Epic Culture

• Mindanao epics
celebrated the deeds of
culture heroes
- Their protagonists are all
members of the ruling
class
- Muslims appear as
salip/sarip(noble)
- Theme is killing an
oppressive Moro or
Spanish overlord
• A man should be armed
with a minimum of 3
weapons
1.Kris or kampilan
2. Dagger
3. Spear
 Musical instruments include:
• Pondag

• Sigitan
• Royal sport is sipa
 Sarangani Island
• The natives already engaged in trade
(coconuts, fruits, goats, hens, pigs and
tradewares)
 Giribasa- local interpreters
There was an abundance of coconut palms
According to the Spaniards there was good
supply of rice, millet and sago cakes
• The Saranganis came
out to battle with war –
-drums made of tree
trunks “sopranos,tenors ,
countertenors”
-gongs called “sino”
Armed with cutlasses
and bows and arrows and
body armor
• Men wore large G-strings
and short jackets
• The Spaniards looted
gold beads, collars,
bracelets
• There was also cotton
and array of aromatics
(ambergis, benzoin, civet,
musk and storax)
• Saranganis
worshipped natural
objects like the sun
• Saranganis also kept
enemy heads hanging
by the hair in their
houses
• They occupied where
the northbound spice
route veered
westward to Sulu,
Borneo and Malacca
• Islam was their
religion
 Maguindanao
• Was the most powerful
and best known
• The valley’s greatest
natural resource can be
found around Buayan
• Spaniards recognized Rajah
Sirongan of Buayan
• Had a centralized
government
• Small brass swivel guns (
lantaka) were displayed
• Gold ornaments were
restricted to the royalty
• Ruled over a great pagan
people
 Sulu
• Subject to the same Malay
Muslim influence
• Has access to overseas
commerce
• Thievery was punished by
amputation of fingers
• The sultanate of Sulu was
founded by Abu Bakr
• Sulu was recognized by China as
a tributary state
• Sulu was known for its
legendary pearls
• The royal families were
intermarried