Western mindanao cultures

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

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:
Claim to a distinct dialect
Undeniable vestiges of Spanish occupation- physical features of the mestizos, spanish folk lit, songs, dances, fiestas and Roman Catholicism

Western mindanao cultures

by Kostyk Elf

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