Introduction

The Southeast Asia or the Malay World often called the “Muslim archipelago.”
Southeast Asia is home to more than 240 million Muslims -- about 42 percent of
Southeast Asians, and about 25 percent of the world's 1.6 billion Muslims.
The following are indigenous peoples of the Mindanao but not the Muslims.
Group Principal Location
1. Badjao (Samal Laut), South Sulu
2. Bagobo,
3. Banwaon,
4. Bukidnon,
5. Dibabawon,
6. Higaonon,
7. Ilanun/Iranun, Buldon and Parang,
8. Jama Mapun, Cagayan de Sulu
9. Kalagan, Davao Provinces and on the shores of the Davao Gulf
10. Kalibugan, Zamboanga Del Sur
11. Maguindanaon, Maguindanao, shores of Illana Bay in Lanao del Sur
12. Mamanua,
13. Mandaya, Davao province
14. Manguangan,
15. Manobo,
16. Mansaka,
17. Maranaw, Lanao Regions
18. Molbog, Balabac Island, Southern
Palawan
19. Palawanon, Southern Palawan
20. Palibugan,
21. Sama, Sulu, Archipelago
22. Sangil, Sarangani province
23. Subanen(Subanon),
 24. Tagakaolo,
25. Talaandig,
26. Tausūg,(Joloano/Sulug) Sulu Archipelago
27. T'Boli, South Cotabato
28. Tiruray, and North and South Upi
29. Yakan Basilan Island
These tribal people are some of the indigenous peoples of the Philippines. Their
tribes existed in the Philippines long before Islam and Christianity arrived in the
Philippines. The Muslims only showed up in the year 1380. However, many Muslim
historians and politicians have successfully convinced the government of the Philippines
to make their tribal names synonymous with the word Muslim. Many of these tribal
peoples are non-Muslims and following different religions.
By sheer political clout the Muslims of the Philippines managed to persuade the
Philippine government to create the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos with a
yearly budget of over 500 million pesos per year. On - Muslims and Christians do not
belong to this commission and it is strictly for Muslims only and its mandate is for the
betterment of the Muslim peoples and spreading Islam in the Philippines.
It must be clearly understood that to be an indigenous person, it must be in your DNA.
A religion is not a race. It is not a bloodline. Anybody can be part of a religion. All you
need to do in convert. So a Chinese or anybody can be a Muslim, all he has to do is
convert.
The Philippines also created the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples to
appease the rest of the indigenous peoples. The NCIP is for all the indigenous
peoples are non-Muslims and Christians. These tribes (indigenous people) should
be the permanent stewards of all ancestral lands. The NCIP was created to protect
all the indigenous peoples of the Philippines regardless of their beliefs or ideologies.
 CHAPTER 1
MINDANAO
Mindanao, island, the second largest (after Luzon) in the Philippines, in the
southern part of the archipelago, surrounded by the Bohol, Philippine, Celebes,
and Sulu seas. Irregularly shaped, it measures 293 miles (471 km) north to south and
324 miles (521 km) east to west. The island is marked by peninsulas and is heavily
indented by the Davao and Moro gulfs in the south and by Iligan Bay in the north. The
long, semicircular Zamboanga Peninsula (west) extends southwesterly toward the Sulu
Archipelago and Borneo, and the Cotabato and Surigao peninsulas extend south and
north, respectively.
Rugged, faulted mountains and volcanoes occur in many areas. Mount Apo, at
9,692 feet (2,954 metres), is an active volcano in the southern part of the central
highlands; it is the highest peak in the Philippines. The island has narrow coastal plains,
and broad, fertile basins and extensive swamps are formed by
the Mindanao and Agusan river systems. Lake Lanao (Lake Sultan Alonto), created by
a lava dam, has an area of 134 square miles (347 square km). The island has a marsh-
game refuge and bird sanctuary. The rare Philippine eagle is found on Mindanao.

Muslim Filipinos and Their Homeland

The Southeast Asia or Malay world encompassing the Indonesia, East Timor,
Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei and the Philippines, has one of the mostly populated of
Muslim in Southeast Asian region. Majority of the population embrace Islam in which
Indonesia lays claim to bring numerically the world’s largest Muslim nation. Racially,
linguistically and culturally, Philippines is very much part of the Malay nation, but
Philippines is not a Muslim country. Eighty eight percent (88%) of the populations of
115,559,009 populations are Christians, a fact in which before 2001 makes our country
as the only predominantly Christian nation in Asia. Presently, the independence of East
Timor in 2001 made them the only two Christian states in Asia.
 Muslim peoples in the Philippines are indigenous. There are several races
in the Philippines practicing the religion of Islam and they are Muslim. But not all
of them are indigenous. Take the Chinese Muslims in Tawi-Tawi, the Indian
Muslim in Zamboanga, or the Caucasian Muslim in CDO; all three belong to
different races and ethnicity. Also the Muslims are preaching Islam to the
indigenous peoples of Mindanao and Sulu..
Before Islam arrived in the archipelago, the Maguindanaon, Tausugs,
Yakan, Iranun and the Maranaos were non-Muslims. They practiced their own
forms of worship. Most say that they practiced the animistic beliefs and traditions.
As history would record it, by the 14th century when the Muslims (Chinese and
Arabs) arrived in the Philippines and started to convert the natives to the religion
of Islam, these tribes were (most of them) converted into the religion of Islam.
Not all the Maguindanaon, Tausugs, Yakan, Iranun and Maranaos are Muslims
but all of them are indigenous people before the coming of Islam.. They were
indigenous before they became Muslims. Being Muslim did not make them
indigenous. Being Tausugs and Maranaos made them indigenous.
Bangsamoro (Muslim Filipinos) who inhabit mainly the southern island of the
Philippine republic and who constitute with a total of 6,064,744 followers or 6.01% of
Philippines' total population, Islam is the second largest religion in Mindanao based on the result
of the 2015 Census of Population (2015 POPCEN).Sep 28, 2017.
The Bangsamoro are found principally in the southern Philippines: on the island
of Mindanao, in Tawi Tawi, Sulu archipelago and on the island of Palawan south of
Puerto Princesa. Thirteen cultural – linguistic groups have been identified as Muslim
though a few of the groups, such as the Badjao of Sulu, have been not Islamized.
Some 94% of the 2.2 million bangsamoros are found in four groups: the Maguindanaon
of the Cotabato region (presently North Cotabato, Maguindanao and Socsksargen),
the Maranao and Iranun of the Lanao region, and the Tausog and Samal of Sulu and
Tawi Tawi. Malay in the race, the Muslim Filipinos are virtually indistinguishable
physically from Christian Filipinos. Anthropologist today stress that except for those
Filipinos who are of Chinese and Negrito stock, the Filipinos are racially one people.
Bangsamoro Groups
The thirteen Bangsamoro groups speak various languages or dialects often the
name of the group and of the language being the same. A native speaker of Tausug, for
example, refers to himself as Tausug (‘’people of the current’’).some of the languages
are so closely related as to be mutually intelligible. This is the case with the Maranao,
Iranun and Maguindanaon languages which, taken together, virtually constitute one
Mindanao language. The dialects of the Badjao, Samal and Jama Mapun are also
closely related. But there is no single language which is understood by all the Muslim
groups. In nearly all the groups there are some who have studied Arabic language for
religious purposes.
All of the indigenous language and dialects spoken by the Bangsamoro belong to
what has been termed ‘’the Central Philippine subgroup of the Malayo –Polynesian
(Austronesian) Linguistic Family.’’ Hence they are related in varying degrees to the
languages spoken by the major Filipino Christian groups such as Ilocano, Visayan and
Tagalog. Generally, the Bangsamoros are Monolinguistc except in the larger ethnically
mixed settlements along the coasts. In Sulu, Tausug, Tawi tawi and Zamboanga is
lingua franca, and both the Samal and Badjao feel obliged to learn it.
Each of the thirteen Moro groups occupies a more or less distinct territory,
though in some instances the smaller groups have their living space penetrated by
families belonging to the larger groups. Again using Sulu as an example, the Tausug
mix on various islands with Samal, though numerically their concentration is in the Jolo
island cluster. Generally the Tausug outnumbered other groups in the northern half of
Sulu and the Samal increase in number in the northern half, nearest Borneo Island. But
the Tausug are found all over, ranging even to distant Palawan and the east Malayan
state of Sabah.
Badjao the name given to a boat-dwelling Samal people – are the smallest of
the Moro groups in Sulu. Living as ‘’sea gypsies,’’ they move with wind and tide in their
small house – boat. They are the least intensively Islamized of all the Muslim groups
and their religious beliefs and customs are still largely animistic. Even so, it is a
mistake to call them ‘’pagans’’ for Islamization continues steadily and bringing about
social and value changes among them (Nimmo, 2006).
 Maranao, Iranun and Maguindanaon are found mostly on Mindanao, though
each group has kinship in Sulu and Sabah. As noted above, the Maranao and Iranun
are so closely related ethnically and linguistically that they are often thought of as one
group. The minor differentiations which exist spring mainly from the fact that the
Maranao historically have been somewhat isolated in their lake environment while their
Iranun cousins have remained centered principally on the shores of Illana Bay and
oriented to the sea. For their part, the Maguindanaon have long been found in the large
valley of the Pulangi River and in communities scattered all over the Cotabato region.
The unifying bond of Islam united these three groups that maintained fairly close
contacts over the centuries and on occasion have formed military alliances to repel
foreign colonizers from Spanish to American period. An anthropologist Melvin Mednick
(2007) has commented that the Muslim Filipinos ‘’in a micro manner… illustrate the
range of diversity to be found in the Philippines.’’
Mindanao is a predominantly Muslim before the migration of Roman Catholic
Christian settlers which was started from 1912. Although today Muslims are no longer a
majority, but Islamic culture is evident; there are many mosques, and distinctive
brassware, including the kris, or dagger, is manufactured by the Muslims.
Muslim communities are Maguindanaon, Maranao, Ilanun, Tausog, Yakan and
Sangil; all are Muslim groups (Islam as their religion), sometimes collectively called
the Moro.
Indigenous groups usually found in the uplands include the T’boli (South
Cotabato), Bla’an (Sarangani Province and Davao Province), Teduray (Sultan Kudarat,
Maguindanao Provinces), Subanon (Zamboanga), Bukidnon, Bagobo, Mandaya of
Davao City and DavaoProvinces,Manobo. Teduray, whose religion is a mixture of
Christian, Islam, and animism (worshipping natures).

Lesson 1
Bangsamoro People
.
Specific Objectives

1. Define the different terms

2. Inculcate to the mind of young Filipinos a broader perspective of the past
3. Appreciate Filipino identities and promote national unity

Introduction of Islam
Who was the first colonizer of the Philippines? Many of you will say the
Spaniards. WRONG!!
The Muslims (followers of Islam) were the first colonizers of the Philippines.
They came in 1380 to colonize the non - Islamized indigenous peoples of the
Philippines. Colonization by means of introducing the culture of Islam not by force as
the Spaniards did to natives. Muslims convert the natives into the religion of Islam.
Muslim Chinese traders who first thought the Islam.
Seventy years later (1450) the Sultanate was established which a form of
government. Slowly but surely, Islam established their governance pattern from Arabic
laws. This continued till 1521 when they met their first competition, the Spaniards. Then
the Spaniards became the second colonizer.
“Bangsa” is a Malayan term for “nation.” A nation is a large body of people
united by common descent, history, culture, or language, inhabiting a particular country
or territory. Moro is a member of any several Muslim peoples of the southern
Philippines, therefore, Bangsamoro refers to the 13 native ethno linguistic groups
of Mindanao, Sulu, and Palawan. As Muslim-majority ethnic groups, they form the
largest non-Christian population in the Philippines, and comprise about 5% of the
country's total population, or 5 million people.
Most Moro are followers of Islam. The Moro were once independent under a
different independent states like the Sultanate of Sulu, the Sultanate of Maguindanao,
and the Confederation of Sultanates in Lanao; withstanding repeated Spanish
invasions. The Bangsamoro had history of resistance against Spanish rule for over 333
years and American government for forty (40) years.
When Philippines became and independence in 1946, the Bangsamoro
continued their struggle for self-determination against a predominantly–Christian
Philippines, culminating in a decades-long insurgency of armed rebel groups, chief
among them the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and the Moro Islamic Liberation
Front (MILF), against the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

The Moro people are guaranteed an autonomous region by the Constitution of

the Philippines; the establishment of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao
(ARMM) however, did not satisfy the demands of rebel groups. A ceasefire and
successful peace talks between the Philippine government and the MILF led to the
creation in 2018 of a region with greater political autonomy and powers, known as
the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
Today, outside of the Bangsamoro autonomous region, the Moro people are a
significant minority in other nearby provinces in Southern Mindanao and in the province
of Palawan, Samar, Bicol Region, and are a visible and integrated minority in various
urban centers of the country, such as Manila, Cebu, and Davao.
Outside of the Philippines, some Bangsamoro remain in areas used to be
controlled by the Sulu Sultanate along the eastern coast of Sabah; others emigrated to
neighboring Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei in the late 20th century due to
the Christian-Moro conflict in Mindanao. There are newer Bangsamoro communities can
be found today in Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, and Semporna in Sabah, Malaysia, North
Kalimantan in Indonesia, and in Bandar Seri Begawan in Brunie.

Bangsamoro Culture

Why is it important to study the Moro culture? According to Legarda, mandating

the inclusion of the Moro History subject in college would provide young Filipinos a
broader perspective of their past, and help reinforce Filipino identity and promote
national unity.
The Moro culture is greatly influenced by Islam. They faithfully practice five
religious duties. These are the declaration of their sacred creed, their prayers, Sakah,
Fasting during Ramadan, and making the pilgrimage to Mecca.
Muslims, or as they call themselves the Moro or Bangasamoro (“Moro nation”),
are made up of 13 ethno-linguistic groups, including the Iranun, Jama Mapun,
Palawani, Molbog, Kalagan, Kalibugan, Maguindanao, Maranao, Sama, Sangil,
Tausug, Badjao, and Yakan.
As Muslim-majority ethnic groups, they form the largest non-Christian population in the
Philippines, and comprise about 5% of the country's total population, or 5 million people. Most
Moros are followers of Islam called Muslim.
The Bangsamoro people are the native Muslim inhabitants of the Philippines.
They are the descendants of the early Malay, Arab, Chinese Muslim and Indian
migrants into the Philippine archipelago from as early as the 14th century. The Moro
people formed their own ethnic group in southwestern Mindanao, Sulu islands and
Palawan. The majority of the Muslims in the Philippines live in the Autonomous Region
in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) now Bangsamoro Autonomous Region In Muslim
Mindanao (BARMM).

Muslims Culture, Customs and Traditions and Their Way of Life

When Muslims possess a culture which is different from that of the Christian Filipinos.
Their culture has been greatly influenced by Islam. It will be an interesting venture to
know more about their culture.

Politics and leadership

When the Spaniards came to Mindanao; they found that the different groups of Muslims
had organized governments with written laws. Each group had its own separate
leadership in government headed by a ruler called a sultan. The sultan is similar to a
king or an emperor. There were sultanate governments in Mindanao such as: Sultan of
Sulu, and Sultanate of Maguindanao There is one important sultan and other sultans
of less importance for each group. There are other lower officials who help the sultan
run the government. A datu is a chief under a sultan. A datu may govern thousands of
people occupying large tracts of land. The The Muslims sultans were absolute
monarchs so were datus with their own territories. The sultans and other rulers inherited
their powers. The power of a sultan was inherited by the nearest male relatives. His
eldest son succeeded him as a ruler. The power of the sultans has diminished today.
Many of the heredity Muslim rulers are now officials in our local and national
governments.
Religious instructors are called Ustadzes. A Hadji is a Muslims who has made a
journey to Mecca, the holy city located in Saudi Arabia. He is a man of importance
among the Muslims.

Spiritual life (Religion Beliefs and Practices)

Muslims are believers of Islam. Islam means complete submission to the will of Allah.
Complete submission means all the affairs that happen to man including his daily affairs
be according to the will of Allah, be it business, government, education, social life, arts,
and culture. The creed of the Muslims is simple: There is no god except Allah and
Prophet Mohammad is His messenger. God has revealed Himself to different people
and in different languages to inspire prophets such as Adam, Abraham, Noah, Moses,
Jesus and Mohammad (peace be upon him). Muslims believe that Mohammad (s.a.w.)
was the last messenger of God. God's message is written in the holy Al-Qur'an (in
English, The Koran).
Muslims practice faithfully five religious duties or five pillars of Islam,

1. The first duty is the declaration of the creed that ‘’There is no God but only
Allah and Mohammed is His messenger’’.
2. Second is the Salah which means prayer.
3. Third is the Zakah (obligatory of giving money or in kind to the poor) and
Sadaqah (voluntary of giving money to the deserving poor),
4. Fourth, is Fasting during the day throughout the month of Ramadan. The
Ramadan is the ninth month of Hijrah calendar of Muslims., A period of daily
fasting from sunrise to sunset. Muslims are required to fast so that they will be
less occupied with worldly matters and to be strong in resisting temptation.
5. Fifth duty is making the pilgrimage to Mecca to the temple constructed by
Abraham and his son Ismael known as Kaaba.
 Worship
Wherever a Muslim is, when it is the time for prayer, he turns towards Mecca (where
the Kaaba is located) and prays. This act symbolizes the unity of Muslims
throughout the world who are offering their prayers at the same time.
A Muslim's worship begins with an opening prayer and a reading from the Koran and
ends with a prayer requesting God to bless him and his people. He bows and
touches the earth with his forehead, too.
Muslims may pray alone or in a group except on Friday when the midday prayer is
recited in a common gathering place called the mosque.
The Friday prayers lead by an Imam (religious leader). Anyone can be chosen to
lead the prayers if he is known to be the most knowledgeable and the oldest among
the group.
The man who calls to prayer time is the Muazhzhin (or Muezzin). He possesses a
good voice and his duty is to remind the people that it is the time for prayer. Starting
at sunrise, a Muslim prays five times a day.
No images or paintings are allowed inside the mosque. Islam preaches equality, so
there are no pews or reserved places inside the Masjid; instead there are rugs
Muslims line up behind the Imam. The masjid is open to all; there are no private
chapels for special people. Collections are not required. Masjid are supported by
donations and trust funds.
Women pray at home or in the mosque. While praying men share the same rows
with men only. Women pray in separate rows with men. Women pray in a certain
part of the mosque can’t be seen by men.
Muslims face Mecca while praying not because it was where Mohammad (peace be
upon him) was born but because that was the place where Abraham built the oldest
temple for the worship of one God, the Ka'aba.

Prohibited Food and Drink

Muslims members are NOT allowed to drink any beverage which makes one drunk.
Eating pork, blood and animal flesh which died from natural causes are also
prohibited.
Sacred Book Qur’an
The Muslims believe the Qur’an is the book off knowledge, the word of God which
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon Him) preached to his fellowmen and to the whole
world. The Qu’ran sets down the guidelines of conduct among people as well as the
relationship of man with God. It is the basis of Muslim laws and the final authority in
many Islamic countries.

Houses
The Muslims and the Christian Filipinos use similar materials in building their houses.
Those who live near the coasts build houses in tong rows over the water. The interior of
the house is similar to the houses in the Northern part of the Philippines. The people
use well-woven pandan mats and a thick mattress fitted with kapok for steeping. They
use bright-colored mosquito nets which are large enough to cover two to three
mattresses. Displayed in the houses of the datus, hadjis and well-to-do families are
many brass articles such as gongs, trays and dishes.

Foods
Muslim religion has many strict rules about the food the people may eat and the way it
should be cooked. The Muslims never eat pork because they believe it is unclear. The
science declared that ‘’Swine is the dirtiest animal in the world’’.
The Muslims are allowed to eat the meat of other animals if the animal was killed
in a manner following their religious practices. They use a lot of coconut oil in their
cooking. They prepare a lot of rice flour cakes or wheat flour cakes which can be stored
for many months in air-tight jars.

Lesson 3
Lumad Are the Indigenous Groups

Lumad are a group of Austronesian indigenous people in the

southern Philippines. It is a Cebuano term meaning "native" or "indigenous". The term is
short for Katawhang Lumad (Literally: "indigenous people"), the autonym officially
adopted by the delegates of the Lumad Mindanao Peoples Federation (LMPF) founding
assembly on 26 June 1986 at the Guadalupe Formation Center, Balindog, Kidapawan
city. The term Lumad was accepted in Philippine jurisprudence when President Corazon
Aquino signed into law Republic Act 6734, where the word was used in Art. XIII sec.
8(2) to distinguish Lumad ethnic communities from the Bangsamoro.
On March 2, 2021, the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples issued a
resolution denouncing the use of the term lumad when referring to Indigenous Cultural
Communities (ICC) and Indigenous Peoples (IPs). The resolutions stated that elders,
leaders, and members of different ICCs and IPs in Mindanao requested that they not be
called “lumad”, and instead want to be referred to by their ethno linguistic group names.
Like that of Bla’an, T’boli, Mandaya, Manobo, Tiduray etc.
The Southern island of the Philippines is home to a substantial part of the
country’s Indigenous population, estimating to about 15% of the Philippine’s total
population of 100 million.

History of the Term Lumad

The name Lumad grew out of the political awakening among tribes during
the martial law regime of President Ferdinand Marcos. It was advocated and
propagated by the members and affiliates of Lumad-Mindanao, a coalition of all-Lumad
local and regional organizations that formalized themselves as such in June 1986 but
started in 1983 as a multi-sectoral organization. Lumad-Mindanao's main objective was
to achieve self-determination for their member-tribes or, put more concretely, self-
governance within their ancestral domain in accordance with their culture and
customary laws. No other Lumad organization had the express goal in the past.[1]
Representatives from 15 tribes agreed in June 1986 to adopt the name; there
were no delegates from the three major groups of the T'boli, the Teduray. The choice of
a Cebuano word was a bit ironic but they deemed it appropriate as the Lumad tribes do
not have any other common language except Cebuano. This marked the first time that
these tribes had agreed to a common name for themselves, distinct from that of
the Moros and different from the migrant majority and their descendants
Tribes of Lumad Groups
o 1. Bagobo
o .2. Blaan
o 3. Bukidnon
o .4. Higaonon
o 5. Kalagan
o .6. Kamigin
o 7. Mamanwa
o 8. Mandaya
o 9. Manobo
o 10. Mansaka
o 11. Matigsalug
o 12. Sangil
o 13. Subanon
o 14. Tagabawa
o 15. Tagakaulo
o 16. Talaandig
o 17. Teduray
o 18. Tboli
o 29. Tigwahonon
o 20. Umayamnon

Bagobo
The Bagobo are one of the largest subgroups of the Manobo peoples. They
comprise three subgroups: the Tagabawa, the Klata (or Guiangan), and the Ovu (also
spelled Uvu or Ubo) peoples. The Bagobo were formerly nomadic and farmed
through kaingin (slash-and-burn) methods. Their territory extends from the Davao
Gulf to Mt. Apo. They are traditionally ruled by chieftains (matanum), a council of elders
(magani), and female shamans (mabalian). The supreme spirit in their
indigenous anito religions is Eugpamolak Manobo or Manama.[6][7][8]

Blaan
 The Blaan is an indigenous group that is concentrated in Davao del
Sur and South Cotabato. They practice indigenous rituals while adapting to the
way of life of modern Filipinos.[9]

Bukidnon

The colorful Kaamulan Festival celebrated annually in Malaybalay City

The Bukidnon are one of the seven tribes in

the Bukidnon plateau of Mindanao. Bukidnon means 'that of the mountains or highlands'
(i.e., 'people of the mountains or highlands'), despite the fact that most Bukidnon tribes
settle in the lowlands.
The name Bukidnon itself used to describe the entire province in a different context (it
means 'mountainous lands' in this case) or could also be the collective name of the
permanent residents in the province regardless of ethnicity.[10]
The Bukidnon people believe in one god, Magbabaya (Ruler of All), though there
are several minor gods and goddesses that they worship as well. Religious rites are
presided by a baylan whose ordination is voluntary and may come from any sex. The
Bukidnons have rich musical and oral traditions[11] which are celebrated annually
in Malaybalay city's Kaamulan Festival, with other tribes in Bukidnon (the Manobo
tribes, the Higaonon, Matigsalug, Talaandig, Umayamnom, and the Tigwahanon).[12]
The Bukidnon Lumad is distinct from and should not be confused with
the Visayan Suludnon people of Panay and a few indigenous peoples scattered in the
Visayas area who are also alternatively referred to as "Bukidnon" (also meaning
"highland people").
Higaonon
The Higaonon is located on the provinces of Bukidnon, Agusan del Sur, Misamis
Oriental, Camiguin (used to be Kamiguing), Rogongon in Iligan City, and Lanao del
Norte. The Higaonons have a rather traditional way of living. Farming is the most
important economic activity.
The word Higaonon is derived from the word "Higad" in the Higaonon dialect
which means coastal plains and "Gaon" meaning ascend to the mountains. Taken
together, Higaonon, means the people of the coastal plains that ascended to the
mountains. Higaonons were formerly coastal people of the provinces as mentioned who
resisted the Spanish occupation. Driven to the hills and mountains these people
continued to exist and fought for the preservation of the people, heritage, and culture.

Kalagan
Also spelled "K'lagan" or (by the Spanish) "Caragan", is a subroup of the
Mandaya-Mansaka people who speak the Kalagan language. They comprise three
subgroups which are usually treated as different tribes: the Tagakaulo, the Kagan, and
the Kallao people of Samal. They are native to areas within Davao del Sur, Compostela
Valley, Davao del Norte (including Samal Island), Davao Oriental, and North Cotabato;
between the territories of the Blaan people and the coastline. The Caraga region is
named after them. Their name means "spirited people" or "brave people", from kalag,
("spirit" or "soul"). They were historically composed of small warring groups. Their
population, as of 1994, is 87,270.

Kamigin
A subgroup of the Manobo people from the island of Camiguin. They speak
the Kamigin language and are closely related to the Manobo groups from Surigao del
Norte.

Mamanwa

The Mamanwa is a Negrito tribe often grouped together with the Lumad. They
come from Leyte, Agusan del Norte, and Surigao provinces in Mindanao; primarily
in Kitcharao and Santiago, Agusan del Norte,[17] though they are lesser in number and
more scattered and nomadic than the Manobos and Mandaya tribes who also inhabit
the region. Like all Negritos, the Mamanwas are phenotypically distinct from the
lowlanders and the upland living Manobos, exhibiting curly hair and much darker skin
tones.
These peoples are traditionally hunter-gatherers and consume a wide variety of
wild plants, herbs, insects, and animals from tropical rainforests. The Mamanwa are
categorized as having the "negrito" phenotype with dark skin, kinky hair, and short
stature.[18][19] The origins of this phenotype (found in the Agta, Ati, and Aeta tribes in the
Philippines) are a continued topic of debate, with recent evidence suggesting that the
phenotype convergently evolved in several areas of southeast Asia.[20]
However, recent genomic evidence suggests that the Mamanwa were one of the first
populations to leave Africa along with peoples in New Guinea and Australia, and that
they diverged from a common origin about 36,000 years ago.[21]
Currently, Mamanwa populations live in sedentary settlements ("barangays") that
are close to agricultural peoples and market centers. As a result, a substantial
proportion of their diet includes starch-dense domesticated foods.[22] The extent to which
agricultural products are bought or exchanged varies in each Mamanwa settlement with
some individuals continuing to farm and produce their own domesticated foods while
others rely on purchasing food from market centers. The Mamanwa have been exposed
to many of the modernities mainstream agricultural populations possess and use such
as cell phones, televisions, radio, processed foods, etc.[22]
The political system of the Mamanwa is informally democratic and age-
structured. Elders are respected and are expected to maintain peace and order within
the tribe. The chieftain called a Tambayon, usually takes over the duties of counseling
tribal members, speaking at gatherings, and arbitrating disagreements. The chieftain
may be a man or a woman, which is characteristic of other gender-egalitarian hunter-
gatherer societies.[23] They believe in a collection of spirits, which are governed by
the supreme deity Magbabaya, although it appears that their contact with monotheist
communities/populations has made a considerable impact on the Mamanwa's religious
practices. The tribe produces excellent winnowing baskets, rattan hammocks, and other
household containers.
 Mamanwa (also spelled Mamanoa) means 'first forest dwellers', from the
words man (first) and banwa (forest).[24] They speak the Mamanwa language (or
Minamanwa).[25] They are genetically related to the Denisovans.

Mandaya
A hat from the Mandaya people made up of palm, bamboo, feathers, cotton,
fiber, and beads, housed at the Honolulu Museum of Art.
"Mandaya" derives from "man" meaning "first," and "daya" meaning "upstream"
or "upper portion of a river," and therefore means "the first people upstream". It refers to
a number of groups found along the mountain ranges of Davao Oriental, as well as to
their customs, language, and beliefs. The Mandaya are also found in Compostela and
New Bataan in Compostela Valley (formerly a part of Davao del Norte Province).

Manobo


A Bagobo (Manobo) woman of the Matigsalug people from Davao

Manobo is the hispanicized spelling of the endonym Manuvu (also spelled

Menuvu or Minuvu). Its etymology is unclear; in its current form, it means "person" or
"people." It is believed that it is derived from the rootword tuvu, which means "to
grow"/"growth" (thus Man[t]uvu would be "[native]-grown" or "aboriginal").[27]
The Manobo are probably the most diverse ethnic groups of the Philippines in the
relationships and names of the groups that belong to this family of languages. The total
current Manobo population is not known, although they occupy core areas from
Sarangani island into the Mindanao mainland in the regions of Agusan, Davao,
Bukidnon, Surigao, Misamis, and Cotabato. A study by the journal NCCP-PACT put
their population in 1988 at around 250,000. The groups occupy such a wide area of
distribution that localized groups have assumed the character of distinctiveness as a
separate ethnic grouping such as the Bagobo or the Higaonon, and the Atta. Depending
on specific linguistic points of view, the membership of a dialect with a supergroup
shifts.[28][29]
The Manobo possess Denisovan admixture, much like the Mamanwa, Manobos
also hold Austroasiatic ancestry.

Mansaka

A group of Mansaka tribeswomen in their formal attire.

The term "Mansaka" derives from "man" with literal meaning "first" and "saka"
meaning "to ascend," and means "the first people to ascend mountains/upstream." The
term most likely describes the origin of these people who are found today in Davao del
Norte and Davao de Oro. and some parts of Davao Oriental. Specifically in the Batoto
River, the Manat Valley, Caragan, Maragusan, the Hijo River Valley, and the seacoasts
of Kingking, Maco, Kwambog, Hijo, Tagum, Libuganon, Tuganay, Ising, and Panabo.

Matigsalug
Bukidnon groups are found in the Tigwa-Salug Valley in San Fernando in
Bukidnon province, Philippines. Their name means "people along the Salug River (now
called the Davao River)." Although often classified under the Manobo ethnolinguistic
group, the Matigsalug are a distinct subgroup

Sangil
The Sangil people (also called Sangir, Sangu, Marore, Sangirezen, or
Talaoerezen) are originally from the Sangil and Talaud Islands (now part of Indonesia).
Presently they are located in some parts of Davao Occidental and Sarangani
province, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato, and North
Cotabato. Their populations (much like the Sama-Bajau) were separated when borders
were drawn between the Philippines and Indonesia during the colonial era. The Sangil
people are traditionally animistic, much like other Lumad peoples. During the colonial
era, the Sangil (who usually call themselves "Sangir") in the Sangil Islands mostly
converted to Protestant Christianity due to proximity and contact with the
Christian Minahasa people of Sulawesi. In the Mindanao, most Sangil converted
into Islam due to the influence of the neighboring majority community of Maguindanao,
Sultan Kudarat, Cotabato City and Cotabato Province. However, elements of animistic
rituals still remain. The Indonesian and Filipino groups still maintain ties and
both Manado Malay and Cebuano are spoken in both Indonesian Sangir and Filipino
Sangil, in addition to the Sangirese language. The exact population of Sangil people in
the Philippines is unknown but is estimated to be around 10,000 people

Subanon
 The Subanons are the first settlers of the Zamboanga peninsula. The family is
patriarchal while the village is led by a chief called a Timuay. He acts as the village
judge and is concerned with all communal matters.

History has better words to speak for Misamis Occidental. Its principal city was
originally populated by the Subanon, a cultural group that once roamed the seas in
great number; the province was an easy prey to the marauding sea pirates of Lanao
whose habit was to stage lightning forays along the coastal areas in search of slaves.
As the Subanon retreated deeper and deeper into the interior, the coastal areas
became home to inhabitants from Bukidnon who were steadily followed by settlers from
nearby Cebu and Bohol.

Subanon people of Misamis Occidental living in the mountains of Mount Malindang.

Tagabawa
Tagabawa is the language used by the Bagobo-Tagabawa. They are an
indigenous tribe in Mindanao. They live in the surrounding areas of Mt. Apo.

Tagakaulo
Tagakaulo is one of the tribes in Mindanao. Their traditional territories is in Davao
del Sur and the Sarangani Province particularly in the localities of Malalag, Lais,
Talaguton Rivers, Sta. Maria, and Malita of Davao Occidental, and Malungon of the
Sarangani Province. Tagakaulo means living in the mountain. The Tagakaulo tribe
originally came from the western shores of the Gulf of Davao and south of Mt. Apo long
time ago.

Talaandig
 Talaandig are originally from the foothills of Mount Kitanglad in Bukidnon,
specifically in the municipalities of Talakag and Lantapan.

Teduray
The Teduray/Tiruray people live in the municipalities of Datu Blah T.
Sinsuat, Upi, and South Upi in southwestern Maguindanao Province; and
in Lebak municipality, northwestern Sultan Kudarat Province. They speak the Tiruray
language, which is related to Bagobo, B'laan, and T'boli. Coastal Tirurays are mostly
farmers, hunters, fishermen, and basket weavers; those living in the mountains engage
in dry field agriculture, supplemented by hunting and the gathering of forest products.
Tirurays are famous for their craftsmanship in weaving baskets with two-toned
geometric designs. While many have adopted the cultures of
neighboring Muslims and Christians people, a high percentage of their population still
believe and practice their indigenous customs and rituals.

Tboli
The Tboli are one of the indigenous peoples of South Cotabato. From the body of
ethnographic and linguistic literature on Mindanao, they are variously known as Tboli,
Teboli, Tau Bilil, Tau Bulul or Tagabilil. They term themselves Tboli. Their whereabouts
and identity are to some extent confused in the literature; some publications present the
Teboli and the Tagabilil as distinct peoples; some locate the Tbolis to the vicinity of the
Lake Sebu in the South Cotabato. The Tbolis, then, reside on the mountain slopes on
either side of the upper Alah Valley and the coastal area of Maitum, Maasim, and
Kiamba. In former times, the Tbolis also inhabited the upper Alah Valley floor.

Tboli dance performed during colorful street dancing competition on the Tnalak Festival
in Koronadal, South Cotabato.
Tigwahonon
The Tigwahonon are a subgroup of Manobo originally from the Tigwa River basin
near San Fernando, Bukidnon.

Umayamnon
The Umayamnon are originally from the Umayam River watershed and the
headwaters of the Pulangi River. They are a subgroup of the Manobo

End of Chapter 1

Chapter II
Culture and Arts

Overview

The Mindanao culture of Filipino is surely among the most interesting to

experience in Mindanao. The exciting festivals featuring the different cultures of
Mindanao where local people performs lively on the streets where folks dance to the
beat of music.
Mindanao is often depicted as a place of danger, hate, division, politics, and
chaos. But to really see its beauty, one must experience the Mindanao culture brimming
with life and colors. By experiencing the culture of Mindanao, you will love the Land of
Promise as much as you love with the other regions of the Philippines.

Lesson 1
Languages and Foods

Pre discussion
We can already see how rich the culture of Mindanao through its languages. In
Mindanao, there are dozens of languages spoken. Among the most widely spoken are
Cebuano, Hiligaynon, Surigaonon, Tausug, Maranao, Maguindanao, and
Chavacano. Mindanao cuisine is very recognizable in terms of flavor compared
to the rest of the Philippines. Spanish and Malay flavors of nearby Southeast
Asian countries largely influenced how the locals cook as dishes in Mindanao are
known for their use of coconut milk and spices like chili, onion, and ginger.

Languages in Mindanao
 Cebuano (Bisaya): The Cebuano dialect is majority in Mindanao. It is spoken in
Northern Mindanao (except the southern parts of Lanao del Norte), the Davao
region, the western half of the Caraga region (as well as the city of Bislig and the
municipalities surrounding it in Surigao del Sur), the entirety of the Zamboanga
Peninsula (with the exception of Zamboanga City), and southern Soccsksargen.
 Hiligaynon: Socsksargen
 Surigaonon: Eastern half of the Caraga region, mainly by the eponymous
Surigaonons
 Tausug: Western territories of the BARMM, specifically the Sulu Archipelago
(Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi)
 Maguindanao and Maranao: Eastern territories of the BARMM, respectively, with
the former being spoken in Lanao del Sur and the southern areas of Lanao del
Norte; the latter in the eponymous province of Maguindanao and also in adjacent
areas which are part of Socsksargen
 Chavacano: Zamboanga City, Basilan, southernmost fringes of Zamboanga
Sibugay, Cotabato City and Davao City.

Food Culture In Mindanao

Experiencing the culture of Maguindanao, the Caraga Region culture and
tradition, or the culture of Mindanao, in general, is not complete without tasting the rich
flavors of the region.
 Specialty Foods in Mindanao
1. Piyanggang Manok (Grilled Chicken in Burnt Coconut, Tausug)
2. Tiyulah Itum – for the Tausog (Slow Cooked Beef/Chicken in Burnt Coconut Broth)
3. Piyalam (Stewed Fish, Tausug), Panyalam in Maguindanaon a kind of rice flour
cook with oil
4. Piyaren Udang (Prawn with Sautéed Coconut specialty of Maranao)
5. Piassak – Tausog specialty (Cow Liver in Burnt Coconut)
6. Riyandang Kambing – Maranao specialty (Mutton with Coconut and Spices),
Lanao del Sur
7. Kulma Baka (Beef Stewed in Coconut Milk, Tausug)
8. Kiyuning (Golden Rice)
9. Kagikit Manok (Spicy Chicken Flakes) usually as ingredient of pastil of
Maguindanaon
10. Kagikit na Isda (Spicy Fish Flakes) of Maguindanaon
11. Curacha (Deep-sea Crab)
12. Sinuglaw (Sugba + Kinilaw)
13. Durian of Davao provinces
Photo source: Wikimedia Commons

We can already see how rich the culture of Mindanao through its languages. In
Mindanao, there are dozens of languages spoken; among the most widely spoken are
Cebuano, Hiligaynon, Surigaonon, Tausug, Maranao, Maguindanao, and
Chavacano.
 Lesson 2
Clothing, Folk Dances and Festivals
Weaving is culture, an identity, and a way of life for some of the most indigenous
communities in the Philippines. Some people might think that these are just another
colorful fabric you’d see elsewhere but it’s not. It’s carefully handcrafted by the creative
Mindanao people; each has its own meaning for different uses. There’s something
special about the Mindanao culture and arts that involve weaving. For the people of the
south, weaving is a huge part of their Mindanao culture and tradition that distinguishes
them from the rest.
Famous Mindanao Textiles

1. Ikat (Made by Mandaya people of Davao Oriental, Bagobo and B’laan)

2. Inaul (Made by Maguindanaon)
3. Malong (Made by Maranao people)
4. Bunga Sama (Made by the Yakan tribe)
5. Sinaluan (Made by the Yakan tribe)
6. Pussuk Labbung (Made by the Yakan tribe)
7. Kabban Budi (Made by the Yakan tribe)
8. T’Nalak (Made by the T’boli tribe)
9. Habul Tiyahian (Made by Tausug people)
10. Inabal (Made by Bagobo tribe)
Traditional Clothing

The girl above is an example of portrayal of the culture of Mindanao with picture
Photo source: Wikimedia Commons

Since there are many cultural communities in Mindanao and groups of indigenous
peoples, expect that there are also various colorful and beautiful traditional clothing.
Among the most famous are:
1. Sablay and Malong (Maranao and Maguindanao)
2. Kegal T’boli (T’Boli)
3. Semmek (Yakan)
4. Pis (Tausug)
5. Tadjung (Tausug)
6. Kandit (Tausug)
7. Sinulog (Manobo)
8. Sempek (Manobo)

Exercises
Topic:
Lesson 1- Language and Foods of Chapter II

1. What language is majority in Mindanao?

a. Bisaya
b. Cebuano
c. Maguindanaon
d. Ilocano
2. All the following cities are Cebuano speakers, EXCEPT.
a. Cagayan de Oro city
b. Butuan city
c. Zamboanga city
d. Davao city
3. When we say Sulu archipelago we mean….
a. Islands of Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi Tawi
 b. Islands of Mindanao, Zamboanga and Jolo city
c. Borneo islands and its neighboring islets
d. Sulu province, Jolo city and its small islands
4. Tausog is the language spoken by the people what provinces?
a. Zamboanga del Sur and Basilan
b. Lanao del Norte and Lanao Del Sur
c. Sulu and Tawi Tawi
d. Maguindanao and Sarangani
5. Which of the following language is being spoken by the people of Zamboanga
City, Basilan, southernmost fringes of Zamboanga Sibugay?
a. Cebuano
b. Bisaya
c. Tagalog
d. Chavacano
6. How do you describe the language ‘’chavacano’’?
a. Combination of Spanish and local language
b. Majority of its words are Spanish
c. Purely Spanish language
d. Same with Española of Spain
7. Which of the following specialty foods Mindanao is Spicy Chicken Flakes usually
as ingredient of patil of Maguindanaon
a. Kulma Baka
b. Piassak

c. Kiyuning
d. Kagikit Manok
8. All the following spices are common ingredients of Southeast Asian nations,
EXCEPT.
a. Black pepper
b. Chili
c. Coconut milk
d. Onion
9. In Mindanao, there are dozens of languages spoken. All the following are among
the most widely spoken, EXCEPT.
e. Cebuano
f. Muslim
g. Maranao
h. Hiligaynon
10. Which of the following regions is the durian capital of the Philippines?
a. Davao
b. Caraga
c. Socsksargen
d. Zamboanga
Mindanao Folk Dances

Photo source: Wikimedia Commons

We may be living in a computer age right now but some parts of the Philippines
are working hard to preserve its rich cultural heritage for the world to see and
experience. The culture and tradition of Mindanao is very unique. The Mindanao folk
dances is just one among the many things that make the cultural practices in Mindanao
stand out.
One notable folk dance in Mindanao is Pangalay. It is a tradition in Mindanao
performed usually during weddings of affluent families. Pangalay folk dance may last for
several days or even weeks depending on the financial status and agreement of both
families. The folk dances play a big role in the Mindanao tribes and their culture.
Mindanao Folk Dances

1. Singkil
2. Pangalay
3. Dugso
4. Itik-itik
5. Sagayan
6. Karasaguyon
7. Asik
8. Udol
9. Maglangka
10. Bangkakaw
11. Madal Tahaw

Festivals in Mindanao

The Mindanao culture Filipino is surely among the most interesting things to learn
about. And to be able to experience the Mindanao culture and tradition fully, you
shouldn’t miss the exciting festivals featuring the different cultures of Mindanao where
locals performs lively street and Mindanao folk dances to the beat of music of
Mindanao.
1. Kadayawan Festival (Davao City)
2. Kalilangan Festival (General Santos City)
3. Sibug-Sibug Festival (Zamboanga Sibugay)
4. Higalaay Festival (Cagayan de Oro City)
5. Kaamulan Festival (Bukidnon)
6. Lanzones Festival (Camiguin)
7. Inaul Festival (Maguindanao)
8. Tuna Festival (General Santos City)
9. Lugahait Festival (Misamis Oriental)
10. Kap’yaan Festival (Davao del Sur)
11. Panagtagbo Festival (Tagum City)
12. Balangay Festival (Butuan City)

Exercises in Lesson 2 of Chapter II

Topic: Clothing, Folk Dances and Festivals

Test 1. Multiple Choices. Choose the letter of the correct answers. Write letters
only.

1. What culture that is colorful fabric and carefully handcrafted purposely for tradition
that distinguishes them from the rest of other indigenous tribes?
a. Malong
b. Inabal
c. T’nalak
d. Habul Tiyahian

2. If Inaul famous textile of Maguindanaon, Ikat is for _______

a. Yakan tribe
b. Mandaya, Bagobo and B’laan
c. Tausog
d. Maranao

3. Your tourist friend is looking for the traditional clothing Malong for ‘’pasaubong.’’
What are you going to tell her?
a. Look for Lanao del Norte pasalubong center
b. Go to Lanao del Sur pasalubong center
c. Find the Sultan Kudarat pasalubong center
d. Visit Maguindanao pasalubong center
4. Which of the following events featuring the different cultures where locals perform
lively on the street and folk dances to the beat of traditional musical instruments?
a. Folk dancing
b. Festivals
c. Pangalay
d. Street dancing
5. If Tuna Festival is celebrated by the Gensan people, Panagtagbo is for______
a. Misamis Oriental
b. Davao del sur
c. Tagum city
d. Butuan city

Lesson 3
Places to Visit to Experience the Mindanao Culture
 To fully absorb the beauty of the island, one must learn and experience the
culture including the Mindanao music, arts and crafts of Mindanao, Mindanao folk
dance, and traditions. Here are the places where you can visit for a meaningful trip.

Zamboanga Peninsula

Photo credits to City Government of Zamboanga

Zamboanga Peninsula is composed of four provinces: Zamboanga del Norte,

Zamboanga Sibugay and Zamboanga del Sur. This region has the most
colorful Mindanao culture that makes every visitor elated. One thing that makes
Zamboanga famous is the vinta which is a result of the creativity of the locals when it
comes to Mindanao arts and culture. These vintas are the traditional outrigger boats of
the Mindanaoans (Tausogs), with colorfully painted hulls and artistically sewn sails.

Northern Mindanao

Northern Mindanao is the region where some of the most beautiful tourist
attractions in Mindanao like Bukidnon, Cagayan de Oro City, and Camiguin. The
Northern Mindanao culture is interesting to know about because of their tribal beliefs
and customs that up to this day still exist. One example is that they still believe in the
existence of spirits and gods, and they have a god for each element. In the Northern
Mindanao culture, people also believe that they need to please the spirits so they will
experience something good in return.
Caraga Region

One of the popular Caraga region culture and traditions is the belief in the
existence of Tahawan (a Supreme Being or god) of the Mamanwa Tribe. They do a
Tahawan ritual where they give thanks and merry. Another Caraga Region culture is
their burial practice. The dead were either laid on a platform built beside a tree or
wrapped in a mat or bamboo slats and hung up on a tree. So if you want to experience
the Caraga region culture and tradition, you must visit at least one town in the region.

Davao Region
 An interesting tradition of Mindanao in Davao Region is about marriage or
courtship. Visiting a girl when alone is prohibited and is punishable. The long
Mindanao tradition is that the boy visits the girl and does the chores for her family, and
his intentions are declared by his family and arrangements are explored for the
possibility of marriage in a meeting called salanggoni (betrothal). After the salanggoni,
the kawa (approximately 10% of the sunggod (bride price) is given to all mediators of
the marriage as tokens of gratitude. After this agreement, the girl is considered
engaged, regardless of her consent. Then, the enggulania (wedding) takes place. On
the wedding day, in order to enter the bride’s house, the groom has to pay the lenan
(dowry) to the persons assigned to collect it.
 If you want to see the Davao Oriental culture and other cultural practices in
Mindanao in one place, go to the Kadayawan Village. You can see the 11 tribes’ tribal
houses and their musical instruments, colorful attires and trinkets, and even harvests
from their own farms.

Soccsksargen

Photo source: Wikimedia Commons

Soccsksargen, formerly known as Central Mindanao, is an administrative region

of the Philippines, designated as Region X11. Located in south-central Mindanao, its
name is an acronym that stands for the region’s four provinces and one highly
urbanized city. Wikipedia.
 Four provinces: Cotabato, Sarangani, South Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat
Cities: General Santos Kidapawan, Koronadal, Cotabato and Tacurong
Regional center: Cotabato city (until 2004), Koronadal city (starting 2004)
Highest elevation: Mt. Apo with the height of 2,450 meters (8,040ft.)
Major economic activity of the region
Economic activities and performance of the region will continue to improve in
2019 with more projected investments in the following:

 Real state
 Retail industry
 Commercial banking
 Fast food chain and other service-oriented industries. (Wikipedia, april 29, 2019)

Natural resources that can be found.

Region X11 is endowed with natural resources that can produce high value crops
and fresh water fishing grounds. The region is under-explored and there are vast land
for fuel reserves and agricultural development that holds significan potential for
investment.

Soccsksargen is home to the country’s metallic mineral reserves such as:

 Gold
 Copper
 Iron
 Coal

Soccsksargen sources of income

 Bountiful fresh water fishing grounds (lakes)

 Sea fishing grounds (tuna capital of Asia)
 Beaches (Sarangani white sands)
 Transportation facilities include a minor
 1. interisland ports, seaports and airports
2. international fishing port

Grand celebration of culture and traditions

1. Helobung festival takes place in Lake Sebu, South Cotabato every month of
November. It is a grand celebration of culture and traditions of T’boli tribe.
2. Talakudong festival is another event of SOCCSKSARGEN region. It is celebration
highlight Tacurong city’s most prized symbol- the Kudong, a head covering worn by
its early settlers.
3. Sarangani Bay festival, also known to the locals as Sarbay Fest, is held on every
third week of May. It is the most popular beach event in the southern region of the
Philippines. Sarbay festival is a must attend for many tourist.