Subanen/

Subanon
people
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Group 4
Subanon people

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SUBANON PEOPLE ORIGINS

From the history of Zamboanga City, The

Subanen came around 2,000 to 6,000
years ago from Indonesia but moved into
the hinterlands upon the arrival of the
Muslims, who would attack the Subanen
to collect taxes and capture slaves.
They were originally found along the
river banks or "suba" but now reside in
the mountains.
SUBANON PEOPLE ORIGINS

The term Subanen/Subanon is derived

from the word “suba” meaning, river or
mouth of the river, or upstream.
Subanon is an indigenous group to the
Zamboanga peninsula area of the
Philippines and they are mainly found in
the mountainous areas of Zamboanga Del
Sur and Misamis Occidental, Mindanao
Island, Philippines.
The Subanon people speak the Subanon
language.
SUBANON PEOPLE COSTUMS

Subanons have little social stratification.

Men and women work in the fields
together, and men can cook and care for
the children when necessary.
There is a general belief that all human
beings should marry. It is considered a
blessing to have more daughters because
the father will be able to recover the
dowry he paid for his wife.
SUBANON PEOPLE COSTUMS

In Subanen society, a neighborhood is a

unit of social organization, where
members engage in frequent interactions.
In cases of dispute, members may
intervene to mediate, so that they become
efficient arbitrators. A bigger group of
interacting communities may contain as
many as 50 households.
SUBANON PEOPLE COSTUMS

Marrying in Subanen society is through

parental arrangement, which can take
place even before the parties reach
puberty. The bride-price may be in the
form of cash or goods, or a combination
of both. After a certain period of
matrilocal residence, the couple can select
their own place of residence.
SUBANON PEOPLE COSTUMS

The ownership of cultivated land, the

swidden field, is deemed temporary,
because the Subanen family moves from
place to place, and necessitated by
shifting agriculture. Family properties
which are covered by inheritance consist
mainly of acquired Chinese jars, gongs,
jewelry, and, in later times, currency.
SUBANON PEOPLE STYLE OF LIVING

Most of the 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.
Subanon houses are built along hillsides
and ridges overlooking family fields. The
homes are usually rectangular and raised
on stilts with thatched roofs. (More like a
bahay kubo)
SUBANON PEOPLE STYLE OF LIVING

The tale of the origin of the ‘buklog' came

from the Subanens in the municipality of
Lapuyan, located on the northern shore of
Duman- quilas Bay in Zamboanga del
Sur.
The name Lapuyan is derived from the
Subanen word gepuyan, which means "a
place for cooking."
SUBANON PEOPLE STYLE OF LIVING

Buklog is a ritual conducted to

appease and express gratitude to the
spirits for reasons such as bountiful
harvest, recovery from sickness or
calamity, or acknowledgement of a
new leader.

The tribe's indigenous beliefs

venerate a supreme being they call
"Diwata Migbebaya".
SUBANON PEOPLE STYLE OF LIVING

To be at peace with the diwata of the

tribe, the Subanen perform ritual
dances, sing songs, chant prayers, and
play their drums and gongs. The
balian, who is more often a woman, is
the lead performer in almost all
Subanen dance rituals.
SUBANON PEOPLE CULTURALS ISSUES AND CHALLENGES

The education among Subanen people

was limited to instruction by the
Timuay(Chief or leader) head to a
future husband and wife regarding
love, respect and treatment of each
other, parents, and in-laws.
Many of them are highly educated,
having graduated from local and
international universities with
bachelors, masters and doctoral
degrees.
SUBANON PEOPLE CULTURALS ISSUES AND CHALLENGES

The Subanon people of Mindanao in

the Philippines are known to have a
rich cultural past that we marvel at in
the present as their tribe's
contribution to our own history. But
as this tribe endures throughout
history, they also continue to
experience struggles and challenges
as a people – the issues of ancestral
domain, unity within the tribe, and
potential abuse against them being
indigenous people.
SUBANON PEOPLE CULTURALS ISSUES AND CHALLENGES

Polygamy and polyandry are

practiced but separation is not
allowed.
The tribe has no religion although it
is believed that they had a holy book
at one time.
Various methods are practiced to
predetermine a child's sex. It is
considered a blessing to have more
daughters than sons because the
father will be able to recover the
dowry he paid for his wife.
Thank
You !