BAGOBO RICE

CYCLE
(SUGOD UNO|TODAK TODAK)
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INTRODUCTION
 Mindanao, the Philippines’ southernmost island, is the
country’s cultural melting pot.
• It houses influences from Spain, China, Indonesia, and the
Middle East.

Pockets of cultural minorities live in the style of their ancestors

throughout the Philippine Archipelago. As in most ancient
cultures, their dances are closely intertwined with rituals,
sacrifices, and life.
The Bagobo Rice Cycle is a culturally significant ethnic dance,
embedded within the traditions of the Bagobo people.

Commencing with a ceremonial invocation, the dance pays

homage to ancestral spirits, seeking their blessings for a
prosperous harvest.
• Throughout the performance, the choreography mirrors the
various stages of rice cultivation capturing the essence of
sowing, tending, and reaping of fields.
• The rice cycle is not just intended as an agricultural practice
but also a cultural and social event that strengthens the
community bonds among the Bagobo people.

• The rituals associated with each phase of the cycle involves

the participation of the entire community, emphasizing
collective effort, unity, and cooperation.
• To the Bagobo, the dance is also called Miyamas neng Ommoy.
• Ommoy is a Bagobo term for the rice grains without husks.
For the costumes, the boys wears:
• Knee-level pants used for farming in the field
• Head band that has many colors
• Body band and necklaces made of beads.

For the girls, they wears:

• Malong
• Feather Head Dress
• Necklace
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HISTORY AND
ORIGIN
• Davao City is one of the best city in the whole Philippines and have
been acclaimed as "The Most Livable City in Asia".

Several tribes have settled on this land and the utmost region of Davao
way back from our ancestors era and one of those tribes is the Bagobo.

• They are the first who have settled here in Davao and made a
submerse community.
• Bagobo tribe owns a unique cultural identities that are now
distinguished from all over Davao.
• The Bagobo rice cycle came from the Bagobo tribe in the central
uplands of Mindanao, the city of Davao del Sur

• Bagobo Rice Cycle imitates the movement of a hen, baby chicks,

and a hawk.

• The hawk is said to be sacred, and it is believed that the hawk has
the power over the well-being of the tribe. The hawk tries to capture
one of the chicks and is killed by the hunters.

• Hence, it portrays the cycle of planting and harvesting of rice.

WHAT DISTINGUISHES BAGOBO FROM OTHER ETHNIC
GROUPS IN THE PHILIPPINES?

• Their intricate craftsmanship in metal, clothing, and jewelry.

They pride themselves in their concept of beauty and are known for

creating colorful sets of jewelry and clothing out of abaca and banana

fibers which are showcased in their traditional dances.

• Like their Northern Luzon counterparts, Bagobo people also honors
pagan gods for the fruits and trials of daily life. That is why, the
Bagobo rice cycle is deeply intertwined with their spiritual beliefs. .

• The Bagobo people often believe in a pantheon of deities and spirits

that inhabit the natural world, including the rice fields. The rituals
performed during the rice cycle are meant to honor and appease
these spirits, seeking their blessings for a fruitful harvest while
maintaining harmony between the human and spiritual realms.
• Dance for them is a basic part of life, still performed essentially "for
the gods.“

The Bagobo Rice Cycle is deeply rooted with paganism and animism.
• Paganism – perceives all human being and everything else that is of
this earth as part of nature.
• Animism - perceives all things as animated and alive.
The cycle typically consists of various rituals and ceremonies
performed by the Bagobo community throughout the agricultural
process.
• Pag-uma or Planting Rituals: Before planting rice, the Bagobo
people perform rituals to seek the blessings of the spirits for a
fruitful harvest.

• Pahina or Weeding Rituals: As the rice plants grow, the Bagobo

engage in rituals to ensure the health and well-being of the crops.
Weeding rituals may involve dances, chants, and offerings to protect
the rice from pests and diseases.
• Panalabi or Harvesting Rituals: When the rice is ready for harvest,
the Bagobo celebrate with elaborate rituals to express gratitude to
the spirits for the abundance of the harvest.
• This is a time of joy and festivity, marked by traditional dances,
music, and communal feasting.

• Pakigdait or Peace Rituals: After the harvest, the Bagobo people

engage in rituals to promote peace and harmony within the
community. This is a time for reconciliation, forgiveness, and
strengthening social bonds.
• Culturally, the Bagobo rice cycle serves as a living heritage, passed
down through generations. It is a vibrant tapestry of rituals, dances,
and ceremonies that not only preserve the Bagobo identity but also
provide a communal space for bonding and unity.

• While historical documentation specific to the Bagobo Rice Dance

Cycle may be limited, its significance lies in its living expression of
Bagobo culture and the agricultural practices that they took care of
to sustain their striving community.
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VIDEO
PRESENTATION