Philippine Pop Culture

WHAT IS CULTURE? Culture is the characteristics and knowledge of a particular group of people, encompassing language, religion, cuisine, social habits, music and arts. It encompasses religion, food, what we wear, how we wear it, our language, marriage, music, what we believe is right or wrong, how we sit at the table, how we greet visitors, how we behave with loved ones, and a million other things. The word "culture" was derived from a French term, which in turn derives from the Latin "colere," which means to tend to the earth and grow, or cultivation and nurture. The Philippines is a country that has varied cultural influences. Most of these influences are results of previous colonization, deriving mainly from the culture of Spain and the United States. Despite all of these influences, the old Asian culture of Filipinos has been retained and are clearly seen in their way of life, beliefs and customs. ELEMENTS OF CULTURE Culture combines many elements to create a unique way of living for different people. SYMBOLS. A symbol is anything that is used to stand for something else. People who share a culture often attach a specific meaning to an object, gesture, sound, or image. For example, a cross is a significant symbol to Christians. It is not simply two pieces of wood attached to each other, nor is it just an old object of torture and execution. To Christians, it represents the basis of their entire religion, and they have great reverence for the symbol. Another example is Mano or Pagmamano. LANGUAGE. It is a system of words and symbols used to communicate with other people. This includes full languages as we usually think of them, such as English, Tagalog, etc. But it also includes body language, slang, and common phrases that are unique to certain groups of people. Another example of how cultural languages differ beyond vocabulary is the fact that eye contact represents different meanings in different cultures. Examples are Lip Pointing, Nodding and raising eyebrows with a smile, Silent looks. VALUES. It is the culture’s standard for discerning what is good and just in society. Values are deeply embedded and critical for transmitting and teaching a culture’s beliefs. It helps shape a society by suggesting what is good and bad, beautiful and ugly, sought or avoided. Values often suggest how people should behave, but they don’t accurately reflect how people do behave. Values portray an ideal culture; the standards society would like to embrace and live up to. The term bahala na, which can be translated to whatever happens, happens, is one of the more familiar phrases used in the country and is perhaps the most representative of how Filipinos value adaptability and quick thinking. It exemplifies one’s belief in a higher power and submitting one’s fate to elements that cannot be controlled. NORMS. Cultures differ widely in their norms, or standards and expectations for behaving. Norms are often divided into two types, formal norms, and informal norms. Formal norms, also called mores and laws, refer to the standards of behavior considered the most important in any society. Informal norms, also called folkways and customs, refer to standards of behavior that are considered less important but still influence how we behave. LAYERS OF CULTURE •

The national level: associated with the nation as a whole

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The regional level: associated with ethnic, linguistic, or religious differences that exist within a nation The gender level- associated with gender differences (female vs. Male) The generation level- associated with the differences between grandparents and parents, parents and children The social class level: associated with educational opportunities and differences in occupation The corporate level- associated with the particular culture of an organization. Applicable to those who are employed.

ETHNOCENTRISM vs. CULTURAL RELATIVISM Despite how much humans have in common, cultural differences are far more prevalent than cultural universals. CULTURAL RELATIVISM. It is the idea that a person’s beliefs, values and practices should be understood based on the person’s own culture, rather than be judged against the criteria of another. ETHNOCENTRISM. It is the belief or attitude that one’s own culture is better than all others, and should therefore serve as the standard frame for reference. WHAT IS POPULAR CULTURE? It is also called mass culture and pop culture) is generally recognized by members of a society as a set of the practices, beliefs and objects that are dominant or ubiquitous in a society at a given point in time. Heavily influenced in modern times by mass media, this collection of ideas permeates the everyday lives of people in a given society. Therefore, popular culture has a way of influencing an individual’s attitudes towards certain topics. The culture of the Philippines comprises a blend of traditional Filipino and Spanish Catholic traditions, with influences from America and other parts of Asia. The Filipinos are family oriented and often religious with an appreciation for art, fashion, music and food. 

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Filipinos are very resilient. In times of calamities and catastrophes, Filipinos always manage to rise above the challenge. Instead of wallowing, they manage to pick themselves up and smile. Filipinos take pride in their families. In the Philippines, it is family first. So whether you are part of the immediate family or you belong to the fourth generation, you are treated as a family member. Sometimes, even the closest of friends are considered family, too. Filipinos are very religious. In all corners of a Filipino house, you can find brazen images of crosses and other religious paraphernalia. They go to church every Sunday, or sometimes even twice or three times a week. Filipinos are very respectful. From the moment they are born into this world, they are already taught how to be respectful by using these simple catchphrases—po and opo, words that end sentences when addressing elders. They have a culture of pagmamano, which is where they raise the backs of the hands of their elders to their foreheads as a sign of respect. Filipinos help one another. More popularly known as bayanihan, Filipinos help one another—without expecting anything in return—so that undertaking their tasks and responsibilities become much easier. Sometimes this is called “community spirit.” Filipinos value traditions and culture. For Filipinos, traditions in their home and in their family are important. They usually set aside a specific day for a certain celebration like

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festivals, birthday parties, reunions, etc. And of course, every gathering is dedicated to keeping up with each other over sumptuous food. Filipinos have the longest Christmas celebrations. Even as early as August, you can hear Christmas songs and jingles being played in the malls or in the restaurants in the Philippines. The mood becomes festive, with many people shopping and in good spirits. Christmas celebrations last until around the first or second week of January. Filipinos love to eat. Aside from breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Filipinos manage to squeeze in a little meal in between, too. Whether they eat every hour or every three hours, they savour every bite. Filipinos love to sing. This is the reason why karaoke has become so prevalent. As part of their recreation, Filipinos spend some quality time with their families or friends singing or belting out new and old songs. Filipinos love art and architecture. Filipinos have a penchant for bringing art and architecture to a whole new level. They love to design creatively, to think intuitively, and have a passion for anything different and unique.

Other Filipino Culture Filipino Family Values 

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The family is the centre of the social structure and includes the nuclear family, aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins and honorary relations such as godparents, sponsors, and close family friends. People get strength and stability from their family. As such, many children have several godparents. It is common for members of the same family to work for the same company.

Filipino Concept of Shame     

Hiya is shame and is a motivating factor behind behaviour. It is a sense of social propriety and conforming to societal norms of behaviour. Filipinos believe they must live up to the accepted standards of behaviour and if they fail to do so they bring shame not only upon themselves, but also upon their family. One indication of this might be a willingness to spend more than they can afford on a party rather than be shamed by their economic circumstances. If someone is publicly embarrassed, criticized, or does not live up to expectations, they feel shame and lose self-esteem. Etiquette & Customs

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Initial greetings are formal and follow a set protocol of greeting the eldest or most important person first. Use academic, professional, or honorific titles and the person's surname until you are invited to use their first name, or even more frequently, their nickname.

If you are invited to a Filipino's house:   

The best time to arrive is 15 to 30 minutes later if they are invited on a large party. Dress well. Appearances matter and you will be judged on how you dress. Compliment the hostess on the house.

INDIGENOUS PEOPLE AND THEIR CULTURE The term indigenous refers to any ethnic group that resides in its original location, practices a traditional culture, and speaks a minority language. However, this definition is not all encompassing. Some indigenous groups may have lost their traditional language, but are otherwise considered an indigenous ethnic group. Other ethnic groups may have been displaced from their original homeland but have retained most of their indigenous culture. The very term indigenous peoples is confusing because most people in the world are “indigenous” to their countries in the sense of having been born in them, being descended from people who were born in them.

Indigenous people are group of individuals sharing common bonds of language, customs, traditions, and other distinctive cultural traits. They are inheritors and practitioners of unique cultures and ways of relating to people and the environment. They have retained social, cultural, economic and political characteristics that are distinct from those of the dominant societies in which they live. Indigenous peoples claim their lands because they were there first or have occupied them since time immemorial. They are also groups that have been conquered by peoples racially, ethnically or culturally different from themselves. They have thus been subordinated by or incorporated in alien states which treat them as outsiders and, usually, as inferiors. Since they had not developed their own states and are not integral to the states that now actually or potentially rule over them, indigenous peoples are often referred to as “tribal.” The phrase tribal peoples is unfortunately imprecise. Nowadays it is used as a kind of shorthand to refer to small-scale, pre-industrial societies that live in comparative isolation and manage their affairs without any centralized authority such as the state.

The Philippines is a culturally diverse country with an estimated 14- 17 million Indigenous Peoples (IPs) belonging to 110 ethno-linguistic groups. They are mainly concentrated in Northern Luzon (Cordillera Administrative Region, 33%) and Mindanao (61%), with some groups in the Visayas area. They continued to live in their relatively isolated, self-sufficient communities, at the time when most lowland communities had already been integrated into a single colony under Spain in the 1700s and 1800s. They were able to preserve the culture and traditions of their “ethnos” or “tribe” as reflected in their communal views on land, their cooperative work exchanges, their communal rituals, their songs, dances, and folklore. Instead of hierarchical governments, each of these communities had its own council of elders who customarily settled clan or tribal wars to restore peace and unity. LUZON “ IGOROT “ Igorot is the general name for the people of the Cordillera region, in the Philippines island of Luzon. The word "Igorot" is an eponym, derived from the archaic Tagalog term for "mountain people" (formed from the prefix i-, "dweller of" and golot, "mountain range"). This indigenous population covers six provinces in the middle of Northern Luzon – Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, and Mountain Province. There are eight ethno-linguistic groups in the Cordillera, namely, Bontoc, Isneg, Kalinga, Kankanaey, Tingguian, Yapayao, Ibaloi, and Ifugao. The Igorot peoples are Austronesians. They were known in earlier days for their wars and practice of headhunting. The Spaniards forcibly partially subdued them during the colonial occupation of the Philippines, that process being completed during the period of U.S. hegemony. Ethnologists distinguish about 10 main ethnic groups, each with its own dialect and culture. There are also variations within these groups. Two broader groupings may be made of the Igorot as a whole: one, by far the larger, comprises the peoples of the higher country who cultivate wet rice, mostly in steplike terraces on the mountainsides; the other comprises peoples of the lower rainforest areas, who grow dry rice in seasonally shifting gardens.

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BONTOC

It is a group of former headhunters that has traditionally lived by hunting, fishing and farming. Their population is spread over 10 municipalities and 137 barrios, and each village has its own distinct dialect, some of which are Sadanga, Guinaang Bontoc, and Bayyu. Bontoc comes from the word buntuk, which means mountains and refers to the people of Mountain Province. Those living in the capital town of Mountain Province often speak Bontok, and many speak Ilocano as well.

Bontoc House and Villages Bontoc villages are organized in wards called ato. Each village has between 6 - 19 ato and each ato has 14 to 50 houses. Each ato has its meeting-place, consisting of a circle of small boulders, where the men assemble to discuss matters affecting the ato, such as war and peace; for the ato is the political unit, and not the village as a whole. The ato are set around a stone platform, where

headhunting ceremonies were held, and an unmarried girls dormitory and an unmarried boys dormitory, which also serve as a club house and council room. As soon as children are three or four years old, they leave the roof under which they were born. The boys should stay in a sort of dormitory called “pabajunan” , as well as “ olog “ to girls. The children stays and sleeps on their respective pabajunan and olog until they are grown up and married. The children go on sleeping in their respective pabajunan and olog until they are grown up and married. A sort of trial marriage seems to exist; the young men freely visit the olog—indeed, are expected to. If results follow, it is a marriage, and the couple go to housekeeping; otherwise all the parties in interest are free. Marriage ties are respected, adultery being punished with death.

Bontoc Religion Traditional religion remains strong among the Bontoc, especially spirits associated with the dead. These spirits, known as anito, lives in a spirit world in the mountains that is not unlike the one people usually people live in. They consult on all characterized matters and relay their answers through bird calls. Lumawig is their supreme deity. Bontoc Clothes and Tattoos Both men and women traditionally covered their bodies with tattoos, although the men were only allowed to after having killed enemies in inter-tribal conflicts. Women wear bright red hand-woven skirts, and used distinctive pieces of snake skeleton as hairpieces. Today, many of the Bontoc cultures and traditions are rarely practiced and slowly disappearing. 

ISNEG

They live in the Province of Apayao, the northwesterly region of Luzon. They used to live mostly along large rivers and on hillsides. Now they also live in many cities, mainly in Kalanasan. The Spaniards referred to them as los Apayaos (referring to the river along which they live) and los Mandayas (taken from the Isneg term meaning “upstream”). Isnag, the Isneg language, is spoken by around 300,000 people. Ilocano is generally spoken by about three-fourths of the region's total population. The Isneg settlements are mostly along the river, but they do farming up the hills at certain times of year.

They are slender, have a graceful stature, are kind, hospitable, generous, and courageous. Brave men were called Mengal, and the bravest of them were called Kamenglan. The Mengal wore red scarves around their heads. They were tattooed on their arms and shoulders for every head they took in battle. Isneg House and Villages

Their houses are built close together, for security and companionship. They are usually very colorful and built on four large posts. Another house they have is called a Binuron. It is a large rectangular multi family house built on 15 large pillers. Isneg Religion There are more than 300 spirits that they pray too. There are no gods, just good and bad spirits. Many rituals are performed to the good spirits for prosperity, health, etc. They also have rituals to keep the bad spirits away. Isneg Rituals/Beliefs Say-am is a feast celebrated by an affluent Isneg family, usually accompanied by wining, eating, and dancing. An important special ritual is the say-am, which is performed before an assembly of people, for important social occasions, such as a successful headhunt (in the past), the removal of mourning clothes, and other events left to the discretion of wealthy families. The outlay in terms of food preparation is enormous, and can only be afforded by the rich. To these occasions, shamans and distinguished members of the hamlet such as the warriors, are invited. Only one shaman may officiate in the rituals. In contrast, pildap is celebrated by the poorer members of the tribe when a family

transfers to another place or when someone seeks healing. 

KALINGA

They settled on the leveled or terraced areas on the slopes of steep mountains near rivers and streams, as well as, large portions of open grasslands. As a result, principal sources of livelihood among the Kalinga is the payaw (ricefields) and the uma (swidden farm). Recently Kalinga people could be identified from a distance by their distinctive body art. Immersed in the magnificent mountains, Kalinga people lived modest but passionate lives in a world where your skin communicated your social status to the local community.

Historically, they attained leadership and respect through headhunting, along with other skills. The name Kalinga believed to have originated from the Gaddang (Cagayan) and Ibanag languages, means “headhunter.” Kalinga society may be stratified into lawa or kapus (poor) and the baknang (wealthy). Among the signs of prestige and wealth are possessions of several ricefields, working animals, heirlooms like china plates and jars, agate head/necklaces and brass gongs. Kalinga House and Villages Kalinga have a number of house types, including: forny, buloy, fulong, buyoy, and binalyon or finaryo, which is the distinctive Kalinga octagonal house of the elite. The forms of the houses generally are organic forms responding to environmental imperatives. The binalyon/finaryo type, however, is distinguished by the social ranking of the owners, who are usually pangats the most respected persons in the community. Only ranking families can own such houses. Kalinga Religion Anito are supernatural beings in general. The Kalinga recognize a creator god, Kaboniyan, but invoke him only in moments of extreme and sudden crisis, such as an accidental death or the destruction of the rice crop by a storm. They take for granted the good will of the mandodwa (benevolent spirits) and focus their prayers, chants, and sacrifices on appeasing malevolent spirits who, if neglected, bring illness and misfortune on humans by capturing their souls. Kalinga Rituals/Beliefs

For a month after a birth, the family refrains from eating beef, cow's milk, eel, frogs, taro, and dog meat; the father may not leave the village; and no one who does not habitually sleep in the house may enter it. At the end of the month, a medium sweeps the house with an anaao (a palm-frond raincoat) and removes the four reeds that have been placed at the four corners of the house as a sign of the taboo period. Over the first year and a half of its life, six kontad ceremonies are held for the child, involving pig and chicken sacrifices, chanting, the taking of pig's liver omens, and the erecting of a spirit house or platform. IBALOI The Ibaloi, also called Nabaloi or Inibaloy, are among the indigenous people collectively known as the Benguet people who occupy the Northern part of Luzon, notably the mountainous terrain of the Cordillera Administrative Region. The name Ibaloi means "people who live in houses.“ Famous for their ancient tradition of mummification, the Benguet people believe in supreme beings and spirits that guide their way of living as well as their future. The Ibalois, especially the affluent families, have an ancient tradition of preserving a loved one's dead body through mummification. It is a complicated process that takes about weeks or months and sometimes even years to accomplish. The corpse is properly cleaned and covered in salt and herbs before it is placed over a fire in a seated position. Meanwhile, tobacco smoke is blown into the cadaver's mouth to dry its internal organs. This process helps remove fluids from the body. Currently, more than a hundred man-made burial caves have been found in the region, with 15 of the caves containing preserved human mummies. The Kabayan Museum in Benguet was named among the 100 most endangered sites in the world. It housed four mummies that were eventually returned to the Timbac Caves in February 2004. There are still between 50 to 80 mummies left in their natural caves in Benguet. This ancient practice has since died beginning in the 1500s when the Philippines was colonized by Spain. Ibaloi Religion The traditional Ibaloi religion centered on ancestor worship; however, they are already on the path to transformation. As traditional spirit worshippers, they sought the blessings of their ancestors, asking for healing, prosperity and long lives. Thanks to the introduction of Christianity in the 1950s, about 30 percent of the Ibaloi claim to be Christians. In more recent years, a team of translators produced the New Testament and the "JESUS" film. Being exposed to mother tongue Scripture has resulted in Christians showing love and grace to other people groups and cooperating in mission outreaches to them. Ibaloi Rituals/Beliefs A popular native feast amongst the Ibalois is the Cañao Tradition. It is a thanksgiving ritual that refers to several native feasts of the Ibaloi and Benguet people. There are different types of cañao ceremonies, most of which involve massive preparations and revelry. Among the most extravagant observances is the Pechit or Pesshet that entails feeding the whole neighborhood. It involves sacrificing animals as well as an offering of rice wine or tapuy. A ritual is performed to appease the spirits, seek approval, or simply to give thanks or appreciation. Tapuy is an important offering since rice was a special commodity in the past and was only served during special occasions. 

IFUGAO

The Ifugao call themselves as i-pugao or "inhabitants of the known earth"; other variations of the name are Ifugaw, Ipugao, and Yfugao. They live primarily in the province of Ifugao in Central Cordillera, in Northern Luzon. The name is supposed to have come from ipugo which means "from the hill." The Amganad Ifugao (Ifugaw) populate the central part of Ifugao Province and has two dialects: Burnay and Banaue. Agricultural terracing is their principal means of livelihood along with farming. Their social status is measured by the number of rice field granaries, family heirlooms, gold earrings, carabaos (water buffaloes), as well as, prestige conferred through time and tradition. The more affluent, known as kadangyan were usually generous by nature, giving rice to poor neighbors in time of food shortage(s) and/or hardship(s). Furthermore, their culture was known for their legal system, using one of the world's most extensive oral legal traditions specifying the offense depending on the use of custom law; trial by elders (influenced in part by public opinion); or trial by ordeal. The wealthy were subjected to greater fines than the poor. Ifugao Religion About half of all Ifugaos have embraced Christianity but their animist beliefs have been absorbed into their Christian beliefs. The Ifugao have traditionally believed their lives were ruled by spirits called anitos. Many Ifugao still believe the universe was divided into five levels. At the top is: 1) the heavens which itself has four "superimposed heavens." Beneath it is 2) Pugao, the known land. Below is 3) the underworld and there is also 4) the world upstream and 5) the world downstream. Ifugao Rituals/Beliefs During ceremonies that pay homage to the anitos (spritits) clan leaders wear headdresses adorned with wild pig tusks, hornbill beaks and feathers and monkey skulls. The hornbill is considered to be the messenger of the gods and the monkey is a comic symbol. During a festival to mark the planting of the crop in March or February the Ifugao hold a ceremony known as ulpi in which they leave the terraces for a few days and socialize, smoke and drink a palm liquor called bayah. During the harvest in July they thank the spirits by sacrificing chickens and then study the blood for omens. If everything is satisfactory the blood is smeared on wooden idols that watch over the grain supply. These are the five ethnolinguistic groups – Ibanag, Ilongot, Gaddang, Ikalahan and Isinai – who together with the Agta/Aeta people inhabit the Caraballo mountain range in Eastern Central Luzon. This range connects the provinces of Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino and Nueva Ecija.

MINDANAO “ MORO & LUMAD”. The Moros practice Islam and the Lumads do not. I. LUMAD is a generic term embracing all non-Muslim hill tribes of Mindanao. It is a Visayan term that means “born and grown in the place”. They form the largest grouping of indigenous peoples in the country which has a total population of 2.1 million. They can be found in almost all provinces of Mindanao and they include the Subanen, Manobo, B’laan, T’boli, Mandaya, Mansaka, Tiruray, Higaonon, Bagobo, Bukidnon, Tagkaolo, Banwaon, Dibabawon, Talaandig, Mamanua, and Manguangan. 

MANOBO

Its name came from the word Mansuba; man (person or people) and suba (river), meaning river people. The most common lifestyle of the Manobo is that of agriculture. Unfortunately, their farming methods are very primitive. They use a farming system called kaingin. This is a

procedure in which fields are allowed to remain fallow for certain periods of time so that areas of cultivation may be shifted from place to place. Social life for the Manobo is patriarchal (male-dominated). The head of the family is the husband. Polygyny (having more than one wife at a time) is common and is allowed according to a man's wealth. Their political structure similar with other tribes. A ruler, called a sultan, is the head of the group. Beneath him are the royal and non-royal classes. Only those people belonging to the royal classes can aspire to the throne. Those belonging to the non-royal classes are under the power and authority of the royal classes. Each class is interdependent on the others. Manobo House and Villages The Manobo usually build their villages near small bodies of water or forest clearings, although they also opt for hillsides, rivers, valleys, and plateaus. The communities are small, consisting of only 4-12 houses. Manobo Religion The religious beliefs of the Manobo revolve around the concept of many unseen spirits interfering in the lives of humans. They believe that these spirits can intrude on human activities to accomplish their desires. The spirits are also believed to have human characteristics. They are both good and evil in nature and can be evoked to both anger and pleasure. Manawbanaw, the god Responsible for the Manobo system of Taboos. He is the god of rain, thunder and lightning. He punishes Taboo breakers! especially those who treat animals contemptuously with a power called "nayew or "nanit. One punishment that he sends Taboo breakers is hailstorm that would melt into a lake in which the whole village of Taboo breakers drown and are transformed into crocodiles. The cosmology of Manobo consists of four worlds the many layeredlangit (skyworld), pasak or yungsud to mamasak(earth world), yunsud nimaybowan( underworld), and kulaguan (the paradise where the epic heros dwell).

Manobo Rituals/Beliefs Throughout the year, the elders of the Manobo tribe are looking for the star-lit sky to determine the season of planting, harvesting, fishing and hunting. Each star can bring a different message and will guide the tribal group in their traditional way of living. This practice is called Pamiteun, the Manobos' indigenous way of understanding the stars. Nowadays only the members of the older generation of farmers will continue to use the Pamiteun but they are passing the knowledge to the present generation, to learn the old way of living, keep their culture and traditions alive and deepen their consciousness about their own culture. 

T’BOLI

They primarily live in the South Cotabato province of Mindanao Island, which is located in the southern part of the Philippines. The T'boli speak a Malayo-Polynesian language called Tboli. In addition to their native language, many of the T'boli also speak Ilongo or Bilaan. They are farmers who practice the swidden (slash and burn) method of agriculture. This involves cutting the forest growth, burning the debris, and planting in the clearing. T’boli House and Villages

The T'boli live in "long-houses" that are built on six-foot stilts. Homes are generally about 50 feet long and nearly 30 feet wide. They are typically constructed of bamboo, wood, and palm fronds. The people do not live in towns or villages, but live apart from each other in their widely separated houses. T’boli Religion They follow their traditional animistic religion, believing that aspects of nature have spirits. If the spirits are not appeased, they can cause the people much harm. Although they believe in a great pantheon of gods, the two most important are Kadaw la Sambad and Bulon la Mogow. They also place large wooden statues of the gods in their homes and fields. They frequently offer food and liquor to the gods for appeasement. T’boli Rituals/Beliefs Marriages are usually arranged by the families after lengthy negotiations. Monogamy (one husband, one wife) is nearly always practiced. However, the rich may sometimes have multiple wives as a symbol of prestige. Mo Ninum is considered as the grandest wedding ritual of the T-boli tribe. It means the “feast of making wine” from sugarcane. It is a day of feasting and drinking, celebration of propitiation, soul cleansing and renewal of spiritual life. It is a set of six ceremonial and reciprocal feasts where to families take turns in being hosts and guests. This reciprocal arrangement may last two to seven years. II. The Moro are the Muslims in Mindanao composed of fourteen groups, namely, Maranao, Maguindanao, Tausug, Samal, Yakan, Sangil, Palawani, Badjao, Kalibugan, Jama-Mapun, Ipanun, Kalagan, Molbog, and Muslim.

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MARANAO

The name Maranao means "People of the Lake" or "Lake Dwellers“, after their traditional territory in the area surrounding Lake Lanao in the Bukidnon-Lanao Plateau. They are one of the largest Islamic groups in the Philippines, with the core areas being Marawi City, Lumba-abayabao, and Bayang. The native Maranao have a fascinating culture that revolves around kulintang music, a specific type of gong music, that can be found among both Muslim and non-Muslim groups of the Southern Philippines. The Kulintang, traditionally considered a women's instrument, is an ancient instrumental form of music composed on a row of horizontally-laid gongs and is played by striking the bosses of the gongs with two wooden beaters. Maranao House and Villages Maranao villages are composed of several families living in homes sans walls for partition. They are allowed to be members of different villages simultaneously, without fear of recrimination as outcasts due largely in part to the accepted bilateral relationships. Maranao’s Religion The Maranao are a splinter group of the Maguindanao who took up Islam; families tracing their religious origins to Sharif Kabunsuan, who introduced the religion to the region. Maranao’s Rituals/Beliefs The Maranaos are superstitious. They believe in the hidden powers of the ANTINGANTING amulets. These Items which they wear on their necks, arms or legs believed to bring

them good luck. Courting a Maranao lady could be difficult. A suitor should be the most hardworking and patient bachelor in town. A go-between who will mediate for the contracting parties of the groom needed. The parents of the groom contact the parents of the bride regarding the desire of their son marry. The woman's family announces the dowry. When all is settled, the wedding celebration takes place in fun and merriment. 

TAUSUG

Tausug or Suluk is the name of an Islamized tribal group in the Sulu archipelago, and is taken from the words tau meaning man and sug meaning current. Traditionally the Tausug are sailors, pearl divers and traders, their ancestral homelands in the Sulu Archipelago have vigorous tidal currents that flow from the Sulu and China Seas to the Celebes Sea. This translates literally into the name people of the current. This homogeneous tribe is a blend of Malay and Indonesian races; they are widespread in the Philippines and can be found mainly in coastal area communities. In the past the Tausug were boisterous pirates who infested the waters from the Sulu seas but nowadays make a living from agriculture, raising water buffaloes and fishing. Aside from being known as the best, gallant and ferocious freedom fighters of the world the Tausug are famous for being the best pearl divers in the world. TAUSUG House and Villages The Tausug house typically consists of a single rectangular room, bamboo- or timberwalled, with a thatched roof, raised on posts about 2 to 3 meters above the ground. The structure is generally surrounded by a series of elevated porches leading to a separate kitchen at the rear and is often enclosed within a protective stockade encircling the house compound. TAUSUG’s Religion The strong-willed Tausug follow the Sunni Islamic beliefs and practices, Sunni Islam is the largest branch of Islam, the word Sunni comes from the word Sunnah meaning tradition. But indigenous beliefs endure, apart from Allah or Tuhan, the Tausug also believe in spirits that inhabit nature, especially rocks and trees, like the evil spirits named saytan and unseen creatures called jinn. According to the Tausug the human soul has four souls which leave the body when he dies, the life-soul related with blood, the spirit-soul connected with dreams, the soul of breath, associated with life and the transcendental soul. TAUSUG’s Rituals/Beliefs The Pangalay, a traditional Tausug wedding dance and popularly known as the fingernail dance is one of the most well known dances, accompanied by a kulintang ensemble. This dance is distinctive because dancers use metal or golden nail extenders or janggay, which make the fingers stiff and set them apart from the thumbs. The Pangalay imitates the mythical Sarimanok bird, a reincarnation of a goddess who loved a mortal man, after the dance, she removes her nails and drops them to the ground, hoping that a man will gather them and will claim her for his bride. A Tausug marriage is usually arranged by parents, with the exception of the children of brothers, first and second cousins are favoured spouses. Marriageable women are kept in relative seclusion to protect their value to their family. 

BADJAO

Badjao or Bajau means man of the seas, this tribal group is known as the Sea Gypsies because they move with the wind and the tide on their small houseboats called vintas, they can be found

in many coastal settlements and inhabit the waters and shores of the Sulu archipelago. Sinama is the language of Badjao. The Philippines has experienced a surge in population that has severely depleted fish populations, leaving Badjao without anything to sustain their livelihood. Recent changes in the law have outright banned all fishing, sustainable and otherwise, in the areas where Badjao have been fishing for centuries. Desperate for food, young men risk their lives and their boats every night when fishing in these waters. Badjao men have lost their lives and their boats from the simple act of fishing. With no options for families on the brink of starvation, children routinely are sent to nearby cities to beg. Begging often provides a family enough resources to eat for the Because families rely on this meager income, children essentially become slaves and are forced to beg up to 12 hours a day. Uneducated and often ostracized by the majority people group, they are left struggling to survive in modern society. BADJAO House and Villages By tradition, they travel by boat from one island to the other in search of fishing harvest. This pagan tribe have sailed the seas for more than a thousand years, but because of over fishing by other groups using everything from high-tech fishing trawlers, their life in the open waters is drying up. They no longer live on boats, they live in thatch-roofed houses on bamboo stilts on a small strip of land that nobody else wanted, somewhere along the coastline of Sarangani. BADJAO’s Religion The Badjao people consider themselves to be Sunni Muslim. Many attend mosques and participate in the daily prayers. They also believe they are descendants of Muhammad.Although many believe this, a lot of Badjao people have a more animistic religious view. They have a more spiritual way of life and way of looking at things. They believe in spirit boats and sailing spirits away and worship the sea god- Omboh Dilaut. BADJAO’s Rituals/Beliefs The spirits of the dead are kept in a grave and every period of Shaaban, the soul comes back to our world. They also believe that the dead can communicate with the living through the ritual ceremonies of celebration, worship, and exorcism. To accept their new tribe, the Badjao throws newborn in the deep-sea.