REGION 10 – HUMAN GEOGRAPHY
Reporter:
DRESS
DATU
 Solang-Solang - Designed like zigzag crown of the
supreme datu or the high priest. It is made out of special
cloth or material decorated with beads, hair of a wild
animal or of goats or horses.
 Tangkulo - Cloth cut or designed in triangular form,
decorated with beads, hairs of goats as edgings. It is
used as a head cove of the datu during rituals or settling
of disputes.
 Kalapi - Small bag made up of rattan decorated with
beads, buttons, and hair of wild animals as edging. It is
a regular carrying bag of a datu where his things are
placed.
MEN
 Long Sleeve - Worn with collar and long pants.
Dominant color red, black or blue. Decorated with any
of the color combination using red, black, blue, yellow,
green and white.
 Linabian - composing different kinds of colors,
decorated at the front of the polo, blouse, skirt and pants
and at the sleeve endings.
 Ginontingan - Zigzag design usually decorated at the
edging.
 Sangi - Sharp curve designed knife with a special
artistic sakuban (guma) attached to the vest of the datu.
 Baliug – necklace made of combination of red, white,
black, blue, yellow beads
WOMEN
 Pakabo - Women’s blouse floral or plain will do, with
linabian, ginontingan and kinabuka design, etc.
 Batadyong - Women’s skirt floral or plain with red,
blue or white as the dominant color. Designed as balon
with extended measure at the tip portion of the vest.
 Panika - Headdress to be worn during festivities made
of native material and yarn thread. Common materials
used are bamboo sticks, and chicken feather.
 Benoong - A ribbon designed fine cloth. Use as head
ornament of the Bae during gatherings and other special
occasions. This symbolizes respect for the woman
chieftain.
 Balaring - A necklace made out of thread and beads
(logbak). It is attached to both ears.
 Songol - Women’s belt with red color
 Tacus - Women’s anklet made of beads
 Senibod - Women’s anklet made of wood
 Single - Galvanized iron for IP women’s legs
 Sonong - Women’s bag
 Bukala - Bangles
DWELLINGS
The houses of Northern Mindanao years ago are made of
bamboo wall, floor, ladder and nipa as a roof. The house is
elevated from the ground to avoid wild animals. “Payag” is
a small house with a single story that usually built near the
farm.
RELIGION
 Christianity 74%
 Non-Christian Faiths 26%
Islam is considerably high in Lanao Del Norte and
Iligan City
TRADITIONAL AND CULTURE
They believe in one God “Magbabaya” (the ruler of all)
 Pangampo - An annual ritual held every January that
involves a prayer to Magbabaya for the preservation,
protection and proper use of the 7 most important things
on earth, land water, tree, fire, air, sound and beliefs and
traditions.
 Samayaan - A ritual of the whole place for
thanksgiving to the Almighty for a peaceful year. Also
request for good health.
 Pangapar - A gathering and ritual of all medicine men
to drive away causes of sickness and illnesses. Usually
held when there is an epidemic. This is done through
offering of foods, animals, fruits, tobacco and manna.
 Pamuhat - An offering of the Deities upon entering an
unknown place, especially forested areas. This is done
when somebody asks for permission to enter a forest or
cave to gather fruits, cut trees known to be inhabited by
spirits. The ritual involves offering of food, wine and
tobacco.
 Pamahandi - Yearly worship of every family to thank
God (Magbabaya) for all the graces and blessings. A
swine or native chickens are offered during the
thanksgiving.
 Pamalas - A practice given to a newlywed couple or to
a visitor to welcome them. A native chicken is used in
this ritual.
 Tigi -Finding Justice
 Gabi
This root crop will be submerged to a boiling kettle
murmuring the name of the suspected theft
 Badjang
Sliced 7×7 to be eaten by the suspect. If the suspect
won’t feel itchy, he is not guilty.
 Hot Iron
This very hot iron will be held by the suspect, if
doesn’t get burn, then he is not guilty.
FESTIVAL
 The Higalaay Festival - formerly known as Kagay-an
Festival Cagayande OroCity is a festival held each year
in Cagayan de Oro, Philippines, every 28th day of
August, celebrating the feast day of St. Augustine
-patron saint of the city. The word "Higalaay" comes
from the Cebuano word "higala" friend which was
regarded from what the city of Cagayan de Oro is being
tagged, the City of Golden Friendship.
 Kaamulan Festival - is an ethnic cultural festival held
annually in Malaybalay City, from the second half of
February to March 10, the anniversary date of the
foundation of Bukidnon as a province in 1917. It is held
to celebrate the culture and tradition of the seven ethnic
tribal groups that originally inhabit the
province.Kaamulan comes from the Binukid word
“amul” meaning to gather. Kaamulan is gathering for a
purpose datuship ritual, a wedding ceremony, a
thanksgiving festival during harvest time, a peace pact,
or all of these together.
 Lanzones Festival - is an annual thanksgiving
celebration for Camiguin Island's bountiful harvest. The
town of Mambajao holds the feast during the third week
of October, in time for the season of the tropical fruit
lanzones. The province of Camiguin is known for
having the sweetest lanzones among the abundant
sources.
 MARRIAGE
Marriage practices among these groups also have
similarities in the past. Generally the marriage pattern
was by arrangement (buya) between two families even
when the prospective groom and bride were still
children. Before the wedding takes place, there was
bargaining of bridewealth. Carabao, money, sacks of
rice, etc. between the relatives of the couple until such
agreement was reached. The ceremony was always
officiated by the chieftain.

ROLE OF WOMEN
 The women play an important role in the
community as keepers of tradition, healers, and
storytellers.
 Women are the primary caretakers of children and
elders, women take the lead in helping the family
adjust to new realities and challenges.