Indigenous Groups in

Region V – Bicol Region

Bicol Region
The Bicol Region is in the southern part of Luzon in the
Philippines and covers 5.9% of the country's total land area. 69.3% of
the land is available for use and 30.7% is public forest.
The main cities in are Legazpi, Naga City, and Sorsogon City,
which are important for politics, culture, religion, urbanization, and the
economy, respectively. Its population as determined by the 2020
Census was 6,082,165. This represented 9.78% of the overall
population of the Luzon island group, or 5.58% of the entire population
of the Philippines. Based on these figures, the population density is
computed at 336 inhabitants per square kilometer or 870 inhabitants
per square mile.
Indigenous Groups in Bicol Region
It is composed of different Agta groups namely:
• Kabihug of Camarines Norte
• Agta Tabangnon
• Agta Cimarron
• Itom (Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon)
 Kabihug
Indigenous Communities in Bicol Region
Kabihug
Location and Population
The term "Agta" is a general name used in the Bicol region to refer to
individuals who have dark skin, short stature, and curly hair. In
Camarines Norte, where their cultural heritage has been maintained,
they refer to themselves as "Kabihug“. The Kabihug tribe is among the
few surviving minority groups in Bicol and is located in the highlands of
Camarines Norte. As of April 2016, there were 48,743 registered
IPs across the region.
Kabihug
Clothing
The women of the Kabihug tribe wear a skirt called a "tapis" to cover
their lower body, while their upper body is left exposed. The men of
the tribe wear a "bahag" to cover their genitalia. Both of these
garments are made from the bark of trees found in the forests of
Camarines Norte. Today, members of the Kabihug tribe dress similarly
to those in lowland areas. The women wear blouses and skirts for
modesty, while the men wear shirts and either denim or shorts. The
clothing is typically donated by lowlanders.
Kabihug
Livelihood
The Kabihug tribe relies on agriculture for their livelihood. They use the
"Badi" or "Bolo" to clear sections of land in the mountains to grow root
crops such as sweet potatoes and cassava. The tribe works collectively
for farming and shares the harvest with the community. Additionally,
the "Badi" is used to create hunting tools like sharpened poles for
fishing and capturing wild animals.
Kabihug
Culture, Tradition, and Belief
The Kabihug are a cultural minority group believed to have pre-historic
origins and by nature, constantly moves from one place to another,
resulting in a lack of permanent settlement. They subsist through
farming root crops, rice, and vegetables, fishing, and other ventures
such as copra making and gold mining. They live in makeshift dwellings
and sleep on improvised beds, struggling during typhoons and heavy
rains. Their isolation has resulted in the loss of familial and kinship ties
among the Agta tribes.
Kabihug
Key Points
• The Kabihug tribe is an indigenous group in the Philippines.
• The word "Kabihug" means "friend" in their language.
• They reside in the mountainous areas and have a strong connection to
their land and environment.
• The tribe has a subsistence way of life, relying on hunting and gathering for
food, as well as cultivating crops and vegetables in their farm.
• They have a close-knit community and place importance on family and
social relationships.
• Despite their isolated location, the Kabihug people have a rich cultural
heritage and continue to pass on their traditions and beliefs to future
generations.
Agta Tabangnon
Indigenous Communities in Bicol Region
Agta Tabangnon
Location and Population
The Tabangnons are a group of mountain people living in Guinayongan,
Tayabas to Paracale, Camarines Norte with an estimated population of
10,463 in 1987. They are believed to be the descendants of Remontado
and Agta marriages and have inherited their ancestors' curly hair and
dark skin. They are taller than other Agtas due to their Remontado
ancestry. They speak Tabangnon, Bicolano, and Tagalog, and their
culture is similar to the Agtas.
Agta Tabangnon
Culture, Tradition, and Belief
They were nomadic but have adopted some Christian practices while
still retaining their own identity and traditional beliefs and rituals. They
prefer to use tobacco, known as “nga-nga” to alleviate their pain rather
than visiting government healthcare centers. They feel discriminated
against by lowlanders and often can't afford the cost of seeing a doctor
or buying medicine. The practice of chewing nga-nga has led to a high
incidence of mouth cancer among tribe members in old age, as it
contains harmful chemicals from tobacco and lime.
Agta Tabangnon
Key Points
• The Tabangnons are an ethnic group living in the mountainous regions of
Guinayongan, Tayabas, and Paracle in Camarines Norte.
• Their population was estimated to be 10,463 in 1987.
• They are descendants of both Remontado and Agta marriages, inheriting curly
hair and dark skin.
• They are taller compared to other Agtas due to their Remontado ancestry.
• They speak Tabangnon, Bicolano, and Tagalog languages.
• Their culture is similar to the Agtas, but they have adopted some Christian
practices while retaining their own identity and traditional beliefs and rituals.
• Instead of visiting government healthcare centers, they prefer to alleviate their
pain through the use of tobacco (nga-nga).
 Agta Cimarron
Indigenous Communities in Bicol Region
Agta Cimarron
Location and Population
The Cimarrones, a term derived from Spanish meaning untamed or
wild, are an ethnic minority group located in the mountainous areas of
Bicol in the southern region of Luzon in the Philippines. Known for their
fierceness, their raids on lowland areas during colonial times were a
source of fear. The municipality of Buhi in Camarines Sur is the home of
Agta-Cimarron and as well as Agta-Tabangnon tribe in the Bicol region.
They inhabited the slopes of Mount Isarog and forested hills of Siruma
and Camaroan.
Agta Cimarron
Culture, Tradition, and Belief
According to Bicol historian Danilo Gerona, the Cimarrones, who lived
on the slopes of Mount Isarog, played a significant role in the
establishment of the 277-year-old devotion to Nuestra Señora de
Peñafrancia, who is the patroness of the Roman Catholic Church in
Bicol. Gerona explains that the Cimarrones requested a separate place
of worship from the bishop of Nueva Caceres (Naga City), and began
their devotion to the patroness around 1750 through the efforts of a
secular priest named Don Miguel Robles de Covarrubias in Ocampo.
Agta Cimarron
Tools
The "minasbad," a one-of-a-kind weapon in Bicol, is often associated with the
Cimarrones. It serves as both a weapon and a farm tool, similar to the Tagalog
region's bolo. The minasbad stands out among Philippine blades with its ornate
animal figurehead handle made of carabao horn and its intricately engraved
wooden scabbard.

Its blade showcases a graceful curve and a flat to rounded tip, with serrations near
the base, and a tassel of hair attached to the scabbard for wiping blood. An
interesting aspect of the minasbad is that some variations have a hand guard
reminiscent of a western saber, an uncommon feature in Filipino blades. It's
possible that this element was borrowed from the Spaniards, given Newton's
theory that the Cimarrones may have been "fugitives from Spanish control“. To this
day, the art of crafting minasbad is still kept alive in the Bicol region.
Agta Cimarron
Key Points
• The Cimarrones are an ethnic minority group in Bicol, Philippines known for their
fierceness and raids on lowland areas during colonial times
• They are located in the mountainous areas and are descendants of Remontado
and Agta marriages
• The Cimarrones played a significant role in the establishment of the devotion to
Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia, the patroness of the Roman Catholic Church in
Bicol
• They requested a separate place of worship and began their devotion to the
patroness around 1750
• The Cimarrones are associated with the "minasbad," a unique weapon in Bicol
that serves as both a weapon and farm tool
• The art of crafting minasbads is still kept alive in the Bicol region.
Conclusion
The Bicol region in the Philippines is home to a diverse population,
including various indigenous groups such as the Kabihug, Agta
Tabangnon, and Agta Cimarron. These groups have unique cultural,
traditional, and linguistic heritage, which have been passed down
through generations. Despite facing challenges such as isolation and
discrimination, they have maintained a strong connection to their land,
environment, and community. They continue to practice their
subsistence way of life, relying on agriculture, hunting, and gathering
for food, while preserving their traditions and beliefs. These indigenous
groups play an important role in preserving the rich cultural diversity of
the Philippines.