About the Lumads of Mindanao

1. Lumads of
Mindanao
CHRISTIAN JAY G. JARABE

2. To be answered…
What is a Lumad?
Who is a Lumad?
How did the Lumad preserve their culture?

3. What is a LUMAD?
LUMAD is a Bisayan term meaning “native” or “indigenous”.
Its usage was accepted during the Cory Administration when R.A. 6734, the word Lumad was
used in Art. XIII sec. 8(2) to distinguish these ethnic communities from the Bangsa Moro (Ulindang
paper published by the NCCA).
(Ulindang, n.d)

4. Who are the Lumads?
According to Dr. Faina Ulindang, Lumad is adopted by a group of 15 from a more than 18
Mindanao ethnic groups in their Cotabato Congress in June 1986 to distinguish them from
the other Mindanaons, Moro or Christian.
Subanen, B’laan, Mandaya, Higaonon, Banwaon, Talaandig, Ubo, Manobo, T’boli, Tiruray, B
agobo,Tagakaolo, Dibabawon, Manguangan, and Mansaka.
(Ibid)

5. Lumads can be found…
•South Central Mindanao (esp. Davao, Bukidnon, Cotabato): Bagobo, Tagakaolo, Teduray,
Manobo, Kulaman, Blaan, T’boli
•Eastern Mindanao (esp. Agusan, Bukidnon, Davao, Surigao): Mandaya, Ata, Mansaka,
Dibabawon
•North Central Mindanao (esp. Bukidnon): Bukidnon/Higaonon
•Western Mindanao and the Sulu Islands (esp. Zamboanga): Subanen.
(Lumads in Mindanao n.d)

6. Problems faced by the Lumads
The colonization of the Spaniards.
They were displaced because of the resettlement programs that promulgated during the American
period until the sovereign Philippines.
Conflict between the Muslims and the Christians.
Minoritization in Mindanao.
Due to modernization, most of them had been acculturated with the lowlanders.

7. In Focus: How did the Lumads
preserve their culture?
“Indigeinity” preservation.
With the legal right for the protection of the socio-cultural preservation and economic justice.