INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF THE
PHILIPPINES AND THEIR
CULTURE AND FESTIVALS OF
THE PHILIPPINES
By: Anna Loren Alcaraz
The islands of the Philippines are inhabited by a number of different ethnic groups.
The majority of the population is composed of ethno linguistic groups whose
languages are Austronesian, also known as Malayo-Polynesian, in origin.
Ethnic groups include the Cebuano, Ilocano, Pangasinense, Kapampangan,
Tagalog, Bicolano, Waray, Surigaonon, Zamboangueño and Hiligaynon who are
also called Ilonggo.
About 15% of the population is made up of what are generally defined as
indigenous people. They are the descendants of the original inhabitants of the
Philippines. Many of these groups were virtually untouched by Spanish and
American influence and largely retained their customs and traditions.
Most well known of these indigenous people are the Igorot, a group that includes
the Bontoc, Ibaloi, Ifugao and Kalinga. They inhabit the Central Cordillera
Mountain Range on North Luzon.
Owing to the difficult terrain, the Cordillera tribes are among the few peoples of the
Philippines who have successfully resisted foreign domination and preserved their
authentic tribal culture.
These groups were responsible for the construction of the rice terraces of North Luzon
that were inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The oldest inhabitants of the Philippines are the Negrito. They are a pre-Austronesian
people who migrated from mainland Asia around 90,000 years ago.
The Negrito population was estimated in 2004 at around 31,000. Their tribal groups
include the Ati, who inhabit mountainous areas of Negros, and the Aeta, who live on
the slopes of Mount Pinatubo. Their ways of life remain mostly free from Western and
Islamic influences.
An important group on Mindanao are collectively called the Lumad, and include the
Manobo, Bukidnon of Bukidnon province, Bagobo, Mandaya, Mansaka and the
Tagakaulo in who inhabited the mountains bordering the Gulf of Davao.
Other ethnic groups are the B’laan, Teduray and T’boli who live in South Cotabato.
Republic Law 8371, known as the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA), was
enacted in 1997. It has been praised for its support for the cultural integrity
of Indigenous Peoples, the right to their lands and the right to self-directed
development of these lands.
The Igorot, the Lumad and the Mangyan
The indigenous groups in the mountains of northern Luzon are collectively
known as Igorot, while the groups on the southern island of Mindanao are
collectively called Lumad. There are smaller groups collectively known as
Mangyan in the central islands, and even smaller and scattered groups in
the central islands and Luzon, including several groups of hunter-gatherers
in transition.
NORTHERN PHILIPPINES
These groups ranged from various Igorot tribes, a group that includes the
Bontoc, Ibaloi, Ifugao, Isneg, Kalinga, Kankanaey and Tinguian, who built
the Rice Terraces. They also covered a wide spectrum in terms of their
integration and acculturation with lowland Christian Filipinos.
The Ifugao of Ifugao province, the Bontoc, Kalinga, Tinguian,
the Kankanaey and Ibaloi were all farmers who constructed the rice terraces for
many centuries.
Other mountain peoples of Luzon are the Isnag of the province of Apayao,
the Gaddang of the border between Kalinga and Isabela provinces and the
Ilongot of Nueva Vizcaya province and Caraballo Mountains all developed
hunting and gathering, farming cultivation and headhunting. Other groups such
as the Negritos formerly dominated the highlands throughout the islands for
thousands of years, but have been reduced to a small population, living in
widely scattered locations, primarily along the eastern ranges of the mountains.
SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES
Among the most important groups found on Mindanao are
collectively called the Lumad, and includes the Manobo which is a
bigger ethnographic group such as the Ata-Manoboand the
Matigsalug found in Davao City, Davao del Norte and Bukidnon
Province; the Langilan-Manobo in Davao del Norte; the
Agusan-Manobo in Agusan del Sur and southern parts of Agusan
del Norte; the Pulanguiyon-Manobo of Bukidnon Province; the
Ubo-Manobo in southwestern parts of Davao City, and northern
parts of North Cotabato Province that is also to include the
Arumanen-Manobo of Carmen (N. Cotabato); the
Dulangan-Manobo in the Province of Sultan Kudarat; the Talaandig
, Higaonon and Bukidnon of Bukidnon province, Bagobo, Mandaya
, Mansaka, Tagakaulo in Davao region who inhabited the
mountains bordering the Davao Gulf; the Kalagan people lives
particularly in lowland areas and seashores of Davao del Norte,
Compostella Valley, Davao Oriental and some seashores in Davao
Del Sur, the Subanonof upland areas in Zamboanga; the Mamanua
in the Agusan-Surigao border region; the B'laan, Teduray and Tboli
As part of the global goal of biodiversity and cultural conservation, five
indigenous peoples’s (IP) communities in the Philippines recently “declared”
their indigenous communities conserved territories and areas (ICCAs):
Ikalahan/ Kalanguya IPs of Nueva Vizcaya, Nueva Ecija, and Pangasinan
provinces
Magbukun Ayta IPs of Kanawan, Morong, Bataan
Tongrayan IPs of Tinglayan, Kalinga
Agusan Manobo of Esperanza, Agusan Del Sur
Kalanguya IPs of Tinoc, Ifugao
FESTIVALS OF THE
PHILIPPINES
Festivals in the Philippines offer people a chance to exhibit their rich
culture and pay homage to the history and patron saints. They are vibrant,
big, and celebrated with a lot of pomp and show. No wonder, each province
has its own Filipino Fiesta that they are very proud of.
Tourists from all over the world visit the Philippines not just to see its
beautiful beaches and breathtaking sights, but also to experience the
country’s grand festivals that, without a doubt, make it more fun in the
Philippines.
The festivals in the Philippines are one of the main reasons travelers visit
the country. Because of the colorful costumes, fun activities, and
electrifying festival dances in the Philippines, travelers can’t help but join
the party.
Sinulog Festival – A religious festival in the Philippines celebrated in Cebu
every January.
Ati-Atihan Festival – One-of-a-kind festival in the Philippines held in Aklan.
The mother of all festivals
Dinagyang Festival – The religious festival in the Philippines that celebrates
the feast of the Santo Niño and the pact between the Datus and locals in
Iloilo City. The most awarded festival.
Pahiyas Festival – Lucban, Quezon – One of the most colorful Philippines
festivals held in Lucban, Quezon where tourists can enjoy FREE food!
Panagbenga Festival – The popular Flower Festival in the Philippines.
Lechon Festival – One of the most unique festivals in the Philippines where
you’ll see crispy pork lechons dressed in cool outfits.
Kadayawan Festival – The fiesta in the Philippines celebrated in Davao City.
MassKara Festival – The Philippine festival of many faces held in Bacolod. The
happiest and most colorful festival in the Philippines
Tuna Festival – One of the fun fish festivals in the Philippines.
Higantes Festival – Where you can see giant paper mache do the festival
dance.
Mango Festival – A festivity held in Zambales to celebrate the bountiful
harvest of mangoes.
Bangus Festival – The festival that promotes bangus.
Moriones Festival – A religious festival in the Philippines re-enacting
Longinus’ life.
Ibalong Festival – It is a celebration in recognition of the socio-historic-
cultural heritage of Bicolanos as based on the Ibalong Epic.
T’Nalak Festival – A way to promote and preserve South Cotabato’s cultural
heritage
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