Western Mindanao Cultures

The Bajaus• For most of their history

they have been seafaring people

• They are also known as sea gypseas

• They particularly travel along the Sulu Sea, some of the most dangerous waters constantly facing piracy

• Some live on house boats

• Some live on the shorelines in house of stilts

• Many families either share a house boat or a house on the shore

• They combine efforts in order to share food and other resources.

• They make their living from fishing

• Their migration has been attributed in part to their pursuit of trade, particularly in a sea cucumber species called the trepang

• The Badjao are colorful, spirited, and musical people

• They often wear colorful clothing due to beliefs that they are of a royal descent

• At weddings, it is common for the bride to wear many bright colors and will receive many water buffalo as dowry

• Arranged marriages are quite common within the indigenous tribe

• Marriage by kidnap and elopement are also still quite frequent

• Almost all Bajau today claim to be Sunni Muslim• Yet many - predominantly the seafaring, nomadic

Bajau - retain spiritually based religious practices that pre-date any "major" religion. In their religion designated spirit mediums communicate with the spirit world in ritual ceremonies of celebration, worship and exorcism - in which, for example, spirit boats are sailed into the open seas to cast the offending spirit away from their community. They also worship the God of the sea, Omboh Dilaut.

The Yakans• They are known to be

the original inhabitants of Basilan

• They are known descendants of Dyaks of Borneo because of similarities in the physical features

• They are known as industrious soil tillers

• Their main source of livelihood are farming, matweaving and clothweaving

• They use colorful clothing

• Among their favorite colors are purple, turquoise, red, green, yellow and black

• Their outfit are made of tight fitting pants and long-sleeved blouses

• The male Yakans wrap their heads with a piece of cloth

• Ten or more meters of cloth are also used as a wrap around the waist

• The houses of Yakans are made of light materials like bamboo and nipa palms

• Posts are high and stairs are made of bamboo

• The houses are without bedrooms

• Marriage is a very colorful celebration that takes place in the residence of both the groom and the bride

• Wedding is held in the afternoon where an entourage of the groom goes to the house of the bride

• The sound of gongs and kulintangan coupled with the burst of firecrackers are heard on the way to the bride’s house

• The imam solemnizes the wedding

The Subanen• They are known as river

dwellers

• The term Subanen came from the word Suba which means an inlet or recess in a shore

• The history of the Subanen tribe was handed down from generation to generation through word of mouth by their leaders called Timuay

• Subanens still preserve the marriage practices in their families

• Polygamy used to be favored

• Marriage with a Subanoen woman could only be sought after thoughtful consideration of feelings

• They also practice buya, a parentally-arranged marriage

• Marriage is celebrated in the house of the girl

• The groom and the bride are dressed in their most colorful costumes

• The datu or gbalyan puts his hand on the head of each and gives words of advice

• The grooms right hand and foot are placed over the bride’s, indicating that the groom has power over the bride

• The datu kills a chicken and smears them both with blood to wash away sins and make them pleasing before the Magbabaya

• The couple sits together to drink the pangasi

Their Dances

• A wedding dance

• A festive dance

• A war dance

• A harvest dance

Extended Family

• Married children stay with parents until they are ready to be independent

• They practice hereditary succession• Royal titles are conferred only on members of

royalty who are respected leaders of the community

Period of Conception

• Best food• Best clothes• Best treatment- All ingredients for the child’s adult life

Baptism

• The ritual is called daga• The child is placed in the center of the house

together with the priest• Family forms a circle to be witnesses• Chicken is killed to smear with its blood the

child’s hands and feet• The child is lifted up to the heavenly father

and songs or praises of thanksgiving for the child’s birth, success and happiness are sung

Death Ceremony

• The dead person must be equipped with everything he needs in his new destination

• He is buried with complete set of clothings, beddings, chinawares and everything he might need

• In the midst of the gbalyan’s prayer the surroundings is filled with scent of incense, a symbol of thanksgiving for the person’s beautiful life on earth and the happy turnover of his being into the new life

The Tausugs• Jolo is the home of the

Tausugs• Tausug comes from the

word “tau” which means “man” and “sug” which means “land”

• Tausugs are muslims and practice the tenets of Islam

• They have many different native attires for different occasions

• One characteristic of the Tausug is preservation of the family reputation and will never commit an act of cowardice that will blemish on the family’s name

• “You can never expect a Tausug to run from a good fight”

• They believe that running away is shameful especially when other members of the family are involved

• Marriage to the Tausugs is for extended kinship relations

• Courtship rarely happens, in fact, it is not allowed except during engagement period or after marriage

• They observe parental arrangement

• A wedding celebration

• Tausugs are polygamous• Men are allowed to have more than one wife

and two or more families who share a common male/husband may live together as one household

• Co-wives must learn to get along and yet share what is due them and their children

Paggunting

• Tausug baptism• The child clad in best garment is brought to

the group of Imams standing in circle• A few strands of hair are dipped in a container

of the water of butong• The child’s mouth is smeared with sugar• Candle is lit at the beginning of the rite and is

then blown off after

The Burial Practice

• When the warmth is gone, the corpse is sponged in cold water

• The bathing is done by religious persons• The bathing is done in silence• The water used is fresh and perfumed with

betel nut flowers, kamanyan or insence, and sandalwood

• The corpse is wiped and then perfumed and placed in a shroud

• The shroud is made of three pieces of white cloth in accordance with the length of the corpse

• It is wrapped in a lying position with hands placed on its chest, the right over the left

• The coffin is made of wood and has no lid• Grave is dug in proportion to the length of the corpse• It follows a north-south directio and is 6-9 feet deep and it is

closed with slabs of board about 2-inch thick, 1 foot wide and 3-4 feet long

• Grave markers for males are rounded and flat for females

• Pangalay dance

• Traditional food

• Arts

• Tausug weapons

• Chewing (betel nut) for the Muslims serves the same purpose as smoking, to while away time, to entertain visitors while food is being prepared, or to just keep oneself busy

• Blackening of teeth using coconut water, bolo/iron/metal, and talisay leaves

• Beautifying teeth- covering teeth with gold

The Samal• also known as Sama

Banguingui, Sama Bangingi’, Bangingi, and Samal Banguingui, is a distinct ethno-linguistic group dispersed throughout the Greater Sulu Archipelago and southern and western coastal regions of the Zamboanga Peninsula in Mindanao.

Samal Kids

• A Samal community

• Samal village

Clothing

• Samal Crafts

Dances

The Zamboangueno

• They are a product of Spanich colonization in Southern Philippines

• The youngest of all cultural groups in Western Mindanao

• The Fort Pilar- Fuerza real de San Jose (June 23,1635)

• Interracial marriages between Spaniards and natives took place during its construction; this resulted to new breed of Filipinos and new Philippine language

• The workforce consisted of 300 Spanish soldiers, 1,000 laborers from Ilo-ilo, and 500 natives

• Origin of Zamboanguenos passed on through oral tradition- Jambangan

• Spanish Officer’s version

Chabacano

• This is the lane of the Zamboanguenos• A conglomeration of 70% Spanish and 30%

mixture of native dialects such as Samal, Tausug, Cebuano and Ilonggo

• Zamboanguenos are generally fair skinned…mestizas and mestizos

Origin of Zamboanga

• City of Flowers• Samuang• Jambangan

• Asia’s Latin City

Characteristics of Zamboanguenos

• Kinship family system• Love for one’s cultural heritage• Propensity for extravagance • Fiestas and siesta• Aristocratic behavior

Social Life

• Revolves around religious practices

• Bantayanon, fiestas and fondas

• Baile-valse,regodon, paso doble

Religion

• Catholic faith• Devotion toward Jesus through songs• That the catholic faith is the true religion• Devotional hymns to the Blessed Virgin Mary-

Himno en honor dela Virgen del Pilar• Villancicos/ Christmas Carols• Fiestas- vispera , diana,mass, sports,

procession or parade, and feasting

Zamboanga Food

• Zamboanguenos constitute an authentic and distinct cultural group for two reasons:

1. Claim to a distinct dialect2. Undeniable vestiges of Spanish occupation-

physical features of the mestizos, spanish folk lit, songs, dances, fiestas and Roman Catholicism