go, and it is there where they come to know if

PALAWAN TRIBE they are to proceed to lampanag (heaven) or be

There are various ethnolinguistic groups that cast into the depths of the basad, where fire and
consider Palawan as home. These are the Batak, boiling water await these hapless ones.
Palaweño, Tagbanwa, Palawano, and Tau’t
Bato where the mountains and coastal areas Music and Dance
serve as their homes. These groups have built In placating and supplicating the divinities of the
villages in those areas and have been staying spirit world, the Batak use incantations, music,
there for quite some time already. and dance in ritual performances called
pagdiwata. A healing ceremony is called
magkabaro. A pre-planting ceremony is called
Batak sageb and the adidao is a chant that calls on the
guidance of good spirits. A male babaylan
Agriculture and Livelihood performs the magdiwata (ritual songs) and
The Batak are primarily food gatherers, hunters, magtarek (dances). Instrumental music is
forager-traders, and horticulturists. In recent provided by female players who pound on
times, they have also been practicing a rudimentary drums and strike bamboo tubes
rudimentary form of agriculture in the form of with sticks. The tarek is a traditional dance
planting rice, root crops, and bananas, having performed by a farmer and his family as part of
learned this industry from the Christian settlers a preplanting ritual to ask the diwata of the fields
living nearby. They use dogs to hunt wild pigs to guard the newly opened fields and to bring a
and deer, and the sapukan (blowgun) and the good harvest. Three dances exemplify the
bow-and-arrow to hunt fowl. The simbolan, the present Batak hierarchy of dances: the
time when fruits on trees become overripe and sarunkay, the first dance executed by the healer
begin to fall to the forest floor, prompts the peak during the healing ritual; the bugsay-bugsay, an
of hunting because wild pigs feed on these fallen enjoyable dance for one or more persons; and
fruits and the animals become easy prey to the patarusan, considered the highest in the
hunters during this season. The Batak fished hierarchy because it is the fastest and most
only in rivers and streams, using natural plant exciting but perhaps the easiest to learn.
poisons from vines such as the tubli.
Contemporary economic activities that provide Community and Family Values
the Batak with their daily subsistence and much In the past, the tribe practiced polygamy, with
needed cash income are kaingin (slash-and-burn the strongest man in the tribe having the most
farming), collecting taro (honey), gathering wives and children, proving himself to be a great
bejuco (rattan), and tapping bagtik from provider. However, with the introduction of
almaciga trees. Christianity and the concept of monogamy, most
of the Batak have adopted a monogamous family
Religion and Spirituality unit. Sadunun (courtship) is intiated by a Batak
The Batak are an animistic group who believe male who chooses the female he wants to marry,
that spirits and supernatural anthropomorphic bringing with them an amount of money for the
beings inhabit the natural environment, such as bandi or kapangasawa (bride-price). It is
trees, bamboo thickets, rocks, caves, and presided over by a Batak elder, also called the
streams. These may be classified into two broad “orako,” in the presence of a man and a woman
categories: the benevolent “diwata” who guide acting as tataksilan (witnesses). Inter-household
them in their hunt, provide them with good food sharing is common among the Batak,
harvests, and keep them in good health. And the spreading out even to non-kin community
malevolent “panya'en” cause sickness, bodily members.
harm, crop failures, misfortunes, and even death
to those who disobey their will or trespass on
their place of residence. The Batak believe in a Palaweño
deity named Angoro who lives in basad, a place
beyond this world where the souls of the dead Agriculture and Livelihood
Local Economy Agriculture and fisheries are type of social structure. But loyalty is kept to the
the major economic activities in Palawan. The group or area to which the family head (usually
three major crops grown are rice, corn and the father) belongs.
coconut. Other crops grown are mango and
cashew. The Palaweños collect and sell resin,
rattan canes and wild honey. The more settled Tagbanwa
of the Palawan also grow rice and coconut to The Tagbanua people have brownish skin, a slim
sell, and raise domestic animals such as cows, build and straight dark hair. In the past, both
buffalos and pigs. men and women had long hair and would give
their teeth a black coloring. The Tagbanuas
Religion and Spirituality made various ornaments from wood such as ear
The Palaweño's are primarily animistic, with plugs, combs and bracelets.
polytheistic beliefs. Ampo is the highest deity,
believed to pass on responsibility for the Livelihood
regulation of the affairs of humanity to his Growing rice plays an important part in
subordinate gods, the Diwatas. They believe everyday life. In addition to rice there is also
that all living things have souls, and are very in sweet potato, cassava and corn. The sea is also
touch with the land around them. This of course an important source of food for the Tagbanua
relates to their geographical context, as they are who live near the sea. Also, there are several
isolated in the wilderness on islands and have to forest products, including rats and honey. An
depend on the plants and animals which are near important source of income are the different
to them. handmade products such as mats, baskets and
other wood products.
Music and Dance
Religion
Palawan music is characterized by limitation of
The Tagbanua hang follow an animistic religion
sounds from nature and the environment.It is
with a complex mythology related to gods and
also highly influenced by the native language of
other divine beings. Below are the four most
the province. Music, performed by the gong
important gods:
ensemble, plays an important role in the life of
the community because it is performed in rituals Mangindusa - also called Nagbacaban, is the
such as the tambilaw and the tinapay. One of uppergod that lives in Awan-awan.
the most prominent examples of Palawan’s art
and culture is the Banog, a dance ritual Polo - is the god of the sea. Polo is a caring god
performed during major celebrations and which is contacted in case of illness.
festivities. Banog is traditionally performed to
celebrate the harvest season, the arrival of a new Sedumunadoc - is the god of the earth.
child, and other important milestones. The dance
is performed by a group of men, each bearing a Tablacoud - is the god of the underworld.
colorful feathered headdress, symbolizing the
beauty and grace of the Banog bird. The Tagbanua people believe in communication
between the world of the living and the world of
Community and Family Values the dead. Using different rituals and ceremonies
In Palawan, the Palaweños or Palawanons they communicate between the worlds. It is
perform courtship through the use of love headed by Babaylan, the shaman who is also the
riddles. This is known as the pasaguli. The shaman of the village.
purpose of the love riddles is to assess the
sentiments of the parents of both suitor and Music and Dance
admirer. After this "riddle courtship", the The Tagbanua people are crazy about music and
discussion proceeds to the pabalic, to settle the they have a wide range of musical instruments
price or form of the dowry that will be received they developed by themselves. These
by the courted woman from the courting man. instruments are used for religious ends and
The family is the basic unit of the Palaweño's during social meetings. Hereunder is a summary
society. Kinship is reckoned with both the of a couple of instruments: aruding, babarak,
paternal and maternal kin, yielding a bilateral
tipanu, tibuldu, kudlung, gimbal, tiring, loved ones through prayers, offerings, and
babandil. annual ceremonies.

Besides music, dancing is also very popular. Music and Dance

Most of the dances belong to a ritual. Here are a Music and dance hold a special place in the
few: aballado, andardi, Palawano community as a means of
communication, storytelling, and spiritual
Bugas-Bugasan dance, kalindapan, runsay is a expression. The Palawano people use a variety
traditional dance performed by the people living of traditional instruments, such as gongs,
near the coast. This ritual dance is held once a bamboo flutes, and drums, to create vibrant
year on the fourth day after the full moon in melodies and rhythmic patterns that accompany
December and lasts from sunset until the sun their dances. The energetic and dynamic
rises again, sarungkay, tugatak, and tamigan. movements of the Palawano dances not only
entertain but also serve as a form of worship,
Community
celebration, and a way of preserving their
The Tagbanua community has three social
cultural traditions. Through their music and
classes. The first social class is the upper class.
dance, the Palawano people continue to pass on
Leaders are chosen from this class. This class is
their unique identity and convey their deep
inherited. The second social class is the middle
connection to nature and the spiritual realm.
class. These are ordinary people. From the
middle class, local leaders are chosen. The third
Community and Family Values
social class consists of people who are in debt
In Palawano society, individuals are valued not
and can not pay those debts off. Marriage
only for their individual achievements but also
plays an important role within the community of
for their contributions to the welfare of the entire
Tagbanua. Polygamy is permitted within the
community. Similarly, families are seen as the
community but is rarely done.
cornerstone of Palawano society, fostering a
Language sense of unity, support, and shared
The Tagbanua people have their own language. responsibility. Palawano families prioritize
Within the language there are three dialects: strong relationships, communication, and respect
Aborian Tagbanua, Calamian Tagbanua, and among members, reinforcing the notion of
Central Tagbanua. collaboration and interdependence.

Palawano Tau’t Bato

Agriculture and Livelihood
Agriculture and Livelihood Because of their adaptation to their natural and
The Palawano rely heavily on farming as their evolving social environment, Tau’t Bato is
primary source of income and sustenance. They known for their transhuman kind of culture.
engage in various agricultural activities such as They live in caves during rainy seasons, and in
rice cultivation, fruit orchards, and backyard open fields, building low and small houses
gardening. Their deep understanding of the land, called “da’tag”, during dry seasons. The Tau't
soil, and climate enables them to grow a diverse Bato are cultivators who practice multiple
range of crops, providing them with a cropping with cassava (their main source of
sustainable livelihood. carbohydrates), sweet potato, sugarcane,
malunggay, garlic, pepper, string beans, squash,
Religion and Spirituality tomato, pineapple and other plants. They are
Palawano tribe has an animistic belief in spirits also fond of hunting and foraging in order to
that inhabit both natural and supernatural realms. supply their need for more carbohydrates. Wild
These spirits, known as the "diwata," play a pigs are the most hunted animals. The Tau’t
crucial role in the daily lives of the Palawano Bato also trade their agricultural products for
people, with traditions and rituals dedicated to fish and sell forest products such as rattan,
seeking their favor and protection. Additionally, almaciga, etc. through "Sambi" (barter) or
ancestral veneration is an integral aspect of their "Dagang" (monetary exchange).
spirituality, as they pay homage to their departed
Religion and Spirituality
The Tau’t Bato believe in “Ampo” (God) and in
evil spirits, which they called “toron” that are
said to have entered the body of the sick person.
They perform rituals that signifies their healing
and thanksgiving activities that are usually led
by a spiritual leader called Babaylan
(Halbolario). Pagtotoron is one of their healing
rituals, where the sick person is covered by
patadyong (cloth) and is struck by the Babaylan
using the silad (plant) seven times to draw away
the evil spirits. Other rituals like pagtatarok,
which is celebrated through singing and dancing,
and pagtatabad, which uses tabad or rice wine,
are also performed by them to cast away evil
spirits. While pagsisimbug is a ritual of
thanksgiving for the honey they’ve collected
after the honey-harvesting period.

Music and Dance

Tau’t Bato’s songs are mimetic, usually
imitating the sound of animals. Examples of
their songs are: “Lantigi” which tells a story of
a bird called Limukon, and “Kandidi” which is
sung by two or more where lyrics are done in a
conversational manner. Their singing is
accompanied by instruments such as pagang,
kudlong, suling, and aruding. The most
popular dance of Tau’t Bato is known as
“Terek” sometimes called “sapa-sapa”,
performed all night during their “Basal”
celebration or in social gatherings. They also
have a dance called “Toron” performed by a
“babaylan” to cure the sick.

Community and Family Values

The fundamental social unit among the Tau't
Bato is the marriage group, or "ka-asawahan".
The "Ka-asawahan" or household units can often
be divided into a man and his wife and one or
more other couples. They are further organized
under the "Bulun-bulun" broader association.
The setup consists of a number of couples living
together in the same cave. It is distinguished by
a system of exchanging various social and
material goods, such as food and other items of
equipment.