Name: Hannah Rose B.

Valdez
Yr/Course: BEED 1E

ASSIGNMENT IN CULTURES OF MINDANAO

1. T’boli
 Livelihood – this tribal group is still living in a traditional way, comparable
with how their ancestors lived in centuries ago. T’boli distinguish
themselves from other tribal groups by their colourful clothes, bracelets
and earrings, this tribe is famous for their complicated beadwork,
wonderful woven fabrics and beautiful brass ornaments. Their culture is
richly connected with and inspired by nature their dances are a mimic from
the action of animals such as monkeys and birds. They believe that
everything has a spirit which must be respected for good fortune. Bad
spirits can cause illness and misfortune.
 Medicines/Medication – the T’boli people believe their sickness is always
caused by their angry gods and they have to perform rituals and offer to
densu to appease the spirits. The m’wanga (tribal hilot) and m’tunbo
(herbal healer) cure the sick person and lead the nature. The illnesses
lead to sentengeb (minor) to nasal be tonok (most serious), where the
healer perform and offer different offerings depending on the severity of
the sickness. They also have herbal medicines such as skeet gembon,
bulok bukay(white flower) and nook hulo-dolil(root of red sugarcane).
 Education/Employment- parents train their children through cautionary
tales. Because of the region’s isolation, access to formal education
remains limited. They rely more on slash-and-burn agriculture and fishing.
 Political/Leadership and Governance- the political organization of t’boli
stems from the traditional barangay system, where a tribal leader(or the
Datu) takes over the community and a group of wise men preside over the
decisions and employment of customary laws. The Datu also imposes
traditional laws, settle misunderstanding and conflicts and perform
marriage rirtuals. On the other hand the son of a datu may also take his
father’s place as a new tribal leader.
 Religious and Faith – the t’boli people believe in and worship spirits of
nature like their god of creation, D’wata and Fun Koyu or the spirit o the
forest. They ask permission ans ay their offerings called densu whenever
they would cut a tree or get water from the lake to appease the spirits.
They also pray to the gods of the moon, sun and stars for a healthy life or
safe travel.
 Courting and Marriage- Kesiyehen or arranged marriage common
among the T’boli. They also perform marriage rituals and courting
 traditions before the actual ceremony. Grooms prepare
dowries(carabaos,agongs or other properties) and bride price for their
bride as well. Mulu is the feast where the lifetime partners and their
p[arents sleep in each other houses within a period of time. After the mulu,
the groom does the gatoon or mutal house visits to the bride to prove his
worth to the parents. The marriage ceremony take place at night. Dressed
in their respective wedding attires, the lifetime partners prepare wedding in
separate houses. Before the wedding they perform the traditional s’lingon,
or poetry sonf debate, where two parties hire arepresentative, wgho
boasts of their beauty and power to haggle over the bride price. That is,
the grooms debater tells how brave and powerful he is to lower the
demand of the bride price while the brides representavive brags about her
beauty and prestige to demend a bigger sungos. After the s’lingon they all
sing the tudbulul or the epic song of the night. They usually arrange their
children’s marriage at an early age. The parents usually do this when their
child falls severely ill the tao d’ magngaw (shaman) helps them find a
partner for their child the partner may be from another tribe and is required
to give the sick child a ring or bracelet to cure him/her. The marriage may
be dissolved if no mutual understanding love between the lifetime partners
emerged. They perform the hulek sungod, where the woman returns the
bride price and endowment.
2. B’laan (Bla-an)
 Livelihood – their means of livelihood are swidden farming, weaving (the
males weave baskets and the females, mats), fishing, hunting, food
gathering, and tool-and-weapon-making.
 Medicines/Medication- they utilize medicinal herbs for their medication.
 Education and Employment – the B’laan children were fortunate to have
finished a college education through scholarship grants. However, few
comes back to help their villages for reasons of alienation, lack of
economic prospects or shame of their roots. An intensely felt feeling of
cultural inferiority causes young B’laans to leave their village and work
elsewhere. A number have returned home only to take advantage of the
less educated B’laans who took up to them as professionals.
 Political/Leadership and Governance - the B’laan community was ruled
by Datu or Chieftain known as fulong meaning the wise man.
 Religious and Faith- B’laans are animistic in belief. They believe in a
pantheon of Gods; Melu- creator of the universe, lamot ta mangayo- god
of war, diwata- god of harvest. The female priestesses caldez almos offer
sacrifices to these gods and spirits. Calamities are always associated with
the doings of evil spirits, enquiring sacrifices and appeasements.
  Courting and Marriage- B’laan marriage still occur polygamous marriage,
where man is permitted to marry more than four women. During the formal
marriage ceremony the bride often wears a tabi or kumot or blanket and a
comb or swat. The groom wraps a head piece or tubaw on his head,
hangs a knife or a fa-is on is waist, wears trousers made of blanket ot tabi
or tinalak and hang a komot on his shoulders.
3. Ata
 Livelihood – endowed with a breathtaking view and mountainous
landscape, the Atas live a modest life and rely mostly on farming for daily
survival. Until 1994 the atas relied mainly on farming for daily subsistence,
supplemented with hogs, chickens and other livestock products.
 Medicines/Medication- they use traditional waus of medication.
 Education and Employment
 Political/Leadership and Governance- the recognized village leaders
are the Datu, barangay captain, purok leaders and religious leaders. They
also recognize government leaders especially if the mayor is alson the
tribal council chief.
 Religious and Faith – Animism permeates the Ata way of life. however,
acculturation has caused some changes especially among the ypunger
generation. Like the matisalugs, they believe that ‘Manama’ is the
supreme god but there are others who do Manamas bidding. These gods
must be appeased.
 Courting and Marriage - marriages are arranged with the bride price as
the main concern . conflicts are settled through peace offerings.
4. Bagobo
 Livelihood – they are settled people, practicing agriculture as well as
hunting and fishing, their chief crop is rice, which they grow in clearing on
the mountain sides. Since this grain is their staple food, the whole routine
of its cultivation is most closely up with their religious beliefs and practices.
 Medicines/Medication- the Bagobo use modern ways of disease
management by undergoing basic medical checkup, following the
prescribed by doctors, and giving palliative care to ailing family member.
However they still use medical plants still prevail.
 Education and Employment – today’s bagobo have gone a long way.
Though mostly are sill in the hinterlands. There are also others who had
become professionals such as doctors, nurses, teachers, accountants,
lawyers, government officials and employees.
 Political/Leadership and Governance- the political structure was
composed of the Chieftains called ‘Matanum”, the council of elders, the
magani’s, the babaylans and the slaves called al-lang.
  Religious and Faith- their religion is an array of innumerable
gimokods(spirits) who have to be shown respect. They also believe in a
supreme being who inhabits the sky world , as well as a deity, a
supernatural immortal being who will brings sickness and death to
incestuous couples.
 Courting and Marriage – age is not an issue for the bagobo’s for as long
as arrangements and settlement are reached, agreed upon and complied
with by both parties.
5. Banwaon
 Livelihood – the typical Banwaon household includes extended family
members, which is characteristics of the tribe’s close-knit family ties.
agriculture is there to source of livelihood, but they are knowledgeable in
farming and fihing as well.
 Medicines/Medication- due to hardship, they used herbal medicine for their
health and medicinal needs, especially for child.
 Education and Employment – most of them live in the impoverished areas
of agusan del sur with no access to basic services such as education.
 Political/Leadership and Governance- are descendants of apo saya-saya,
a famous bagani that fought against the Spaniards during the colonization
period.
 Religious and Faith- up to the present time the datu remins central to
everyday life, and rituals are still observed to appease their gods. Traditionally
ceremonial offerings, such as pigs, or chickens are essential.
 Courting and Marriage - males are allowed to marry as many as they want,
for as long as elders and their wives will consent.
6. Bukidnon
 Livelihood – it is witness to varying degrees of acculturation of its people.
 Medicines/Medication- a wide range of knowledge id reflected in the various
plants used as their traditional medicine.
 Education and Employment – while the agriculture remains the foundation
of the bukidnon economy, many young bukidnons have gained employment
with mining and logging companies in the province, usually as guards rather
than miners or loggers.
 Political/Leadership and Governance- a datu, a chieftain, is the political
and spiritual ruler of each tribe. He is the one who settles disputes and gves
judgement whenever their unwritten laws called Batasan are violated.
 Religious and Faith- they believe in one God( Magbabaya) the ruler of all,
who has minor gods and goddess under his commands.
  Courting and Marriage – marriage is almost always through parental
arrangements. A kaula-a(bride price) is to be paid by the groom to the brides
family.

7. Dibabawon
 Livelihood – hunting is popular among dibabawon as part of the customs.
 Medicines/Medication- still in the use of herbal medication.
 Education and Employment – they receive wages for labours, others are
slash and burn farmers,
 Political/Leadership and Governance- Mnaniguon, the tribal leader who
is chosen by elders who convene to elect the head of maniguon, the
baganis the tribal warriors, baylan spiritual leaders of the tribe.
 Religious and Faith- the baylan who performs rituals during festivals, to
heal sick, and overseas other events that are significant to the tribe susch
as thanksgiving for a good harvest, asking for an abundance of food and
prosperity. Some of the tribe still practice the talihan except for those who
have converted to Christianity.
 Courting and Marriage – they have two marriage ceremonies, one is
using the traditional rites.
8. Higaonon
 Livelihood – the main economic activity is slash and burn cultivation of
upland rice and corn.
 Medicines/Medication – leaves were the most widely used plants part
were commonly prepared by boiling in water as their way of medication.
 Education and Employment – they still remain in active pursuit of their
young learner’s education, the school reached them.
 Political/Leadership and Governance- their political system revolves
about a datu. There is usually a principal datu who rules over an entire
group composed of several units that are each headed by minor datus.
 Religious and Faith- the indigenous religion of the higaonon no longer
exists. Vestiges of this still remain with the older generation. Even when
already Christianized, no one is against the recounting of stories
concerning their traditional religion.
 Courting and Marriage –the arrangement is long and tedious process
the higaonon marriage rites include the chanting of prayers by the
wedding officiant, usually the datu or an elder, to bless the couple, the
 practice of smearing chicken blood all over the bride and grooms hands
symbolize the sanctity of their vows.
9. Kalagan
 Livelihood – their lifestyles and cultures are very similar to the
magindanaw or their close neighbours. They are self-sufficient farmers,
producing nearly all their own food.
 Medicines/Medication- they used herbal and alternative medicine.
 Education and Employment – they receive wages for labours, others are
slash and burn farmers, fisherman and some are plantation workers.
 Political/Leadership and Governance- kalagan social structure is
unusual because it is modified by a system of social rank, certin rules of
descent, and distinctive patterns of marriage.
 Religious and Faith- many of kalagan remained animists.
 Courting and Marriage - kalagan marriages are usually monogamous.
Although polygamy is permitted, it is practiced only by those of high
ranked and wealth. There is a strong preference for marriage between
related families, especially to second cousins. after marriage, the couples
usually live in the husband’s community, although today, young couples
may form their own independent households.
10. Mamanwa
 Livelihood – they are nomadic in nature, relying on hunting and gathering
to survive and grow minimal crops such as yams to supplement their
foraging activities.
 Medicines/Medication- mst of them dependd on the traditional method of
herbal plants for medication
 Education and Employment - mamanwa is considered as the 2nd
poorest indigenous people group in the Philippines. They are financially
hard up due to no permanent work although they produced excellent
winnowing baskets, rattan hammocks etc.
 Political/Leadership and Governance- the sector tribal council are
composed of clan leaders and respected elders who directly deal with
territorial and resource management.
 Religious and Faith- they believe in a supreme being they call
Magbabaya, who is also the creator of all.
 Courting and Marriage – one cultural tradition they still practice is that of
taban or arranged marriages. An essential feature of tavban is early
marriage.
11. Mandaya
 Livelihood – they rely on swidden farming as a mean for their survival.
  Medicines/Medication- the knowledge system on traditional medicine or
healing in the mandaya culture has been greatly influenced by dreaming.
 Education and Employment –agriculture is their main source of income
also hunting wild pig, deer, etc,.
 Political/Leadership and Governance- the traditional governance of
mandaya displays a strong leadership. Customary laws are observed and
stiff penalties are imposed. Acceptance and respect by the community
makes a tribal governance works,
 Religious and Faith- Christianized Mandaya still retain some of the past
beliefs creating a syncretic form of religion,.
 Courting and Marriage –they are said to be polygamous but divorce is
also socially acceptable.
12. Mangguwangan
 Livelihood - Manguangan
 The Manguangan makes up the indigenous people living in the Cordillera
Sugut mountains in Mindanao. Estimated to reach 3,488 in numbers in
1987,they are scattered up to the great lakes of Buayan or Maguindanao
and in the territory between what is occupied by the Manobo and the
Mandaya in Davao and South Cotabato. Due to this close geographic
proximity with the two tribes, they usually are thought members of those
although the Jesuits and others take them as a distinct ethnic group
 .Religious and Faith- practice of primary religion id ethnoreligion.

13. Manobo
 Livelihood – agriculture is their means of living also hunting and food
gathering.
 Medicines/Medication- still in the use of herbal medicine like piper to
treats snakebites, by soaking the vine in coconut oil and applying it to the
wound.
 Education and Employment – destined to do all the menial jobs in the
farm and houses.
 Political/Leadership and Governance- leadership is placed on a highly
skilled, a datu would be united under a more sovereign datu, up through a
political pyramid with a sultan and a rajah muda. Nowadays, the structure
of leadership is gradually changing with an overlay of the contemporary
civil structures radiating from the governor of the province down to the
lower level.
  Religious and Faith- the groups are largely Christianized and there are
survivors of some belief system.
 Courting and Marriage – the head of the family if the husband. Polygyny
is common and is allowed according to a man’s wealth.
14. Mansaka
 Livelihood – they are particular in the management of their economic
activities specially in farming.
 Medicines/Medication- the baylan perform a ritual or ceremony to heal a
sick member of the community. If a member becomes sick or is
purportedly being punished b the spirit of the river, the ceremony will also
be done at the river.
 Education and Employment - the community assigns members to
manage the farm. Men are tasked with tilling the land and other farm-
related jobs.
 Political/Leadership and Governance the mansaka’s economic and
political life is largel determined by the tribal elders or matikadong who are
also baganis or tribal warriors.
 Religious and Faith- they believe in the saving grace of the Christian
god but remnants of the old religion, as in many ethnic groups persist.
 Courting and Marriage- when it come to courtship, the parents of the girl
and boy makes the arrangement. The boy is expected to help in the farm
of the girl’s parents. He also pays , in amount or in kind, the wedding
dowry. An elder and a tribal leader officiate the wedding ceremony and sit
with them at the table. Part of the ceremony includes an exchange of food
between groom and bride.
15. Subanen
 Livelihood – most of subanen settled down and subsisted on rice farming
and fishing, in addition to breeding a variety of livestock such as chickens
water buffaloes pigs and cattle.
 Medicines/Medication- their medicine are leaves, roots and bark.
 Education and Employment – new generations of educated subanen work
in various private and government offices, but several of them no longer
practice their culture.
 Political/Leadership and Governance – peace and order between families
in the community if governed by a tribal leader called timuay or gukom.
However I conflictds like heinous crimes happens they are presided over b a
rightful authorities in the area such as barangay captain.
 Religious and Faith- the tribe has no religion but today subanen people have
adopted either islam, Catholicism or evangelical Protestantism.
  Courting and Marriage - during courtship, songs are performed with an
accompaniment of traditional instruments. Polygamy and polyandry are
practiced but separation is not allowed nor is marrying nearest relatives.
16. Tagakaolo
 Livelihood – self sufficient farmers producing all their food.
 Medicines/Medication- they used herbal medicine as for their fast recovery.
 Education and Employment – those of highest rank in the society do not
perform manual labor. Men do the plowing, tilling and other heacy farm work.
The women do most of the domestic work.
 Political/Leadership and Governance – social structure is unusal because it
is modified by a system of social rank, ceratin rules of descent and distinctive
marriage patterns.
 Religious and Faith- they are converted to islam but many of them still retain
in traditional beliefs.
 Courting and Marriage- there is a strong preference for marriage between
related families, especially related to second cousins. After the marriage
usually the couple reside in the husband community. Today, however, many
young couple form their own independent households.
17. Teduray
 Livelihood – their economy is basically agriculture and their means of livelihood
is farming. Their other sources of income are fishing, hunting and mini handicraft
production.
 Medicines/Medication- they used herb as a herbal medicine or charm.
 Education and Employment – they are one of the most indigenous people of
Mindanao, the mobile lifestyle, poverty and poor education is limited.
 Political/Leadership and Governance - the political system among teduray is
still old type with the family as the basic unit of government and the father as the
head.
 Religious and Faith- the primary religion practiced by the tiruray is
ethnoreligion. It is deeply rooted in a people’s ethnic identity and conversion
essentially equates to cultural assimilation.
 Courting and Marriage – the parental wish is obeyed. The mother of the man
leads the search for the kenogon. Even the maternal grandparents help in this
endeavour by calling on relatives to find a suitable wife. With a careful study of
the woman’s background, the man’s party then sends out a spokesman to meet
with the former’s parents and relative and duly offers the tising, a contract for
marriage. If the woman’s parents accepts the tising, within a week, they will then
send their own spokesman with the bantinga over to the future groom’s house.
The go between will then state the amount of flasa for the marriage oif the
woman.
 18. Ubo
 Livelihood – agriculturally, they practiced swidden, a slash and burn farming.
 Medicines/Medication- use modern ways of disease management by
undergoing basic medical checkup, following the prescribed by doctors, and
giving palliative care to ailing family member. However they still use medical
plants still prevail.
 Education and Employment destined to do all the menial jobs in the
farm and houses.
 Political/Leadership and Governance - the political leader and datu of the
village attains his position by virtue of wealth; speaking ability and knowledge of
customary law, known as fendan. The primary obligation consists of settling
disputes among members of a family neighbours and the community.
 Religious and Faith- they believe in multiple deities headed by a central figure,
diwata, they’re animist.
 Courting and Marriage age is not an issue for the bagobo’s for as long as
arrangements and settlement are reached, agreed upon and complied with by
both parties.

References

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