REVIEW

• Mamanwa


  Means "First Forest Dwellers", derived from "man" (first) and "banwa" (forest)
• Before the Mamanwas arrived in central Samar Island, there had been an earlier Samar Agta Negrito group residing there
• Once the Mamanwas came, the Samar Agta then switched to Waray-Waray or Northern Samarenyo, and possibly even integrated with the Mamanwa tribe
• Mamanwa


  • Nomadic
  • One of the oldest tribes in the Philippines
  • Black-skinned, small of frame, kinky-haired, snub-nose and with black eyes
  • Short with an average height of 1.35 to 1.5 meters or 4 '5 foot tall
  • Classified to Negrito subgroup
• Subsistence economy


  A hand-to-mouth existence
• Mamanwa way of life

  1. Food-gatherers who move from one place to another depending upon the supply of food found in the place

  2. Gather rattan poles, orchids, tubers, nuts and honey

  3. Use a variety of traps and hunting methods
• Hunting intensifies during the rainy Season from November to April
• Mamanwa hunting methods


  Set up the bayatik (spear traps) and the gahong (pit traps) for animals like deer, wild pigs, monitor lizards, Iguanas, monkeys and large birds
• Mamanwa political system


  • Largely based on respect for elders who exert control over judicial affairs and maintain peace and order within the band
  • An informal system, a product of significant Mamanwa traits such as frankness and lack of desire to power and influence for self-interests
  • A democratic political organization
  • The main duty of the chieftain, usually the elder, is to maintain peace and harmony within the band
• Contact with monotheist communities/populations has made a considerable impact on the Mamanwa's religious practices
• Mamanwa are often taught that their animistic beliefs are savage
• Mamanwa beliefs


  • Believe in a collection of spirits, which are governed by the supreme deity, Magbabaya
  • Believe in spirits and unseen beings residing and protecting the elements of their environment and to whom recognition and respect must be accorded otherwise they will be punished or afflicted by adverse incidents
  • Believe that releasing a white chicken will result in fertility of the soil, increasing the harvest
• Mamanwa birth rituals


  Women during pregnancy would suppress their desire for food affecting the health and growth of their babies which naturally need nutritious food, especially while inside the womb of their mothers
• Mamanwa marriage rituals


  1. Courtship begins when the boy is between 7 to 10 years old

  2. Parents visit the home of a prospective bride of the same age as their son and the head of the family informs the girl's family that their son seeks marriage

  3. Weddings are traditionally celebrated during summer months – March to May
• Mamanwa death and mourning rituals


  1. Transfer from one place to another especially in the case of deaths to leave, sadness, great sorrows, and forget grief painful memories

  2. The dead were either laid on a platform built beside a tree or wrapped in a mat or bamboo slats and hung up on a tree
• Mamanwa healing rituals


  Performed by baylan/Tambajon (Shaman) who are specialist in using herbal medicine to treat illnesses, and those who are skilled in conducting rituals and ceremonies
• Mamanwa deities


  • Tahaw - The supreme God
  • Magbabaya - The supreme deity
  • Diyatot - The lowest in the rank of the deities, believed to dwell in the balete tree
• Bukidnon


  • Means "mountain dweller", derived from the Cebuano language
  • One of the traditionalistic ethnic groups in the southern Philippines
• Bukidnon


  • Occupying a wide plateau in the North Central part of Mindanao
  • Has a progressive agriculture-based economy, major producer of rice, corn, sugar, coffee, rubber, pineapple, tomato, flowers, cassava, and other fruits and vegetables, as well as chicken, hogs, and cattle
  • Tagged as the region's "Food Basket"
• Bukidnon became part of Misamis


  1850s
• Philippine Commission Act 1693 was enacted which created the province of Agusan with Bukidnon as a sub-province


  1907
• Bukidnon became a regular province by virtue of the creation of the Department of Mindanao and Sulu


  1914
• Bukidnon officially created as a province under Act 2711


  1917
• Bukidnon visual art


  • Traditionally expressed in weaving, crafts, earth painting, beadwork, patchwork and embroidery
  • Traditional Bukidnon garments are widely ornate with geometric shapes and strong colors of red, blue, white and black
• Bukidnon Datu


  • The political and spiritual ruler of each tribe
  • Settles disputes and gives judgement whenever their unwritten laws called Batasan are violated
  • Holds a great influence on the tribal and communal life of the Bukidnons
  • Performs rituals like the Panlisigan (driving away bad spirits) and Panomanoran (calling for the entrance of spirits who guide the Datu in his decisions)
• Bukidnon religion


  • Generally monotheistic, believe in one God "Magbabaya" (the ruler of all) who has minor gods and goddesses under his command
  • Until the late nineteenth century, they worshipped a range of supernaturals including ancestral spirits, nature spirits, and a high god
• Bukidnon languages


  • Binukid language
  • Sulod language
  • Magahat language
  • Karolanos language
• Bukidnon marriage


  • Almost always through parental arrangements
  • A kaula-an (bride price) is to be paid by the groom to the bride's family
  • The Kaliga-an rituals are divided into political and religious ones performed by the datus, and agricultural rituals for the farmers
  • After marriage it is still common for the new couple to live with and work for the wife's parents for at least a few months before they move to a house of their own
  • Some Bukidnon still conduct two marriage ceremonies, one following their ancient customs and presided over by datus, and a second within the Roman Catholic church
  • Divorce is rare, with common property divided equally
• Seven different tribes in Bukidnon

  • Talaandig
  • Higaonon
  • Bukidnon
  • Umayamnon
  • Matigsalug
  • Manobo
  • Tigwahanon
• Talaandig


  • One of the 110 groups of indigenous people in the Philippines
  • Has a population of approximately 100,000 people and is mostly concentrated in the northern and western part of the province of Bukidnon
  • Knowledge is explained through the framework and structures of the earth, the human body, and the family, the community or tribe, called "AGPANGAN"
  • Performs various rituals like Talabugta, Ibabasuk, Pamamahandi, Panagulambung, Punaliket and Kaliga
• Higaonon


  • Described as the "people of the living mountains" and "people of the wilderness"
  • Their name is derived from "higa" (to live or reside), "gaon" (mountain or highland), and "onon" (people)
  • Led by Chief Datu, have dedicated their lives to delivering the richness and vitality of their culture back to what it was when their ancestors could live off the nature and express their unique culture freely
• Umayamnon


  • Regarded as warlike and forest experts, but are just suspicious and wary of strangers
  • Chew betel nut frequently and have their teeth filed to uniform length, mostly blackened
  • Excellent makers of bead jewelry like necklaces, men's bags, and bracelets
• Matigsalug


  • Name means "from Salug (River)"
  • Events like planting crops and revenge-taking (called "pangayaw") are preceded by rituals
  • Life is preoccupied with appeasing the spirits by offering sacrifices
  • Mostly small in stature with dark brown complexion and curly hair
  • Traditional wear is colorfully embroidered with geometric patterns
• Manobo


  • In the Southwestern part of Bukidnon
  • Speak a quaint language with Marawi influence
  • A generic term which refers to people who are still in the subsistence level economy and are generally in the mountains and who practice the slash and burn agriculture
• Tigwahanon


  • Located in Lawatan, Municipality of San Fernando, Bukidnon
  • The term Tigwahanon may have been derived from "guwa" (scattered) or from the Tigwa River
  • Originally living in the nearby mountains of San Fernando
  • The giving of equal share to unborn child reflects the esteem and
• Spirits


  Live in water, land, trees, and rocks
• Tragedies


  Illnesses, drought and death are caused by angry spirits
• Manobo


  Generic term which refers to people who are still in the subsistence level economy and are generally in the mountains and who practice the slash and burn agriculture
• Manobo is very derogatory for it connotes to be backward, uncivilized, ignorant, boisterous, unwashed, unkept, rough and lawless
• Tigwahanon


  Tribe located in Lawatan, Municipality of San Fernando, Bukidnon