Activity 3.

Reflection on the Virtual Lecture on

Indigenous Knowledge and Practices of the Mangyans of Mindoro

Resource Person : Mrs. Emerenciana L. Catapang

Executive Director, Mangyan Heritage Center
Date of the Activity : March 16, 2022

Instruction. Fill in the chart with the required information based on the attended
lecture. ( 50)

1. Write a short narrative on the lecture. (8)

 The lecture gave a glimpse of the Mangyans which talks about the
indigenous people of Mindoro. It circulates in the discussion of their
cultural heritage such as the Mangyan ancestral domains, different types
of ethnic groups, traditional attire, clothing, mangyan textile, handicrafts,
instruments, rituals, livelihood and Mangyan writing system .

2. What significant knowledge did you learn from the Mangyan culture in terms
of the following?
 Mangyan are known as peace-loving people and it takes a long time to make
cultural studies because their elders don't want to lose the culture and
they strictly preserved it. Mangyan also believe in the second burial
(pangutkutan).

a. Clothing and body ornaments b. Farming ( 5)

 The Hanunuo-Mangyans traditional  For Mangyans livelihood, their
attire for women wear an indigo- way of farming is called the
dyed short skirt (ramit) and a Swidden farming which is a
blouse (lambung). Men are usually kind of upland rotational
long-haired and then tied in one farming that does not destroy
spot at the back of the head using the forest instead it’s a
a panyo, while for their attire, they replica of forest.
wear a loincloth, the men g-string
(ba-ag) and a shirt (balukas), that
can be worn on a special occasion .
The Hanunuo Mangyan accessories
are headband (sangbaw), siwayang,
etc.
 The other ethnic group of the
 Mangyans are the Alangan-
Mangyan, woman’s wears skirts
(yakis), g-string (Abayen), breast
cover (ulango), and the red scarf is
used for modesty. Mens clothing of
Alangan-mangyan is the g-string
(bahag). Their accessories are
kabansan (a decorative band),
kaitan (worn by the neck), etc.
 Iraya Mangyan of Puerto Galera’s
clothing for women is a blouse and a
skirt while the men wear g-strings
made of cloth. They also have
handicrafts and instruments.

c. System of Writing d. Justice System ( 5)

 The Surat Mangyan or Ambahan is  The Alangan justice system
the writing system of the Mangyan which involves rituals called
from Mindoro. The Buhid, Hanunuo palsibaan, wherein the
Mangyan, Tagbanua and Palaw’an accused parties pick up a piece
Syllabic scripts were declared as of stone from the bottom of a
National Cultural Treasures in 1997 pot of boiling water. And the
and inscribed in the Memory of the person whose skin is scalded is
World Registers of UNESCO. found guilty of the crime,
Ambahan is also defined by Antoon same as the other mangyan
Postma as a set of poetic group do.
expressions with a measured rhyme
of seven-syllable lines. It can also
be vocalized as a chant without a
determined melody or too much
melodic variation and without any
accompaniment of musical
instruments. Ambahan also makes
the Mangyans write and publish
books, poems, etc.

e. Preservation of Cultural Heritage especially on the Mangyan language and

literature ( 5)
  The Mangyan language and literature are well preserved through the MHC
Programs and activities, such as collecting documents, poems, and
photographs of Mangyan life and cultural digitized copy. They perform
community validations of script, Ambahan sessions, and community based-
script teaching like the Surat Mangyan and Language in public primary
schools in selected communities. In terms of the Mangyan Cultural studies
it takes a lot of consultation with the Mangyan Peoples Organization.
Another way of preserving their cultural heritage is by displaying their
handicrafts, clothings, etc at an exhibit.

3.What are the threats that the Mangyan community faces today? Give 2 and
explain. ( 5)
 During the Covid pandemic and lockdown the Mangyans reportedly were
denied government aid, prompting calls for all governments to ensure that
the Indigenous Rights are being respected and adequate resources are
allocated to Indigenous communities throughout the COVID-19 crisis,
according to Robert Bociaga. This is to prioritize the needs of the indigent
Mangyan people and to cope with hunger related problems like
underweight, malnutrition, and stunted growth.
 The Threat that Mangyan face today is loss of culture, that is why they
keep on preserving their cultural heritage. Elders and Mangyan people
organization consultation is very important when performing studies about
Mangyan life and culture.

4. Give three insights that you learned from the lecture?

 I learned that Mangyan’s have rich and well-preserved 8 different groups;
the Hanunuo, Buhid, Tadyawan, Iraya, Alangan, Taubuid, Bangon and
Ratagnon.
 They are known as peace loving people and that they don't have a mangyan
term of the word war and they prefer to live life in a simple way.
 The Mangyan specifically the Alangan believes in the Second Burial Ritual
(Pangutkutan), they also have thanksgiving ritual (Agmago ) like the culture
of Bukidnon, they have sacrificial ritual ( Agpansula) and their justice
system is called palsibaan.

5. Give one question that you would like to ask about the Mangyans. (2)
 How do young people of Mangyan culture behave differently from older
people?
 Would Mangyans ever consider marrying or dating someone from another
 culture? Yes or no. Why?

6. How can we preserve cultural heritage amidst globalization ? Give 3 ways. 10)
 Preserving heritage might be challenging especially since we are in a
generation with many technological advancements. In my own perspective,
the simplest way to preserve cultural heritage despite modernization or
globalization is to share the culture with others and to celebrate it to
maintain the cultural tradition. Keeping a continuous communication with
family and friends that belong to the culture also helps when you are far
away from your hometown. It allows us to reminisce about the cultural
practices, the tradition, norms, beliefs system/theories, clothing,
festivals/celebration and languages. Lastly, by joining local clubs,
organizations and associations that are tied up to the culture you are in
which has a full support to promote the heritage of the culture also
helps.

7. Attach screenshots, if applicable.

References:
https://news.mongabay.com/2020/08/for-the-philippines-mangyans-covid-
19-extends-a-long-history-of-discrimination/