These are the important things you need to get in the province or country assigned to you.

A. Geographical Location

The Province of Bukidnon is located at the center

of Mindanao Island, southern part of the Philippines. It is
labelled as the highland paradise in the heart of Mindanao.
While it derived its name from the Visayan term “bukid”
for “mountain”, “people of the mountain”.

Throughout the year, Bukidnon is relatively cool

and damp. Due to its fairly high altitude it has a refreshing
cool climate.

Not only Bukidnon is a typhoon free province, it is

also endowed with natural attractions. The terrain of the
province is characterized by deep ravines and thick forest
of the mountain that can shield the province from storms.

The mountain ranges, namely, Mt. Kimangkil

Range, Pantaron Range, Mt. Tangkulan Range, Mt. Tago
Range, Mt. Kalatungan Range Natural Park and Mt.
Kitanglad Range Natural Park contain the remaining
tropical rainforests of Bukidnon. These mountain ranges
host several watersheds that are vital to the ecological and economic balance of Mindanao.

B. People

There were four main tribes in Central Mindanao: the Maranao who dwell in Lanao del Sur, and
the Maguindanao, Manobo and Talaandig who respectively inhabit the eastern, southern, and north-
central portions of the original province of Cotabato.

According to ethnicity, majority of the people in Bukidnon are Cebuano accounting for
approximately 41% of the total population. The Bukidnon lumads (Bukidnon, Higaonon, Manobo,
Talaandig, etc.) account for about 24% of the total population of the province. The Maranaos form
about 8% of the total population followed by the Hiligaynon/Ilonggo and Boholano groups with 12.7%
and 7.37%, respectively, of the province's total population.

Umayamnon
 These Indigenous peoples dwell along the watershed of Umayam River in the Mountains of
Pantaron in the Eastern side of the province of Bukidnon. They are fair in complexion five feet or above
in height. Their eyes are set closed enough to each other with an average height of Nose Bridge. They
are proud and reserved people.

They chew betel nut very frequently and their teeth are filed to uniform length which are mostly
blackened. Purposes for making the teeth black are two namely: for medicinal purposes and for
decoration. The black dye that they used to blacken the teeth means one distinction of being a human
(who knows how to dye his teeth black) for according to them only monkeys have white teeth.
Umayamnon are excellent makers of bead jewelry like the necklaces called ginakit and inboy, beautiful
beaded men’s bag called suning and unisex beaded bracelets called binuklad.

Tigwahanon

The Tigwahanon Manobo are found along the watershed of Tigwa River in the place where the
municipality of San Fernando is located namely in the following places, Tugop, Little Bagiou, Kumawas,
Halapitan, Iglusad, Bunacao, Katipunan, Kiboncog, Namnam, Matimbus, Sabangan, Lumbayao, and Don
Cesar plain; Kalagutay, Palacpacan, Dao, Tag-alas-as and Abehid.

These people have tree houses called batangan built among the branches of a growing tree with
the tree trunk as its solitary post. Their fishing implements are bu-o (bamboo fish traps) in varied forms
they have learned to fish using hook and line called banowit.

The Tigwahanon are scattered all over the Municipality of San Fernando in Bukidnon close to the
border of Davao del Norte. The term Tigwahanon may have been derived from the Tigwa River where
the Tigwahanon inhabits its banks and watersheds (NCIP, 2003).

Talaandigs

The Talaandigs are one of the indigenous groups in the province of Bukidnon, who has
continued to preserve and promote its indigenous customs, beliefs and practices despite the strong
influx modernization and change. This groups is found in barangays and municipalities surrounding the
mountain of Kitanglad specifically in the towns of Lantapan and Talakag (Talamdan, 2001).

The Talaandig learning system is embodied in various forms of oral tradition. This tradition
includes the narratives called Nanangen, epic called Ulaging, poetic songs called sala and songs called
Idangdang. Limbay are particular songs about animals.

The Talaandig are known to be dwellers of the steep places. They are the people of the slopes
(andig). These IPs who ascribed themselves as Talaandig are mostly found in Lantapan and Talakag.

Matigsalug

According to Opena (1982) the Matigsalug are mostly small in stature with dark brown
complexion and curly hair. Traditional wear is a long sleeved jacket with knee length pants and head
gears embellished with horse’s hair and beads for men. Women wear mid-length blouses with a skirt
and strands of beads attached to wooden disks on their ears. Their clothes are colorfully embroidered
with geometric patterns.

The name “Matigsalug” is a construction of Matig and Salug. Matig means from (a place of origin
or residence) in various Filipino languages, followed by the specific place of origin or residence. Hence,
Matigsalug means from Salug (River). The Matigsalug epic Ulod, provided a definite identity of these IPs
which was documented by Manuel(1956).

Manobo

According to Opena (1985), Manobo is 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. Further she qualified that the term Manobo is very derogatory for it connotes to be
backward, uncivilized, ignorant, boisterous, unwashed, unkept, rough and lawless. Hence, she opined
that the use of the term must be used with discreetness, tact and prudence. The term can also mean a
slave (magdul) or a person destined to do all the menial jobs in the house and farm.

According to Elkins (1977) the Manobo belongs to the original stock of proto-Philippines or
proto-Austronesian people who came from South China thousands of years ago. He later coined the
term Manobo to designate the stock of aboriginal non-negeritoid people of Mindanao. They mostly
inhabit the hinterlands of Bukidnon specifically on the boundaries of Agusan, Bukidnon, Cotabato, Davao
and Misamis Oriental (NCIP,2003).

The Western Manobos are in the Southwestern part of Bukidnon in Mulita, Kalilangan and
Pangantucan. These people speak a quaint language with Marawi influence which cannot be understood
by other ethnic groups in Bukidnon.

Higaunons

The term Higaunon means “people of the wilderness”. The term is derived from the native word
“gaun” which means literally put away either from fire, heat of the sun or from the water. Hence, the
Higaunon are basically the coastal dwellers who moved to the uplands (mountains). They are somewhat
nomadic, that is, they travel from one mountain village to another, looking for more fertile soil and
better harvest.

The Higaunon people are of medium built with average height of about 5 feet and 2 inches, they
are of lighter skin complexion compared to the other tribes in the province. According to Tajonera
(2003) the Higaunons are among the least known ethnolinguistic groups that inhabit north-central
Mindanao. The Higaunons have their own system of writing. Their myths and legend speak of a great
ancestor named “Suwat” who kept a list of the people who were living and dead during the great flood
that took place long ago.

Bukidnons
 The Bukidnons is an ethnic tribe in North central Mindanao whose ancestors were the
aborigines of the coastal places of what is now the province of Misamis Oriental (Clotet, 1889).Their
major means of subsistence are food gathering and swidden agriculture. The women are skilled in
making appliqué and embroidering garments. The Bukidnons speak the Binukid dialect. They have light
brown complexion, straight black hair; have an average height of about five feet. Their nose bridge is not
flat (NCIP, 2003). The IPs who simply identify themselves as Bukidnon are mostly found in the northern
part of the province. They specifically inhabited the lower slopes of the mountains of Sumilao, around
Malaybalay and those lowland areas of Central Bukidnon.

C. Economy / Means of Living

Bukidnon has a progressive agriculture-based economy. It is a major producer of rice, corn,

sugar, coffee, rubber, pineapple, tomato, flowers, cassava, and other fruits and vegetables. It is also a
major producer of chicken, hogs, and cattle. Having the biggest agricultural area with soils and climate
highly suited to agriculture, Bukidnon is the main source of agricultural products and raw materials that
feeds the processing plants within the province and the major processing centers of the region. Hence,
Bukidnon is tagged as the region’s “Food Basket”. As the second largest producer of corn in the country,
it reached a total production of 481,370 metric tons. Also a wide variety of resource-based handicrafts is
extensively produced from rattan, bamboo, and wood. San Fernando is known for its rattan furniture.
Bamboo baskets, wood wares and carvings, mats, and other handmade products are ideal souvenir
items

D. Language

The most spoken dialects in the Province of Bukidnon is Cebuano. It is the means of
communication of 44.51 percent of the total Provincial Households. Other dialects were Bisaya 29.10
percent, Hiligaynon or Ilonggo of 7.29 percent, and Bukidnon/Binukid with 6.81 percent. Minority
languages include Ilianen, Matigsalug, Hiligaynon, Maranao, Iranun, Ilocano, and Waray. Tagalog and
English are generally understood and widely used in schools, business, and government offices.

E. Culture

1. Practices

A. greetings/ gestures in communicating with others

5 Binukid Phrases

“Maayad ha maselem” - Good morning

“Maayad ha daleman” - Good evening

“Maayad ha aldaw” - Good day

“Salamat tungkay. Madakel ha salamat” - Thank you very much

“Maayad ha pag-uma ta Bukidnon” - Welcome to Bukidnon

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

B. ways of showing respect to elders, strangers

Pagmamano (Bless)

As a Pilipino, pagmamano is one way of showing respect for one’s elders and it is a tradition that
has been preserved for generations wherever part are you in the Philippines. The ‘honouring-gesture’
called pagmamano involves a younger person asking for an elder’s hand and gently touching their own
forehead with it while bowing.

Limbay

It is a welcome statement or words of praise honoring a guest, visitors, friend and usually done
in para-poetical/musical version. The statements are expressed in high words of Higaonon/Bukidnon
language and can be understood only by experts.

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.

C. Courtship, marriage, and other important events.

Pamalas

It is a practice that is given to a newlywed couple or to a visitor to welcome them. A chicken is

used in this ritual.

Panlang

Prayer for a mother who is about to deliver a baby. Prayer for a healthy baby and for the mother
not to experience severe pain during delivery. This ritual will need four chickens and one egg.

Marriage in Bukidnon

The traditional marriage in Bukidnon is normally an arrangement of marriage by the parents of

bride and groom but today people has a freedom of choice on who they want to get married into. Like
any other marriage, relative to relative is a taboo. After marriage it is still common for the newly wed to
live and work under the wife’s parents but after a few month they can live and work on their own. Some
Bukidnon still conduct a normal marriage in a Catholic Church and another ancient custom wedding
conducted by the datu. Today, Bukidnon’s marriage are monogamous, althought in the past datus can
take more than a wife, some parts of Bukidnon are practicing polygamy.

Traditional Marriage of different Indigenous Tribes:

Talaanding

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.

Manobo

Arrange marriage is not new to any indigenous tribe because it is a sign of alliance to both
families who are oblige to do this marriage. Unlike every other tribe, Manobo rarely practice polygamy
but note that it is still allowed for a political reason to strengthen their power. Polygamy is still allowed
with the parents’ permission and the first wife will be known the head wife. Since women do the work in
fields in Manobo practices, several wives are allowed to do more cultivation in meadow.

Higaonon

Higaonon’s marriage arrangement is long processes but it is always done and decided by the
parents. Both young men and women needs to live in together for a year in the young women’s house
to prove his worth, but same with other indigenous groups, men are allowed to be polygamous.

Bukidnon

Bukidnon’s courtship and marriage is started by a young age and it was arrange by the parents.
Bukidnon’s traditional marriage always starts in exchanging betel with molded rice. Also polygamy is not
different in any other Indigenous group and it is allowed for men but not for women because they are
expected to be loyal and submissive to their partners.

D. work ethics

In farming, the duty of the tribe’s economist (malagbasok) is to ask divine signs in nature like sun,
stars, and moon, water in the rivers and creeks, and other occurance like the things that may happen on
the way to the farm so that they can predict what will be the next step on their lives. Rituals are
performed when bad omen arises to ask for guidance to let their crop be healthy and the give the
workers the strength to work every day, and as apayment for guidance, the farmers needs to promise to
share the crops they harvest. The consent of all spirits who have significance to farming would be asked
for a successful harvest. Hence the farmer would perform the following customary rituals and practices:

 Panalabugta – ritual for the spirit guardian of the land or soil

  Pangibabasuk – ritual for the spirit guardian of plants
 Talutambu hu Salangsang – ritual for the spirit guardian of food
 Kagsad-ang – ritual for the spirit of the place where preserved corn is hanged
 Kagbugawan – ritual for the spirit of the container with abundant food
 Kagbungkad – ritual asking permission to get food from the container or bugawan
 Kagbahin hu mangangalawat – sharing food to others who are needy

Before harvesting, a farmer would perform a ritual of sharing called lagti together with the
spirits of the place. Crops should never be taken or harvested without this sharing rite. The share for the
spirits is designated during planting time, and this is usually the crops planted on the sides of the lot.

Lagti or lagon is a thanksgiving for a harvest where the farmer, together with a baylan or
shaman, shares his produce with the community and the spirits. It is part of the cultural practices of
kagbasukan or agriculture.

Different rituals on different occasion:

 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.
 Panagulilay - A prayer usually held in March asking Magbabaya to provide rain to nourish the field for
crop planting.
 Salangsang - A ceremony asking permission from Magbabaya to plant crops.
 Layaglayag - A ceremony asking Magbabaya for the crop protection.
 Lagong - Thanksgiving for the blessings from Magbabaya.
 Samayaan - A ritual of the whole place for thanksgiving to the Almighty for a peaceful year. Also request
for good health. Usually held on the month of October or year end. This is a happy festival through
singing and dancing.
 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.
 Kandulian - An offering of food by family to ascertain the cause of illness of the family member.
 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.
 Kaliga - Nine-day worship to heal a sick person. The worship is done through singing and dancing. The
datu chants prayers while bae’s reply would be in the form of dancing (dugso dance). A pig or 5 native
chickens are sanctified on the 9th day of worship.
 Panalawahig - Worship practiced yearly at the river bank. The worship calls on Bulalakaw – the goddess
of the sea for a whole year of good health, productive livelihood and safety. Each family involved in the
worship brings one native chicken which is cooked in the worship area.
 Litob - This ritual will need a chick endowed with beads (Logbak) and a piece of glass plate. These
materials will be buried on the ground with the plate already broken. The purpose of this ritual is to
drive away evil and bad omen.
 Pang-ibabasok - Worship done before and after planting for the good harvest. It needs 3 chickens with
feathers colored white, red and yellow.
 Talabugta - Yearly practice to thank the goddess of the land for his bountiful abundance bestowed to the
people. A chicken is to be sacrificed by each family involved in the ritual.
 Kanduli - Has to be done irregularly depending on the emergency cases like life and death. It has to be
performed for the procurement of all sorts of sickness and diseases that devastate people’s lives,
animals and plants especially the locusts.
 Seliley(Salelay) - A ritual executed in the sacred places like tombs of the valiant and well respected
spiritual leaders and tribal leaders as well.
 Sawit - A thanksgiving ritual for the good harvest and continual protection for the new products to
come.
 Sapa - Is a word of mouth released by an angry man through “cursing” that cause misfortunes to the
people involved as death of the whole tribe, or family and relatives.
 Diyandi - Is a ritual performed for reconciliation purposes especially between an inter-ethnic tribes.
Usually red chickens are to be killed and be buried in the place where Diyandi has to be made. Other
ways of doing Diyandi is to kill red pigs in the place itself, cooked and eaten there and not to be brought
home even a single piece of meat. Either of which, chicken or pigs to be offered shall be guided with a
panuvadtuvad or prayer. Next is the planting of trees or a bamboo for as long as those things live, peace
between the tribe shall always be present. In other words, those trees and bamboos shall serve as
“pakang” or demarcation of an unwritten peace agreement of the conflicting parties. Last remedy for
diyandi is to marry children of both conflicting parties to strengthen up their solidarity and finally forgive
one another.

2. Signs and symbols

Provincial Seal

 Two Big Trees – Picture the thick forests of the province.

 Three Orchids – Symbolizes the rich flora of Bukidnon.
 Bull and Cow – Represents the cattle industry of the
province.
 Rice Paddies – Symbol of lowland rice production in the
central part of the province.
 Mountain Range – Stands for the many mountain ranges
and the high elevation of the province.
 Iron Crosses – Symbol of Christianity that has been
embraced by its people.
Provincial Flag

The Bukidnon Flag is the provincial emblem of the

province. It expresses the indomitable spirit, noble
values and rich heritage of Bukidnons and resembling
their patriotic efforts for a sovereign Filipino Filipino
nation under the blessings of Almighty God.

The prominent three equal horizontal stripes depicts

the hospitability, heroism and nobility of Bukidnons
and expressing Bukidnon sentiments for quality,
freedom, justice and peace.

 Color white, red, black – white stands honesty and purity; red for commerce, courage, bravery
and heroism; black for authority; yellow for nobility.
 Spear and Shield – traditional weapon fo the natives for self-defense.
 Upper portion – the upper pointed portion of the shield represents the mountains ranges which
are the main sources of forest products, wild life and flora, mineral deposits underneath and
serve as natural defense of the province.
 Lower portion – the lower pointed portion of the shield represents the scenic canyons like
Mangima, Atugan and Kulaman Canyon which are serving also as natural defense of the
province.
 The parallel lines edging of the shield – stands for the traditional native settlements established
along the river banks from which their name identify are derived from the names of the river
along which they are located, like the Pulangions, Tigwahonons, etc..
 Size of the flag – width is 34 inches and hight is 64 inches.
 Circular figure with a mountain inside – the prominent landmark of the province, the Mt.
Kitangalad known unofficialy as the highest peak in the Philippines where communications relay
and transmission towers are located.

3. Costumes

Ethnic Attire

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

{mospagebreak}

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
 4. Historical places

Camp Kasisang

A camp where war prisoners were imprisoned during World War II.

Location: Malaybalay City (currently within NHCP storage)

Monastery of Transfiguration

The Monastery of Transfiguration is one of the most

visited pilgrims destination during Holy Week in Bukidnon. The
Spanish Benedictine monks opened the monastery for missionary
work in 1885 but it was halt due to the Philippine Revolution and
Philippine-American War. But in 1983 for almost a decade, it was
re-established by Abbey of Our Lady of Monserrat.

Location: San Jose Hill, Malaybalay City, Mindanao

Here are some famous tourist destination in Bukidnon:

Mount Kitanglad

It is the home of some indigenous tribes like Talaandigs

and Higaunon.
Mt. Dulang-dulang

It is the fourth hightest mountain in the Philippines.

Lake Apo

Lake Apo is one of the famous tourist

spots for people who love to unwind. The
picturesque view of the water and the
nature will calm and soothes your mind,
body and soul. The best way to enjoy the
view is to rent a boat called “Balsa”, so you
can chill and relax in the middle of the lake
while enjoying the view.

Reference:

https://bukidnon.gov.ph/2012/11/09/cultural-practice/

https://bukidnon.gov.ph/2012/11/09/ethnic-attire/

https://bukidnon.gov.ph/about/about-bukidnon/

https://bukidnon.gov.ph/category/about/traditional-people/

https://escapemanila.com/2019/02/top-tourist-spots-in-bukidnon.html

https://talamdan.wordpress.com/2008/12/11/the-concept-and-customary-practice-of-sala/

https://www.encyclopedia.com/places/asia/philippines-political-geography/bukidnon