CPAR

2.  The Tboli is one of the indigenous peoples of
South Cotabato in Southern Mindanao
 A T'boli legend tells that the T'boli are
descendants of the survivors of a great flood.

3.  Agriculture
 The T'boli practices "slash and burn"
agriculture to grow rice, cassava and yams.
They clear a part of the forest by cutting the
big trees and burning the lower and smaller
trees and bushes, after which they use the
cleared plots as arable land for some years
without any fertilization. They may also go
hunting or fishing for additional food.

4.  Religion and Beliefs
 The T’boli believes in a pantheon of deities,
supreme among which are Kadaw La
Sambad, the sun god, and Bulon La Mogoaw,
the moon goddess, who reside in the seventh
heaven. They have seven sons and seven
daughters who end up marrying each other
and who become the lesser deities. They
consider a bird called muhen the god of fate,
whose song is believed to cause misfortune.
Aside from these deities, the T’boli believes
that everything has a spirit which must be
propitiated for favorable fortune.

5.  Literature and Language
 The epic “Tud Bulol” is the core of
T’boli folk literature. It is sung in its
entirety only on important occasions.
Singing of the epic may take up to 16
hours depending on the version sung,
and is usually done through the night.
The T’boli also have folk beliefs and
sayings, as well as folk tales and
legends about their deities and heroes.

6.  Performance Arts
 The T’boli have a rich musical culture with a
variety of musical instruments ranging from
percussion (tnonggong (a deerskin drum);
agong (large gongs) and klintang (set of
gongs)) to woodwind (sloli (bamboo flute);
kubing (bamboo jew’s harp) and few (small
horn)) to string (sludoy (bamboo zither) and
hagalong (two-string guitar)). They have a
wide repertoire of songs and dances for all
occasions.

7.  Personal Adornment
 T'boli men and women view white teeth as ugly and fit only for
animals. As a result, they practise tamblang, which is the filing of
teeth into nihik or regular shapes and blackening them with the sap
of a wild tree bark such as silob or olit. Adopting a practice from the
Muslims, prominent T'boli, such as a datu or his wife, adorn their
teeth with gold to indicate their wealth.
 Tboli have themselves tattooed, not just for vanity but because they
believe tattoos glow after death and light the way into the next world.
Men have their forearms and chests tattooed with bakong (stylized
animal) and hakang (human) designs, or blata (fern) and ligo bed
(zigzag) patterns. Women also have their calves, forearms, and
breasts tattooed in this manner.
 Another form of body décor is scarification achieved by applying live
coals onto the skin. The more scars a man has, the braver he is
considered to be.

8.  The B'laans are another pro-Malayan indigenous
group that inhabits the southern part of South
Cotabato and southeastern part of Davao del Sur
and the areas around Buluan Lake in North
Cotabato.

9. They are famous for their
brassworks, beadwork and
t'nalak weave. The people
of these tribes wear
colorful embroidered
native costumes and
beadwork accessories.

10.  The bagobos are Scattered throughout the
Southern Philippine Archipelago slowly
disappearing tribes untouched by neither time
nor colonization still exist in present time. Along
the desolate eastern coast of the Davao Gulf,
centuries ago, new migrants mixed with the
native population, forming a new community
that was given the name Bagobo. This tribe traces
its origin from the people who brought Hinduism
to Mindanao, its name was derived from the
words bago meaning new and obo meaning
growth. Throughout centuries a strong social
structure has enabled these native groups to
blend well with the original population, retaining
their indigenous customs, beliefs and values.

11.  Beliefs and Religion
 They feared the Anitos, spirits, which include
deceased ancestors and nature-spirits or diwatas,
who could grant their desire through offering of
sacrifices. Their religion is an array of innumerable
gimokods (spirits) who have to be shown respect.
The Bagobo also believe in a supreme being who
inhabits the sky world, as well as a deity, a
supernatural immortal being who will brings
sickness and death to incestuous couples. The
principal Spirit is the great creator named
Eugpamolak Manobo or Manama.