Ethno-Linguisitic
Grouping in Mindanao
Tausug
Tausug (people of
the current) were the fisrt tribe in the archipelago to be converted to Islam. They
are historically, the ruling people of the ancient Sultanate of Jolo, and regard
themselves supeiror to other Philippine Muslims. They generally live a combative,
"very mascular" life, where violence is often an expression of the social
process. They are traders, fishermen and artisans of fine Muslim textiles and metal works.
Tausug Wisdom - To the Tausug, a
proverb is masaalla, a word of Arabic origin. Some are pittuwa, or
advice about life. Proverbs are part of daman or symbolic speech, which includes
riddles and courtship dialogue.
Some proverbs follow:
Tausug: In lasa iban uba di hikatapuk.
Tagalog: Ang pag-ibig at ubo ay hindi maitatago.
English: Love and a cough cannot be hidden.
Tausug: In ulang natutuy mada sin sug.
Tagalog: Ang natutulog na alimango ay matatangay ng agaos.
English: A sleeping crab will be carried by the current.
Tausug: Wayruun asu bang way kayu.
Tagalog: Kung walang usok, wala ring apoy.
English: There is no smoke where there is no fire.
Tausug: Atay nagduruwaruwa wayruun kasungan niya.
Tagalog: Kung ang isa ay hindi makapag disisyon, siya ay walang kinabukasan.
English: One who cannot decide will have no future.
Tausug: Ayaw mangaku daug salugay buhi.
Tagalog: (1) Huwag aaminin ang pagkatalo haggang ikaw ay nabubuhay. or
(2) Hanggang maybuhay, may pag asa.
English: Never admit defeat as long as you live.
Sources: Insight Guides: Philippines and Filway's Philippine Almanac Centennial
Edition
back
to top
Maranao
Maranao are the graceful "people of the
lake", living on the northern edge of Lake Lanao. They are Mindanao's last group
to be converted to Islam.
 
| Maranao Art Okir or okkil refers to the
ranfe of folk motifs, usually of plants and geometric forms, that are prominent in Maranao
art work.
The oldest proof of okir's flowering is the torogan,
the ancestral home of the highest titleholder in a Maranao village. The torongan is
a symbol of rank abd prestige and is reserved for important celebrations and political
events. It stands out architecturally in the community because if its panolong - a carved
beam that protrudes in the front of the house and is adorned with okir motif.
Aside from plan and vegetable forms, the panalong has
come to be dominated by the nafa or sepent motif. The malong, woven Maranao cloth, also
bears various okir designs.In fact, the geometric and plant designs on the vertical strips
of the malong indicate the wearer's village of origin. Brass and metal works, from the
fuctional betel-nut boxes to musical instruments, always carry these designs as well. A
more distinctive variation is the sarimanok, a chickenlike figure that carries a fish in
its beak.
Sources:
Insight Guides: Philippines and
Filway's Philippine Almanac Centennial Edition |
|
Images from Traveler's Companion: Philippines
|
back
to top
Maguindanao
Maguindanao are the "people of the flood
plain," inhibiting an unappealing area of Cotabato Province, where land is
periodically flooded by overflowing rivers. They are the largest grounp of Muslim. They
are a hardy clan, surviving on agriculture, fishing and weaving fine mats and baskets.
Source: Insight Guides: Philippines
back
to top
Samal
The Samal are the poorest and least independent of the
major Muslim groups. They serve as the "loyal commoners" in the hierarchy of
Muslim minorities. Their lives are literally over the sea, where the villages stand on
stilts above the coastal waters.
Source: Insight Guides: Philippines
Image from Traveler's Companion: Philippines
back
to top
Badjao
Badjao are the "sea gypsies," the
true wanderers of the Sulu seas. They are born on the water, live upon their tiny crafts
for a lifetime - turning tawny and blode in the sun and salt - and set foot on the land
only to die. The Badjao are a superficially Islam tribe numbering some 20,000.
Source: Insight Guides: Philippines
back
to top
Yakan
Yakan is another unique cultural group of Sulu living
on Basilan Island south of Zamboanga. They are gentle people of partial Polynesian origin,
with mixed Muslim and animalist beliefs. They are the most superb textile weavers of the
southern archipelago. On backstrap looms they turn fine cotton and silks into remarkable
geometric work of art.
Source: Insight Guides: Philippines
  
Images from Insight Guides: Philippines (1)
and Traveler's Companion: Philippines (2 and 3)
back to top
Tiruray
The Tiruray are of Malay stock. They are a
hores-riding hill people occupying the mountains of southwest Mindanao.
Source: Insight Guides: Philippines
 |
 |
 |
Images from
http://isis.csuhayward.edu/cesmith/virtmus/Philippines/Crafts/Tiruray_basketry.htm |
back
to top
T'Boli
T'Boli tribe of Lake Sebu in Cotabato have a wealth of
crafts, elaborate ethnic costumes, and vivaciousdances and music. They are also admired
for their handsome brasswork, which finds its way into figure statuary, heavy belts,
chains and noisy anklets by much-beaded and broidery-bedecked tribal women.
Source: Insight Guides: Philippines
|
|
Images from Traveler's Companion: Philippines |
T'Boli Orthodontics
For T'Boli, pearly white teeth make humans no better
than animals. To enhance their appearance. T'Boli women grind and blacken their teeth. Men
do the same to gain power over animals. This practice is called tamblang. it
consist of two steps. First, the nihik, when the theeth are filed into regular
shapes. Then, the silob or olit, when the teeth are blackened with the
sap of a tree. Sometimes, women cover their teeth with gold as a sign of affluence. Only
datus and their kin can have gold teeth. T'Bolis claim this custom comes from the Muslims.
Source: Filway's Philippine Almanac Centennial Edition
back
to top
Bagobo
The heavily ornamented Bagobo live along the desolate eastern coast of the Gulf of
Davao. In imitating the metal art works of the Moros (Muslim Warriors), the tribe has
produced an ornate tradition in weaponry, and inlaid, bell-jangled metal boxes. The Bagobo
also weave abaca cloths of ruddy earth tones, and weave baskets.
Source: Insight Guides: Philppines
Image from
http://isis.csuhayward.edu/cesmith/virtmus/Philippines/Crafts/Bagobo_basketry.htm
back
to top
Subanon
The Subanon of western Lanao originated one of the country's highest tradition of
pottery. The 50,000 Bukidnon of east Lanao are a tribe of fiercely independent highland
dwellers.
Source: Insight Guides: Philippines
Image from
http://www.bethany.com/profiles/p_code4/883.html
back
to top
Bukidnon
The 50,000 Bukidnon of East Lanao are a tribe of fiercely independent gighland
dwellers.
Source image and text: Insight Guides:
Philippines
back
to top
Manobo
"Manobo" is the hispanicized form of "Manuvu," which, of course,
means "people." The Manobo appear to be a remnant of the very first Austronesian
invasion from Taiwan, predating peoples like the Ifugao of Luzon. The general orientation
is now predominantly upland, as they were chased from the valleys by invading Visayans and
Spaniards. But the Manobo have an adaptation to virtually every ecological niche, from
rugged highland to coast, and are found from Sarangani Island to Agusan del Sur, the Davao
provinces, Bukidnon, and North and South Cotabato. The distinctive ethnic costumes have
mostly given way to commercial clothing, with ethnic materials being sold commercially as
antiques.
Source:
http://isis.csuhayward.edu/cesmith/virtmus/Philippines/Peoples/Manobo.htm
 
Images from
http://www.mindanao.com/kalinaw/people/lumad.htm
back to top
|
