during the construction of a Tabangnon house?


  1. Pregnant women must not help
  2. Vines on the foundation attract snakes
  3. Sliding woods can cause family disharmony
• What are the economic activities of the Agta Tabangnon?

  • Slash and burn farming
  • Gathering wild fruits and vegetables
  • Hunting animals for food
• Who do the Agta Tabangnon believe in as their high deity?


  Apo
• What rituals do the Tabangnon practice during harvest and hunting?

  “Tulod” for harvest and “panagayan” for hunting
• What distinguishes the Agta Cimarrones from the Agta Tabangnon?

  The Cimarrones are mixed breeds of upland Agta and lowlanders who fled Spanish rule
• What historical context led to the emergence of the Agta Cimarrones?

  • Villages along the Bicol river before Spanish colonization
  • Fled to mountains to escape Spanish authority
  • Called remontados (fugitives) by Spaniards
• What does the term "cimarrones" mean in Spanish?


  Wild bulls
• How did the Cimarrones preserve their native traditions?

  By continuing their practices while lowlanders assimilated to Spanish culture