This document provides information on the distribution and characteristics of indigenous communities in the Philippines. It discusses over 50 groups found in three main geographical regions - Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. In Luzon, most groups are concentrated in mountainous areas of northern Cordillera. Some of the major groups described include the Tingguians (Itneg) of Abra province, the Bontoc, Ifugao and Kalinga in central Cordillera, and the Gaddang and Ilongot in southeastern Cordillera. The document also briefly mentions other lowland groups like the Agta, Dumagat and Itawis.

1. Distribution of
Philippines
indigenous
communities

2. The total number of indigenous communities has not
yet been accurately reported. This is partly due to
the relative geographical isolations and scattered
settlements of many groups which render them
inaccessible to official census taker. Thus many of
the demographic surveys
are at most rough estimates. The PANAMIN or (
Presidential
Assistance for National Minorities) listed seventy
groups in 1979
And as of today they are already 110 scattered all
over the different
parts of the country.
2
Number of Indigenous communities in the Philippines

3. • In 1936 Dr. H. otley Beyer estimated the PAGAN
population of the country at around 584,500 or
about 5% of the total population.
In 1948 the Bureau of Census estimated the
indigenous groups ( which included the muslim
population) at 702,869 or approximately 3.7 percent
of the total population.
3

4. Included in the present study
there are 56 groups, with
population sizes ranging from a few
hundreds to several thousands ,
found in three major geographical
regions of the Philippines: Luzon,
Visayas, and Mindanao

5. The selection of the
indigenous communities
included is based on
availability and quality of
ethnographic data. Identified
groups which do not have
enough or good ethnographic
information are noted but not
treated in detail
5

6. > LUZON AREA
> Most of the ethnic groups are concentrated in
the northern mountain ranges of Cordillera area.
These people occupy the interior hills , strips of
flat land along deep valleys, and narrow plateaus.
> At the northern sector of Cordillera are found
the following groups: Tinggian, Isneg-Apayao and
Northern Kalinga. These people occupy the area
close to watershed tributaries of the chico, tinig
and abulug rivers.
6

7. tinggian
The Itneg (exonym "Tinguian" or "Tingguian") are an
Austronesian ethnic group from the upland province of Abra in
northwestern Luzon, in the Philippines.
7

8. • They live in the
mountainous area of Abra
in northwestern Luzon.
• They are mountain
dwellers.
• Divided into nine distinct
subgroups which are the
Adasen, Mabaka, Gubang,
Banao, Binongon, Danak,
Moyodan, Dawangan, and
Ilaud.
Description
Wealth and material
possessions (such as Chinese
jars, copper gongs called
gangsa, beads, rice fields, and
livestock) determine the
social standing of a family or
person, as well as the hosting
of feasts and ceremonies.
there is no sharp distinction
between rich (baknang) and
poor.
8

9. Wealth is inherited but
the society is open for
social mobility of the
citizens by virtue of hard
work.
9

10. • Shamans are the only distinct group in their
society, but even then it is only during ceremonial
periods.
10

11. The Itnegs’ marriage are arranged by the parents
and are usually between distant relatives in order
to keep the family close-knit and the family wealth
within the kinship group.
The parents select a bride for their son when he is
six to eight years old, and the proposal is done to
the parents of the girl. If accepted, the engagement
is sealed by tying beads around the girl's waist as a
sign of engagement.
11

12. A bride price (pakalon) is also paid to the bride's
family, with an initial payment and the rest during the
actual wedding. No celebration accompanies the
Itneg wedding and the guests leave right after the
ceremony.
12

13. The females dress in a wrap-around skirt (tapis)
that reaches to the knees and fastened by an
elaborately decorated belt. They also wear short
sleeved jacket on special occasions.
The men, on the other hand, wear a G-string (ba-al)
made of woven cloth (balibas). On special occasions,
the men also wear a long-sleeved jacket (bado).
They also wear a belt where they fasten their knife
and a bamboo hat with a low, dome-shaped top.
13

14. Beads are the primary adornment of the Tingguians
and a sign of wealth. Also, tattooing is commonly
practiced. The Tingguians have two general types of
housing. The first is a 2–3 room-dwelling surrounded
by a porch and the other is a one-room house with a
porch in front.
14

15. Their houses are usually made of bamboo and cogon.
A common feature of a Tingguian home with wooden
floors is a corner with bamboo slats as flooring
where mothers usually give birth.
15

16. Spirit structures include balawa built during the say-
ang ceremony, sangasang near the village entrance,
and aligang containing jars of basi.
16

17. The Tingguians use weapons for
hunting, headhunting, and building
a house, among others. Some
examples of their weapons and
implements are the lance or spear
(pika), shield (kalasag), head axe
(aliwa). Foremost among all these
weapons and implements is the
bolo which the Tangguians are
rarely seen without.[1]
17

18. The traditional leadership in the
Tangguian community is held by
panglakayen (old men), who compose a
council of leaders representing each
purok or settlement. The panglakayen
are chosen for their wisdom and
eagerness to protect the community's
interest. Justice is governed by custom
(kadawyan) and trial by ordeal. Head
taking was finally stopped through
peace pacts (kalon).
18

19. The Tingguians still practice their
traditional ways, including wet rice and
swidden farming. Socio-cultural changes
started when the Spanish conquistadors
ventured to expand their reach to the
settlements of Abra. The Spaniards
brought with them their culture some of
which the Tangguians borrowed. More
changes in their culture took place with
the coming of the Americans and the
introduction of education and Catholic
and Protestant proselytization.[1]
19

20. language
20
The native Itneg language is a South-
Central Cordilleran dialect continuum. Itneg
is a South-Central Cordilleran dialect
continuum found in the island of Luzon,
Philippines. This language and Ilocano are
spoken by the Itneg people (sometimes also
referred to as the "Tingguian people") in
Abra province.

21. Indigenous Itneg religion
21
The Itnegs believe in the existence of numerous
supernatural powerful beings. They believe in spirits and
deities, the greatest of which they believe to be Kadaklan
who lives up in the sky and who created the earth, the
moon, the stars, and the sun. The Itnegs believe in life
after death, which is in a place they call maglawa. They
take special care to clean and adorn their dead to
prepare them for the journey to maglawa. The corpse is
placed in a death chair (sangadel) during the wake.

22. Indigenous Itneg religion
22
Immortals
Bagatulayan: the supreme deity who directs the activities of
the world, including the celestial realms[2] referred also as
the Great Anito
Gomayen: mother of Mabaca, Binongan, and Adasin
Mabaca: one of the three founders of the Tinguian's three
ancient clans; daughter of Gomayen and the supreme deity
Binongan: one of the three founders of the Tinguian's three
ancient clans; daughter of Gomayen and the supreme deity
Adasin: one of the three founders of the Tinguian's three
ancient clans; daughter of Gomayen and the supreme deity

23. Indigenous Itneg religion
23
Immortals
Emlang: servant of the supreme deity[8]
Kadaklan: deity who is second in rank; taught the people
how to pray, harvest their crops, ward off evil spirits, and
overcome bad omens and cure sicknesses[
Apadel (Kalagang): guardian deity and dweller of the
spirit-stones called pinaing
Init-init: the god of the sun married to the mortal
Aponibolinayen; during the day, he leaves his house to
shine light on the world
Gaygayoma: the star goddess who lowered a basket
from heaven to fetch the mortal Aponitolau, who she
married

24. Indigenous Itneg religion
24
Immortals
Bagbagak: father of Gaygayoma
Sinang: mother of Gaygayoma
Takyayen: child of Gaygayoma and Aponitolaul popped
out between Gaygayoma's last two fingers after she
asked Aponitolau to prick there
Makaboteng: the god and guardian of deer and wild
hogs
Immortals
Aponibolinayen: mortal spouse of the sun god, Init-init
Aponitolau: mortal who was fetched by the star goddess
Gaygayoma, despite him being already married

25. • Central Region of Cordillera on the slopes of
Mount Data
Thre are four well known groups the following
are:
1. Bontoc
2. Sagada (Lepanto)
3. Ifugao
4. Sothern Kalinga
25

26. 26

27. Description
> Wet crop agriculturist, practicing rice-terrace and irrigated farming.
> They live in compact villages ( ILI) close to their terraces known as
payaw .
> They possess specialized institutions like the ato (r) , ulog, and
agamang which serve as the center of social religious, and political
activities.
> The Ato (r) is well developed among the Bontoc and the Sagada but
less so among the ifugao and the kalinga
> Dormitories for boys and girls in different forms are found in almost
all groups.
27

28. Description
> Social Stratification( is clearcut and is base on descent and material
wealth.
> Institutionalized like head taking and warfare, grand canyao, and peace
pacts , among others are shared by all central cordillera ethnic
communities
> Language
> These people speak a closely related language belonging to the
northern subgroup of Philippine language
28

29. Description
> Ibaloi and Kankanay constitute the southern group of the Cordillera
indigenous communities
> These people are not well known in the literature , in spite of the fact
that they live in the gold bearing district of Cordillera
29

30. Description
> Culturally , the Ibaloi and Kankanaey show closer affinity
with their northern neighbors , particularly the Bontoc than
with the southern ones.
30

31. • Southeasthern Cordillera
Low lying hills of Sierra Madre and the Caraballo
Sur
Are found the Gaddang and Ilongot
The southern Gaddang have undergone massive
changes in recent years and are now oriented to
the Ilocano culture.
The Ilongot have remained conservative and
appear their life archaic , settlement is dispersed
and fluids as household move, divide and merge to
follow the swidden or flee from the law
31

32. 32

33. Other indigenous groups outside cordillera
Agta, Dumagat, Yogad Ikalahan, Kalanguya,
and Itawis.
These people inhabit the foothills of Sierra
and narrow valleys of the Sierra Madre
mountain ranges in Eastern Luzon.
33

34. Other indigenous groups outside cordillera
34

35. Western Luzon along Zambales Ranges
Known as highly mobile people of Pinatubo(
Sometimes called Hambal, Ayta, and
Sambal)Similarly the Baluga inhabit the
northwestern part of Pampanga and
southwestern section of Tarlac. In Quezon
Province, Pollilo Island, and Bicol
peninsula(Camarines Norte and Sur)
35

36. Western Luzon along Zambales Ranges
Are found , scattered along the interior
hillsides, are additional group of Agta, Also
known as Ayta, Ati, and dumagat
36

37. 37
Ta Immali