Philippine Indigenous Community

Module 8
Philippine Indigenous Customary Laws,
Livelihood and Technology

Name: Jane Rose A. Invento

Course: BS in Tourism Management 1

My Prior Understanding of Different IP Customary Laws, Livelihood and Technology

1. Cite 5 indigenous customs and traditions you are familiar with.
o Bayanihan – it is one of the enduring positive Filipino values that inspire the
community to help fellow countrymen in times of need without expecting
anything in return.
o Mano po – when children or young people greet or say goodbye to their elders
they typically do so by taking the right hand of the elder with their right hand and
touch the back the elder’s hand lightly on their forehead. It is a way of giving
respect to the elders and I believe that is also a way of receiving blessing to the
leaders.
o Courtship - We Filipinos are very romantic when it comes to heart affairs.
Serenading or Harana in Tagalog is one of the most popular forms of courtship to
show that a man is very serious with his intentions to a woman. A serenade would
require the young man to sing a love song in front of the young lady's house.
Normally, he is accompanied by his male friends who act as back-up singers. The
man himself or his friend played the instrument, usually a guitar, which provides
the background music to his song.
o Superstition- In the Philippines, superstitious beliefs have grown throughout the
country. These beliefs have come from the different sayings and beliefs of our
ancestors that aim to prevent danger from happening or to make a person refrain
from doing something in particular. These beliefs are part of our culture, for one
derives their beliefs from the influences of what their customs, traditions and
culture have dictated to explain certain phenomena or to scare people. Some are
practiced primarily because Filipinos believe that there is nothing to lose if they
will comply with these beliefs.
o Eating with hands (kamayan) - For many Filipinos, kamayan gives full taste to the
food instead of using utensils. Gather a small portion of meat or fish and a bite-
sized portion of rice on your plate. Then use all your fingers to gather the food
into a small mountain or mound. Pick up the little mound and put it in your mouth
using your thumb to gently push the food in.
2. Cite 5 indigenous laws you are familiar with.
o It is not right for children to mingle to the conversation of adults.
o The eldest son symbolizes the next to bear the family sure name.
o The datu is allowed to marry as many wives as he needs as long as he’s doing his
obligations to his children and spouses. This is their former custom, which many
datu in other tribe in the Philippines still follow.
o In cuyunon tribe, divorce is referred to as belag. Even though they were in the
condition of belag, the two couples remained married and finally reconciled. It
was forbidden for them to marry others.
o The youngest child has a big role to play with aging parents.
3. Cite 5 indigenous livelihoods you are familiar with.
o Mangyan are mainly subsistence agriculturists. They are making their living by
planting a variety of sweet potato, upland rice, and taro. They also trap small
animals and wild pig. Many who live in close contact with lowland Filipinos sell
cash crops such as bananas and ginger.
o The igorots are good farmers who have traditionally cultivated the sides of the
mountains for planting rice and vegetables. They also breed animals like
chickens, pigs, and cow’s. they are also weavers, artists, and craftsmen that until
now are well known for their impeccable hand works.
o T’boli’s main source of of livelihood is farming, fishing and hunting.
o Badjao’s make their living from traditional free-diving for fish and pearls.
o Molbog livelihood includes subsistence farming, fishing, and occasional barter
trading with the Sulu Bangsa Moro and nearby Sabah market centers.
4. Cite 5 indigenous technologies you are familiar with.
o An act of reclaiming, revivance, and retelling.
o Making pottery
o Weaving of native clothing
5. Do you think these customs, laws, livelihood and technology are the same or
different from popular Filipino customs and traditions?
o Yes, there are similarities, but there are also significant differences. The
indigenous people are content to rely only on the natural resources of the
mountains, forests, and oceans. Because they are bashful and fearful of the plain
people, they rarely go down the mountains to study in order to become successful.

6. Are indigenous laws compatible with existing laws in our country?

o Yes, indigenous rules are compatible with existing laws in our country, such as
the fact that it is not appropriate for a youngster to participate in an adult
discourse because adult negotiations are solely for adults. The other option is to
marry someone who is still married to your previous partner, as there is no law in
the Philippines that allows you to cancel or invalidate your marriage.
 7. Can indigenous livelihood and technology sustain the needs of IP people?
o The condition of indigenous peoples' ownership, control, and access to lands,
territories, and resources, as well as the practice of traditional occupations,
sustainable resource management methods, and self-governance, are all connected
with "poverty and prosperity." Their land also serves as the physical foundation
for their distinct identity, spirituality, and culture, all of which are necessary for
their dignity and well-being. Thus, "poverty" for indigenous peoples means being
landless, whereas "prosperity" means having the security to manage and utilize
their land and resources to meet their needs. When it comes to alleviating poverty
among indigenous peoples, fundamental social services such as sufficient health,
education, and infrastructure, as well as livelihood support, are required.
Learning Activities
Activity 1: Film Viewing
1. The Banaue Rice Terraces
2. The Badjao Diver and Spearman
3. Mga Agta ng Penablanca

Processing Questions
1. What are the different IP customary laws, livelihood, technology that were
presented in the films?
o As the film was centered in the preservation of the Banawe Rice Terraces, the IP
customary laws, livelihood and technology portrayed was the ways of maintaining
the terraces such as how and when they should plant, their beliefs to the existence
of thousands of gods, and their way of passing down inheritance.

2. What is the role of indigenous customary laws, livelihood and technology in the
preservation and conservation of the way of life of indigenous people?
o One main role of these aspects to the preservation and conservation of the way of
life of the indigenous people is that it ensures a constant and sustained guidance to
the younger generation so that they may manage their land of inheritance well
enough as much as their ancestors did.

3. Do you think that these customary laws, livelihood and technology should be
changed and directed toward the kind of life you are familiar with? Why or why
not?
o Not necessarily change. Maybe resorting into making some justifications in their
way of living and adopting some of ours are a better pull off because they don’t
have to let go all of their practices just for them to be called well- adjusted with
the modern era. The need to preserve our ancestor’s practices are much more
 important and no one else can do that better than them. Preservation is as much
important as modernization.

1. What are the common sources of livelihood among IP communities in the Philippines?
o Indigenous people’s common sources of livelihood are their traditional livelihood
practices such as hunting, fishing, gathering, shifting cultivation, pastoralism, and
high mountain agriculture continue to define their culture, identity and wellbeing
in addition to providing them food security.

2. How do you think IP groups could promote their sustainable economic development
while conserving their environment and natural resources?
o By showing their lifestyle or ways of life while protecting their environment and
natural resources.
3. How can you help promote the sustainable livelihood of Philippine IP groups?
o I can help them by supporting the NGOs that seeks to preserve the cultures of our
indigenous people here in the Philippines.