Music of Mindoro

Mindoro
indoro
Mindoro
is the seventh-largest island in
the Philippines. It is located off
the coast of Luzon, and northeast
of Palawan. The southern coast
of Mindoro forms the
northeastern extremum of the
Sulu Sea.
In past times, it has been
called Mai or Mait by Chinese
traders and, by Spaniards, as
Mina de Oro (meaning “mine
of gold") from where the island
got its current name.
Mindoro is also home to the
Tamaraw or Mindoro dwarf
buffalo (Bubalus mindorensis),
which is endemic to the island.
The Tamaraw is a bovine related
to the water buffalo and is an
endangered species.
The principal language in
Mindoro is Tagalog, although
in some parts it has been
greatly influenced by the
native Visayan and Mangyan
languages.
Hanunó'o language is a
language spoken by
Mangyans in the province
of Mindoro in the
Philippines
Division
The island was once a single province
from 1920 to 1950.
On June 13, 1950, by virtue of Republic
Act no. 505, Mindoro was divided into
Oriental Mindoro and Occidental
Mindoro.
 Occidental Mindoro
"Home of the
Indigenous
Mangyans".
Its capital is
Mamburao and
occupies the
western half of the
island of Mindoro
Oriental Mindoro
• Calapan City- the
only city in the island
and the provincial
capital.
• Rice Granary and
Fruit Basket of
Southern Tagalog
• Banana King and
Calamansi King of
the region.
CULTURAL PRESERVATION AND
MARGINALIZATION OF CULTURE
Mangyan culture

Mangyan cultural practices are in danger of

vanishing because of the influence of modern
lowland culture. The literature and traditions
of the different Mangyan groups are short of
documentation; thus, mainstream society
lacks awareness of the beauty of Mangyan
culture and its relevance to Filipino culture as
a whole.
Terminologies
Damuong- the non-Mangyan groups
Hanunuo- they considered themselves
as real, true or genuine Mangyan.
Urukoy- words of wisdom chanted on
festive occasion by elders of the
tribe.
Luka- bamboo tube wherein the
ambahan is carved out.
Tau-buid
Mangyan
traditional
house
 The
Mangyan
People
Mangyan groups
There are around 300 million indigenous peoples in the world. In the
Philippines, of the projected population of 94 million in 2010, about 15%
belong to indigenous groups. [AusAID]

Mangyan is the collective name for the eight indigenous groups living in
Mindoro, each with its own name, language, and set of customs:

Iraya
Alangan
Tadyawan
Tau-buid
Bangon
Buhid
Hanunuo
Ratagnon
 Mangyan Syllabic Script or
Surat Mangyan
The Mangyans of SOuthern Mindoro, Philippines, (also referred
to as Hanunuo Mangyans),are still practising a pre-Spanish syllabic
writing system that was in general use all over the Philippines at the
arrival of the Spaniards in the 16th century.

The Mangyan script, together with the Northern-Buhid in

Mindoro and the Palawan scripts,have been declared by the National
Museum as National Cultural Treasures on December 9, 1997.
The Ambahan
Ambahan
The ambahan is the
traditional poetry of the
Hanunuo Mangyans of
Oriental Mindoro. It is
usually written on bamboo
in the Surat Mangyan, a
centuries-old pre-Spanish
script. The syllabic script
and the ambahan poetry
have complemented each
other, contributing to their
continued existence today.
 Characteristics of Ambahan
 It is a rhythmic poetic expression with a meter of seven
syllable lines
 Each line rhymed at the end.
 It is most often presented as a chant without a
determined musical pitch or accompaniment by musical
instruments.
 An expression in a riddle-like form or in allegorical
manner.
 Varied in length and complexity.
For children it is short and simple
For adult, it is lengthier and complicated
 Preserved by way of inscribing them on bamboo tubes.
 Song content were wide range based on daily life events
The ambahan is a chanted verse, but it is
changed plainly or almost recited. The
rendering of the ambahan with musical
pitch might differ from person to person.
Some might intone the words like in
common conversation; others might use it
a monotone recitation; or still others
might sing it with a distinct melody.
Hanunuo-Mangyan English Filipino

My dear baby, do not cry

'cause the wild cat might
hear us!
Huwag ka ngang umiyak
The big one from over
Hala ka at mapukaw
there,
Pusang-ligaw sa gubat
with his awful long-
Ngumiyaw, maghihiyaw
stretched howl!
Wala kitang pambugaw
Helpless are we if he
Sibat nati'y nawasak
comes.
Gulok nati'y nabingaw!
Our spear is broken still
and our bolo bent and
blunt!
Conversational Ambahan
English
language language
amang bansay father
inang suyong mother
danom kagnan water
balay labag house
niyog bu-anay coconut
bagaw duyan talk
mata pamidkan eye
 Vocal Music
Iyaya- lullabye
Ayung or Ngayung – ritual chant
Igway- Mangyan province music
Marayaw- spirit song
Pamuybuyen- (legend)- it means fear of
water
Instrumental Music
Bangsi
-is an external duct
flute, which has chip
glued on to the tube of
the flute
Gitgit
– a three-stringed
indigenous violin with
human hair for strings.
Lantoy
- is a nose flute
Batiwtiw = a bamboo
instrument from Mindoro
about 40 cm long, played by
striking the split end of a
bamboo against the left
palm
Kinaban or Subing
- a bamboo jaw’s harp or jew’s
harp.The jaw harp is a slim
bamboo instrument
approximately of ball-pen size,
of different shapes and lengths
varying from 10 cm. to 40 cm.
kudlong or kutiyapi - is a
two-stringed lute shaped
like a boat. It has wooden
tightening rods and frets
made of beeswax.
kudlung- a parallel two-
stringed bamboo tube zither
where the bamboo strings
were stretched out of the
tube itself.
Musical Ensemble
Buray-Dipay
-a bean-pod rattle
used with the
kalutang instrument.
Kalutang
-consists of two pieces
of wood, graduated in
sizes, to produce
different note ranges.
Agung
- ensemble consisting of
two light gongs played by
two men squatting on the
floor. One plays the gong’s
rim with padded sticks.
ag

Agung
Musical Context
Marayaw is a genre of Iraya-
Mangyan songs used to
communicate with spirits in
rituals for healing the sick or
protecting the community.
The "marayaw" was once seen
by the Iraya as a symbol of
power - or one's ability to cope
with hazards of everyday life as
well as a way where one gains
control over events for his own
advantage.
Music for the Hanunuo is a part of celebrating
ordinary and festive occasions. Accompnying
themselveswith their instruments as they
recite their love poems.During the wedding
rituals, song are sung,musical instruments
are played, food is eaten and wine is drunk.
The songs of Mangyan are lullabies,
recollection of war explouits in distant past,
lamentations, lovelyrics and stories based on
persona.
Hi! I’m Elmer
Thank you for
listening