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Badjao
Badjao
CAPITAL: JOLO
The BADJAO are popularly
known as SEA GYPSIES of
the Sulu and Celebes Sea.
DAPANG BOAT
HOUSE ON STILTS
The Badjao house is
built over the water
using tree trunks as
posts. The roof is
made of nipa and
matted coconut leaves;
the front doors swing
from rotating wooden
hinges.
The stairs, with three rungs above
the water, leads to a porch-like
landing of irregularly-shaped
boards, and to a one-room, two-
door structure that is a
combination sala and sleeping
room without beds. The stairs are
also where the woman of the
house sometimes does her
washing by simply squatting on
the last rung and soaking the
clothes in sea water and
slamming them against the stair
post to dry. In like manner, she
washes plates and cooking pots.
The stairs are fenced like a small
verandah at the top and on the
The cramped living room
has two entrance doors
with two small windows
shaped out of the center
wall and overlooking the
landing; one side has
another window and the
other side has a door that
leads to the kitchen. The
sala has two wooden
benches, a water jar in one
corner, a toolbox on the
center side, across one
roofbeam hangs a pile of
fishing nets, and three
mirrors on separate walls,
which are meant to drive
The sleeping room is
practically empty except
for a mat that spreads out
on the floor.