GE ELECT 2

(Teaching Philippine Indigenous Culture)

MANGYAN
Group 5
Velasco, Angel Ann M.
Ordeniza, Gwyneth R.
Sudiang, Erl C.
Dineros, Dante II A.
Tano, Arianna
Ansag, Jessabelle
 MANGYAN
Is an umbrella term that refers to several indigenous communities on the
island of Mindoro in the Philippines. There are eight recognized groups:
Iraya, Alangan, Tadyawan, Tawbuid, Bangon, Buhid, Hanunuo, and
Ratagnon

Origins
The total population may be around 280,001
The Mangyans were once the only inhabitants of Mindoro.
Being coastal dwellers at first, they have moved in land and into the
mountains to avoid the influx and influence of foreign settlers such as the
Tagalogs, the Spanish and their conquests and religious conversion, and
raids by the Moro.
The ethnic groups of the island, from north to south, are: Iraya, Alangan,
Tadyawan, Tawbuid (called Batangan by lowlanders on the west of the
island), Buhid, and Hanunoo. An additional group on the southernmost tip
is the Ratagnon, who appear to be intermarried with neighboring Bisaya
(Cuyonon) lowlanders. The group known on the east of Mindoro as
Bangon may be a subgroup of Tawbuid, as they speak the 'western' dialect
of that language. They also have a kind of poetry called the ambahan.

Culture and practices

Mangyans lived in peaceful societies. Mangyan are mainly subsistence
agriculturalists, planting a variety of sweet potato, upland (dry cultivation)
rice, and taro. They also trap small animals and wild pig. Many who live in
close contact with lowland Filipinos sell cash crops such as bananas and
ginger.
 IRAYA
The most scattered Mangyan people are the Iraya Mangyans, who can be
located in Abra de Ilog, Mamburao, and Paluan in Occidental Mindoro,
and in some parts of Puerto Galera, San Teodoro, and Baco in Oriental
Mindoro.

Iraya language
Some dialects of Iraya are the Abra de Ilog, Alag Bako, Pagbahan,
Palauan-Calavite, and Pambuhan. These five dialects share the basic
vocabulary and grammar of Iraya, though the preferred use of words,
expressions, and pronunciations of particular words may differ from the
general Iraya vocabulary.

Culture, Artforms, and Clothing

A typical Iraya has dark skin and curly hair. They make it a habit to come
down from the mountains and join the lowlanders’ Christmas season
festivities, as a good number of Irayas have converted to Christianity.
Aside from the modern employments of their educated members, the Iraya
traditionally sell handicrafts, as well as trade food and goods with locals.

Kinds of baskets associated with the Irayas

The first is a household basket that is hexagonal in shape and measures
around 18 to 20 centimeters in diameter. It is composed of soft and narrow
strips of the buri palm leaf and contains nito strips as well. The second
type of basket is an open grain type made of bamboo strips that are first
blackened and then dried.
Clothing
Traditional Iraya clothing consists of loincloth bahag fashioned from a tree
bark, the belt kaitong and the headband talawak for males, and skirt-like
covering tapis made from bark, the belt lingob and breast covering sagpan
or pamanpan for females. Both males and females wear necklaces
kudyasan that are made from tigbi seeds, and earrings panalingnaw.
However, at present, most modern Irayas are dressed the same way as with
lowlanders.

ALANGAN
An indigenous ethnic group in the Philippines called the Alangan tribe is
renowned for its distinctive culture, which includes age-old agricultural
methods, weaving, and deep spiritual ties. They speak a distinct language
that is a member of the Northern Mindoro language family. For the benefit
of future generations, efforts are being made to preserve their traditions
despite obstacles like modernization and changes in land use.

Language
Due to a declining population of speakers, the Alangan language, an
Austronesian Austronesian spoken by the Alangan people in Mindoro,
Philippines, is in danger of extinction. Using phrases like "Kami Alangan,"
"Salamat," and "Kaon tayo," efforts are being made to preserve and
document the language.

Arts and crafts

The Alangan tribe is an indigenous people who have a rich cultural
heritage expressed through a variety of art forms, such as visual arts,
music, dance, storytelling, basketry, tattooing, and weaving. Their
achievements and renown are displayed in these arts, which also reflect
their affinity for the natural and paranormal worlds.
Clothing
With intricately woven skirts, blouses, and loincloths, the Alangan tribe of
the Philippines wears a distinctive fusion of traditional attire and modern
fashion. Despite the prevalence of modern clothing, they also don natural
jewelry and accessories, maintaining their cultural identity.

Agriculture and livelihood

Agriculture plays a significant role in the culture and way of life of the
Alangan tribe. This includes root crop farming, rice farming, swidden
agriculture, foraging, hunting, cattle raising, weaving, fishing, and
traditional knowledge of plants and animals. They continue to support
their customary ways of life despite issues with land rights, environmental
preservation, and modernization.

Ancestral and spiritism

Like many indigenous communities, the Alangan tribe holds firmly held
spiritual and ancestoral ideals. They practice anitos and perform rituals and
ceremonies in homage to nature and their ancestors. They rely heavily on
traditional healers, or "mangkukulam," for their spiritual practice.

TADYAWAN
The Tadyawan tribe is an indigenous people in the Philippines, primarily
found in the southern region of Mindanao and belonging to the Manobo
ethnolinguistic group. Their way of life is closely linked to their
environment, and they have a strong connection to the lands and forests of
their ancestors. Their spiritual beliefs, rituals, dance, and music are all part
of their cultural heritage. In the Philippines, it is crucial to protect their
culture.
Language
The Tadyawan language, part of the Manobo language family, is spoken
by the Tadyawan people in the Philippines. Despite threats from dominant
languages and cultural assimilation, efforts are being made to preserve and
record it.

Agriculture and livelihood

The Tadyawan people in the Philippines rely on agriculture and natural
livelihoods, including swidden agriculture. They raise livestock, cultivate
crops, and engage in traditional crafts. Despite facing challenges in land
rights, culture preservation, and adaptation due to modernization and
government policies, their traditional knowledge and sustainable practices
are being supported.

Ancestral and spiritism

The Tadyawan tribe in the Philippines has a rich history of ancestral and
spiritual beliefs, including ancestral worship, nature spirits, shamans,
rituals, ceremonies, cosmology, and oral traditions. These beliefs
emphasize the importance of balance between material and spiritual
worlds.

Clothing
The Tadyawan tribe's traditional attire, including a bahag and tapis,
symbolizes their cultural identity and spirituality. Despite modernization,
maintaining and honoring their traditional clothing remains a vital part of
their cultural heritage, despite the influence of modern fashions.
Arts and craft
One of their arts is the Ambahan, a rhythmic poetic expression with a
meter of seven syllables presented through recitation and chanting. A
variation of this is the Urukay, wherein it uses eight syllables instead.
There are no authors of the poetry and if one will ask a Mangyan where he
learned the lines of the poem, he’d say it came from his parents or read
and copied it from the bamboo shoots where they originally write their
scripts.

TAWBUID

Agriculture and Livelihood

They are the protectors of the world’s rarest buffalo, the critically
endangered tamaraw. They hunt animals using their tulag (spear), gadun
(bow), and silo (spike trap). They also plant rice and crops for their
livelihood.

Ancestral Worship and Spiritism

Lai are chants which invoke the spirits to heal, protect, or solve a variety
of problems such as bad weather. It should be noted that among the
Iraya-Mangyan, marayaw is a genre of spirit song used to communicate
with spirits in rituals for healing the sick and protecting the community.

Arts and Crafts

We are profoundly struck by the beauty and the workmanship of the
Hanuno Mangyan “Bayong” baskets, made of nipa palm.
 BANGON

Agriculture and livelihoods

The Bangon tribe, also known as the Mangyan Bangon, traditionally rely
on agriculture as their primary livelihood. They make their living mostly
by gathering crops such as bananas, or root crops such as taro, cassava,
and ginger.

Ancestral Worship and Spiritism

Bangon believes in ancestral worship and spiritism. They believe that the
spirits of their deceased family members continue to exist and influence
their lives.

Arts and Crafts

Bangons are known for their pipes and even young children can be seen
smoking pipes.

Tradition
Traditions Panudlak, the rite of the first planting; the rite of rice planting
itself; and the rites of harvesting which consist of the magbugkos or
binding rice stalks, and the pamag-uhan, which follows the harvest.
 BUHID

Agriculture and Livelihoods

They traditionally practice swidden agriculture, also known as
slash-and-burn farming. This method involves clearing land by cutting and
burning vegetation, planting crops, and then moving to a new plot when
the soil fertility decreases. Key crops include rice, corn, root crops, and
various vegetables.

Ancestral Worship and Spiritism

The Buhid people believe that the spirits of their ancestors continue to
exist and play a role in their lives. They often perform rituals and
ceremonies to honor and communicate with these spirits.

Culture
The Buhid people in the Philippines have a strong connection to their
ancestors and their land. They pass down their stories through verbal
communication, not writing. They work together as a community and
focus on farming and taking care of the environment. Their traditions, like
farming and music, are essential to their culture, and they teach them to
their children. They really respect nature and live uniquely in the
mountains of Mindoro.

Arts, Music, and Dance

The Buhid people have a special kind of poetry called "ambahan" or
"urukay." They use instruments like guitars, flutes, and more when they
perform it. They also have a rich tradition of music and dance. They use
instruments like the "kudyapi" or "kutiyapi" and bamboo percussion
instruments to create unique and rhythmic music. The lyrics of Buhid
songs, sung in their native language, reflect their daily lives and cultural
heritage. Different types of dances are performed by them, including
ceremonial, plant and harvesting, and ritual dances. These dances are often
accompanied by colorful woven costumes. This music and dance help
them connect with their history, celebrate their culture, and teach their
traditions to the younger generation.

Community and Family Values

The Buhids are known as pot makers. Other Mangyan tribes, like the
Alangan and Hanunuo, used to buy their cooking pots from the Buhids.
The word Buhid literally means "mountain dwellers". They have strong
family values, respect for elders, and make decisions together. They work
together on farms and share resources, living sustainably as a close-knit
community. Their lifestyle reflects a deep connection to the land,
emphasizing harmony with nature. In the mountains of Mindoro,
Philippines, their love for the land and nature is an important part of their
culture.

HANUNUO
The Hanunoo live on Mindoro, a Philippine island located just to the
southwest of the main island, Luzon. The Hanunoo are also known as the
Bulalakao, the Hampangan, and the Mangyan. The name Hanunuo means
"true" and Hanunuo people believe they were the first true indigenous
group. They are known for their beautiful handicrafts, such as baskets
(bayong and balulang), beadwork, and mats

Agriculture and Livelihood

The Hanunuo people rely on their domestic animals for food and only
slaughter them during festive occasions. They cultivate crops like rice and
root vegetables using traditional and sustainable methods in the
mountainous areas. Agriculture is a core part of their culture, providing
sustenance and a strong tie to their ancestral lands, showcasing their
harmonious bond with nature. They practice collective farming, which
strengthens their sense of community and shared responsibility to preserve
their traditional way of life in the remote areas of Mindoro, Philippines.

Arts, Music, and Dance

They are different from other Mangyan tribes as they wear unique clothing
called "rutay" with a design called "pakudos" on the back. The men wear a
loin-cloth and a shirt, tying their hair in the back with a hair-band called
"panyo." Women wear an indigo-dyed short skirt and a blouse, with long
hair often tied with a headband and beads. Both men and women wear a
rattan belt with a pocket and love wearing necklaces and bracelets with
beads. Most of the Hanunoo are able to read and write. Interestingly, they
write on bamboo, not paper.

Community and Family Values

The Hanunuo community is like a big family where everyone helps each
other. They really respect their elders and make important decisions
together. The Hanunuo emphasize the concept of bayanihan, a spirit of
communal unity and cooperation, which is evident in their collective
farming efforts and community rituals. This shows how much they value
being a part of their community and how they care about their culture in
the mountains of Mindoro, Philippines

RATAGNON
The Mangyan tribesmen that are believed not to be original settlers of
Mindoro are the Ratagnon Mangyans, who are also called Datagnons and
Latagnons. This is due largely to their language of the same name,
Ratagnon, being closely similar to the language in Palawan Cuyonon.
The Ratagnons are one of the eight Mangyan tribes, who can be found in
the southern tip of Occidental Mindoro, which is close to the Sulu Sea.
Specifically, they are near both the aquatic route going to Busuanga Island
in northernmost Palawan, as well as in Cuyo Islands, which are the two
places where the Cuyonon language is spoken.

Agriculture and livelihood

Like all the other Mangyan communities, the Ratagnon are engaged in
swidden agriculture such as planting rice, corn, banane etc and they have a
typical Ratagnon house that is made of indigenous materials – mostly of
wood, bamboo, and nipa. Their villages are not formally developed and
settlements of four to five houses per settlement are located apart from
each other.

Traditional clothing
Ratagnons maintain their traditional clothes of a knee-length wraparound
skirt and woven breast coverings made of nito for women, and a g-string
or traditional loincloth for men.
Aside from their g-strings, Ratagnon men also wear jackets featuring
simple embroidery during gala festivals. Additionally, some would carry
flint, tinder, and other materials that can be used for making a fire during
these festivities.
Interestingly, one way to distinguish Ratagnons from the seven other
Mangyan tribes is through their rattan coils that are dyed red. These coils
are worn by both men and women around their waistlines.
Aside from these coils, the Ratagnon also wear accessories made of beads
and copper wire.