A CULTURAL TRIBE ORIGINATED IN BUKIDNON

TALAANDIG
BY: RAIZA ABELLA;
 The Talaandig are one of the indigenous groups in the province
of Bukidnon, Mindanao Philippines who has continued to
TALAANDIG'S
preserve and promote its indigenous customs, beliefs and
practices despite the strong influx of modernization and
BACKGROUND change. The Talaandig population is roughly estimated to be at
about 100,000 people or more. The members of the group are
ORIGIN: BUKIDNON
found in barangays and municipalities surrounding the
mountain of Kitanglad, the historic domain of the Talaandig
people.
TALAANDIG'S BELIEF SYSTEM

The belief on the existence of the highest God called

Magbabaya and the spirits who guard and protect
nature is manifested in the social, economic and
political aspects of the life of the Talaandig. The
belief of the Talaandig on the existence of gods and
spirits is also reflected in the protection of the
house.

Holsom Valley Ranch | 2020

KINSHIP

Marriage is the most significant basis of

Talaandig kinship. In Talaandig kinship terms, a
father is called Amay; a mother, Inay; a brother,
suled; a sister, atubay. Uncle is called Aba or
Abang. While an aunt is called Ida or Idang. Apu
is a general term for grandparent. Parent-in-laws
are called Ugang. A son-in-law is called
Makaamong while a daughter in law is called
Lagambay.

Holsom Valley Ranch | 2020

TALAANDIG'S INDIGENOUS

KNOWLEDGE

The Talaandig learning system is embodied in various

forms of oral tradition. These tradition includes the
narratives called Nanangen, epic called Ulaging, poetic
songs called sala and songs called Idangdang Limbay are
particular songs about animals. The long historical
narrative of the Talaandig is call Gugud. It is considered
sacred because it relates to the existence of the gods
and spirits at the time of creation. A Talaandig story to
recall is called Barbat while a reference story is called
Sampitan. The Talaandig sayings or proverb is called
Basahan; a customary law, Batasan while aHolsom
brain twister
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or riddle of the Talaandigs is called Antuka.
TALAANDIG'S WAY OF

HEALING

The Talaandig has two methods of healing illness. One

is through a religious ceremony. Another is through the
application of traditional herbal medicine. Illness is
treated by means of a religious ritual when the
Mananambal (healer) who is usually a Baylan, a prophet
or medium believes that the illness is inflicted by
spirits. Traditional herbal medicine, on the other hand,
is applied when the cause of the illness is natural. In
most cases, ritual is prescribed only when Holsom
the natural
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healing power of herbal medicine fails to cure the sick.
 The views of the local and indigenous peoples regarding the
TALAANDIG'S forests as source of life is holistic. It involve the elements of
nature that specifically relates to the social, political,
economic and spiritual aspects of the life of the people. Its
TRIBE implication is global because it relates to the common and
universal foundation of life regardless of race, color and
WHAT DO I FIND MOST status.
VALUABLE?
The Talaandig people of Bukidnon province sees the forest as
an integral element of nature that corresponds to the integrity
of the cultural personality of the tribe. The forest as source of
life cannot be isolated from th earth, the water, the plants, the
wildlife, the air, the sun, the language and the spirits that
promote and develop the social, economic, political and
spiritual cultures of the tribe.
Holsom Valley Ranch | 2020
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