The document provides information on the Mangyan people, the eight indigenous groups found on the island of Mindoro in the Philippines. It summarizes that the Mangyan practice subsistence agriculture and hunting for their food. Their languages and customs vary between groups but some share vocabulary and a pre-Hispanic writing system. Their traditional religions are animistic with some groups now also practicing Christianity. The document outlines some of their traditional spiritual beliefs and gods.

1. TARA NA SA MINDORO!
MANGYAN

2. Mangyan is the generic name for the eight indigenous groups found on the
island of Mindoro, southwest of the island of Luzon, the Philippines, each with
its own tribal name, language, and customs. The total population maybe around
280,000, but official statistics are difficult to determine under the conditions of
remote areas, reclusive tribal groups and some having little if any outside world
contact.

3. Mangyan is mainly subsistence
agriculturalists, planting a variety of
sweet potato, upland (dry cultivation)
rice, and taro. They also trap small
animals and wild pigs.
Culture and practices

4. Their languages are mutually
unintelligible, though they share some
vocabulary and use Hanunó’o script to
write: Tawbuid and Buhid are closely
related, and are unusual among Philippine
languages in having an /f/ phoneme;
Tawbuid is divided into eastern and
western dialects; Western Tawbuid may be
the only Philippine language to have no
glottal phonemes, having neither /h/ or /ʔ/.

5. Their traditional religious
world view is primarily
animistic; around 10% have
embraced Christianity, both
Roman Catholicism and
Evangelical Protestantism
(The New Testaments have
been published in six of the
Mangyan languages).

6. The indigenous Mangyans offer a myriad of
culturally rich artifacts that give insight into
their culture and trade. The people living in
Southern Mindoro during the pre-Hispanic
era are exceptional in their weaving, pottery,
and system of writing.

7. Their clothing differs between genders. The
male generally wears loincloths as covering
for the lower body whereas the female
would wear a skirt and a shirt for the top.

8. Their system of writing, called Surat
Mangyan, is a pre-Hispanic syllabic
system and is believed to be of Indic
origin. It is still practiced today and
is still being taught in different
Mangyan schools of Oriental
Mindoro.

9. Mahal na Makaako – The Supreme
Being who gave life to all human beings
merely by gazing at them.
Binayi – Owner of a garden where all
spirits rest.
Binayo – Is a sacred female spirit, caretaker
of the rice spirits or the kalag paray. She is
married to the spirit Bulungabon. The
kalag paray must be appeased, to ensure a
bountiful harvest.
Bulungabon – The spirit aided by 12 fierce
dogs. Erring souls are chased by these
dogs and eventually drowned in a
cauldron of boiling water. He is Binayo’s
husband
Indigenous Mangyan religion

10. KITAKITS SOON!
MINDORO WILL BE WAITING FOR YOU.