The Talaandig

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

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. Thus, when the Talaandig establishes a farm, he performs the Talabugta and
Ibabasuk rituals, after harvest, he performs the Pamamuhandi for the thanksgiving, for the
recognition of the superior leadership, he performs the Panagulambung, when he goes hunting,
the Punaliket and palayag, and for a higher form of socio-economic and political activity, the
Talaandig performs the Kaliga ceremony.

The belief of the Talaandig on the existence of gods and spirits is also reflected in the protection
of the house. These include Dadagunan hu Suguy who guards the lawn of the house: Anilaw ha
Sumagda who guards the door, Sinyuda Kahibunan who keeps the hall, Diwata ha Manilib who
records the activity of people inside the house and Diwata Pinatanlay who guards the house at
the ridge of the roof.

The Talaandig belief on the existence of the human soul called Gimukud or Makatu is
manifested in the pregnancy ritual called Panlang. During the ritual, the goddess of pregnancy is
invoked to protect the soul of the unborn child and the mother against evil. When the child is
born, Kagmakatu ritual is performed to formally welcome the child as member of the family.

Kinship

Marriage is the most significant basis of Talaandig kinship. Before arranging marriage, the
consanguinity and affinity relationships of contracting parties are determined as basis for
settling the appropriate customary laws and procedures. During marriage, counseling is
established as guideline to preserve relationship. This  is carried out in the observance of the
Bayluwa custom where each of the couple is instructed to tell problems related to their
relationships as husband and wife only to their parent-in-laws. This custom provides smooth
relationship with in-laws who have the parental authority to discipline their own children.
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.

Indigenous Knowledge and Oral Traditions

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 a brain twister or riddle of the
Talaandigs is called Antuka.

Indigenous Leadership and Customary Laws

The Talaandig indigenous political system and leadership are governed by existing customary
laws called Batasan. Batasan is a set of sacred customs, traditions and policies sanctioned
through the religious beliefs and practices of the tribe. Being sacred, the leadership of the
Talaandig community under the sanctions of customary laws is highly respected. A ritual to
institute the Talaandig leadership is called Panagulambung. This ritual is done in the presence
of other leaders as a confirmation and proclamation of authority of a Datu. A Datu is a mediator
and a leader. His major role is to intervene in conflicting relationships in order to secure peace
and harmony in the community. In moments of crises, the Datu readily takes the responsibility
to lead.

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 the
natural healing power of herbal medicine fails to cure the sick.

Economy

The Talaandigs are semi-settled agriculturalist in the uplands. The traditional crops of the
Talaandig include corn, rice, rootcrops, abaka and banana. These crops are usually produced at
consumption levels. Supplements to this subsistence level economy are   raising chickens, pigs
and other livestock. Pigs and chickens are usually utilized for religious purposes while large
animals such as horses and carabaos are used for payment of debt and other financial
obligations. The Talaandig technology includes blacksmithing, weaving, embroidery, hunting
and food gathering.

About the Author:

Victorino L. Saway is known in the Talaandig community as Datu Migketay. He is the
president/tribal administrator of the Apu Agbibilin Community Incorporated in Lantapan,
Bukidnon.

DATU

 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. Designed
through Linabingan, ginontingan and kinabuka.
 Linabian
Straight cut design clothe into pieces, composing different kinds of colors, commonly
decorated at the front of the polo, blouse, skirt and pants and at the sleeve endings.
 Ginontingan
Zigzag design usually decorated at the edging.
 Kinabuka
Cut into small square pieces of clothe. Like Linabian and ginontingan. It is also sewed to
the attire thru patching, originally hand sewed.
 Solang-Solang
Designed like ginontingan (zigzag) crown of the supreme datu or the high priest. It is
made out of special cloth or material decorated with beads (logbak), hair of a wild
animal or of goats or horses.
 Tangkulo
Special kind of 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 (Balagon) decorated with beads, buttons (Tipay), hair of
wild animals as edging. It is a regular carrying bag of a datu where kamama (mama^),
panaru (perfume) etc. are placed.
  Salibulan
Small box made out of gold, silver or bronze. Kamama, panaro are placed inside the box
and it is placed inside the vest of the datu.
 Sangi
Sharp curve designed knife with a special artistic sakuban (guma) attached to the vest of
the datu.
 Bari
Bolo
 Kalasag
Taming
 Bangkaw
Kalawit
 Panutod
Tatto on the body of any design using black ink
 Baliug
Kwentas (necklace) made of combination of red, white, black, blue, yellow beads

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BAE

 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.
 Kapulan
Small box made of gold, silver or bronze where kamama panaro(etc) of the bae are
placed
 Lebod
Small bag made up of rattan (Balagon) decorated with beads, buttons (Tipay), hair of
wild animals as edging. It is a regular carrying bag of a datu where kamama (mama^),
panaru (perfume) etc. are placed.
  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

RELIGIOUS PRACTICES

The Talaandig belief on the existence of the human soul called Gimukud or Makatu is

manifested in the pregnancy ritual called Panlang. During the ritual, the goddess of pregnancy is
invoked to protect the soul of the unborn child and the mother against evil.