The Mandaya tribe

1. MANDAYA
TRIBE

2. Origin
•Mandaya, from the root word daya, which literally
means “upstream” or “upland,” is the ethnic tribe of
Davao Oriental (and in some parts of Surigao Del
Sur), the southeastern part of the Philippines.
• “first people upstream”

3. Livelihood
• The Mandayas are shifting cultivators who rely largely on
swidden farming (also known as slash-and-burn) as a means
for survival. Their other means of livelihood include fishing,
food gathering, hunting, and the planting of abaca as a cash
crop.

4. Beliefs
• They celebrate festivals to invite "diwatas" or spirits and ask
for good health and healing for those who are sick.
• The dead are buried with the coffin upright along with some
food for the "journey".
• Their religion is animistic.
• believing in anitos, but they consider "Magbabayo" (God) as
the Supreme Being. A festival for Tagbanwa (the owner of the
land) is made every harvest season for thanksgiving

5. Language
• Primary: Mandaya
• Total Languages: 2
• Secondary: Cebuano

6. Marriage
• Practice polygyny
Stages:
1.) Pakasayod- “to learn” or “to remember”
2.) Pamuka or Kagon- both families meet for the second time
3.) Pagtawas
4.) Kasamongan- both families meet to set the marriage
5.) Pagtulod da, patulod- Final celebration of the matrimony “it
is goodbye now”

7. Costume

9. Songs
• Dawot- chanted to entertain people in special ocassions
• Performed by a magdadawot (native bard) who is expected to
have a mastery of the intricacies of the ancient art of chanting
the panayday or versification of the poems.

10. Performing Arts
• Kobeng- slender piece of bamboo resembling a jews harp

11. Kudlong
• Two stringed instrument similar to the kudyapi of the Maranao.

12. Gimbal
• Native drum made of tree trunk or deer skin

13. Mansaka
• The name Mansaka is a combination of man (“first”) and saka
(“to ascend”), and is almost identical to the meaning of
Mandaya: “the first people to climb the mountains or go
upstream.” Mansaka can be found in Davao Oriental.
• The Mansaka are the most dominant ethnic group in
Compostella Valley Province. They are said to have lived in the
area since the time when Magbabaya (Creator) created them.

14. Livelihood
• Farming, Fishing, Hunting
• Farming Produce:
-Humay (rice) and batad (corn)= Harvested and stored
-Paruda (sweet potatoes) and wakag (tubers)= dug from
the backyard when they are to be consumed
-coffee and hemp=cash crops
• Fishing Methods
-Yamangot
-Gabukad
-Longyab
-Ligwat

15. Beliefs
• Belian (shaman)- usually female medicine person who
officiates in rituals involving sickness, death, planting and
harvest.
• Mansaka identifies themselves as utaw or people created by
Magbabaya.
• Mansaka manaog or domestic gods are represented by wooden
statues.
• Offerings are given to the manaog after rice planting, harvest ,
and before death

16. Language
• Tagacaolo, Davaoeno, Isamal dialects

17. Marriage
• Arranged by parents of the bride and groom
• Mansaka maiden usually marries when she reaches 15
• Parents of the girl sets the amount of the dowry for their daughter.
• The dowry is in terms of al-langs (slaves), agongs and patakia (a
container for betel nut and chew)
• Wedding ceremonies consists of an exchange of rice between
parties: the man takes rice in his hand and feeds his bride and vice
versa

18. Costume
• Women-adorn their bodies with sampad, platena, balyog and
bracelets
• The blouse of the daughter of the nobility if full of design motifs
called pyanaigon, byatotoan, limbotong and binawid.
• Their clothes are made from abaca and saragboy, a soft cotton-like
cloth from a native shrub
• Men- wear short pants or SYRAWTANAN, also made from abaca and
woven by women of the tribe.

20. Bagobo
• The word “Bagobo” is derived from the root word “bago,”
which means “new” or “recent” while the “obo” suffix means
“grow” in the tribe’s dialect.
• found in Davao del sur, and in some parts of Davao de Norte
and along the Sarangani Strait
• constitute one of the largest groups among the indigenous
peoples of southern Mindanao. They are composed of three
(3) sub-groups, namely the TAGABAWA, the CLATA or
GUIANGAN and the UBO.

21. Livelihood
• The Bagobo are by origin a nomadic tribe, they travelled from one
place to the other by hacking their way through the virgin forests.
The region was abundant with tall trees and had a wide area of
hunting grounds.
• The bow and arrow were used both in hunting wild boar, deer or
monkeys and fishing in waters gushing from the slopes of Mount
Apo.
• They are noted for their skill in producing brass articles through the
ancient lost-wax process. They also weave abaca cloths of earth
tones and make baskets that are trimmed with beads, fibers, and
horses hair.

22. Beliefs
• The inhabitants in the early settlements 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.

23. Songs
• They played different folk instruments like kulintang and they
dance gracefully. The dance which they clean the body and
soul of their great warriors is called Gin-um
and Kasal sa Banig for wedding ceremony.
• The Rice Cyle

24. Costume
• Their distinct ceremonial attire made of ikat textiles is likely to be
referred to as either costume or dress. For the Bagóbo, however,
whichever word is used made a difference. For example, they tend
to use kóstyom (costume) when speaking to non-Bagóbo; amongst
themselves, they use ompák (garment or clothing).