“LUMAD GROUPS ”

Groups Traditional Brief Background

Homeland
1. Bagobo  South and East -The Bagobo are a proud people with proto Malayan
of Mt. Apo, features and with a strong social structure enabled them as
Eastern part of a group, to integrate with the main body politic while
Cotabato, Davao retaining much of their indigenous customs, beliefs, and
del Sur values.
-They are renowned for their metal-craft skills, particularly
in the production of brass articles by means of the ancient
lost-wax process.
- Their distinct ceremonial attire made of ikat textiles is
likely to be referred to as either custom or dress.
(http://www.ethnicgroupsphilippines.com/people/ethnic-
groups-in-the-philippines/bagobo/)

2. B’laan  Davao del Sur, -Their means of livelihood are swidden farming, weaving,
South Cotabato, fishing, hunting, food-gathering, and tool- and weapon-
and Sarangani making.
Province -Blaan’s have kept themselves culturally, politically, and
economically distinct from their neighbors; thus, most of
B’laan traditions, customs, and way of life have remained
intact.
(https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/12800/RP)

3.) Bukidnon  Bukidnon -The term ‘Bukidnon’ is derived from Cebuano language
Province ‘mountain dwellers’ and is home to a wealth of traditions
and is abounding in cultural, artistic and aesthetics
heritage.
-Bukidnon visual art is traditionally expressed in weaving,
crafts, earth painting, beadwork, patchwork and
embroidery.
-Their religion is generally monotheistic, they believe in one
God “Magbabaya”.
(https://bukidnon.gov.ph/2012/11/09/brief-history/)

4.) Higaonon  Bukidnon, -Described as the “people of the living mountains” and
Rogongon in “people of the wilderness”. In fact, their name is derived
Iligan, Agusan from higa (to live or reside), goan (mountain), and onon
del Norte, and (people).
Misamis -Their culture can be best described as one of peace, for
Oriental. solving the internal conflicts of other ethnic groups.
-They practice an ancient ritual called ‘tampudas hu
Balagun’ (“treaty of the green vine branch”); literally, it
means cutting the vine and symbolically, cutting disputes
 between ethnic groups.
(http://thingsasian.com/story/last-tribes-mindanao-
higaonon-people-living-mountains)

5.) Dibaba-  Compostela -The word Dibabawon comes from the native
won Valley, Davao word “dibabaw”  which means “at the top”, “tip”, or
del Norte, and “victorious”
Agusan del Sur. -For their livelihood, hunting is popular among the
Dibabawon as part of the customs. During rice harvest, the
yield is divided into two. Everything harvested from morning
until noon goes to the harvester and those that are
harvested in the afternoon goes to the farm owner.
-The tribe has its own unique mode of dressing. A
Dibabawon dress is called, “Puka”. They use black cloth
with red embroideries for the male’s upper dress. The
women use red cloth with ornaments and embroideries of
blue thread and patadyong  for their skirt.
-The Dibabawon tribe’s religion is called “Talihan”. They
believed in the spirits like “Bantoy”, the messenger of
the “Magbabaya”  or “Taginihit”  (god). “Gamo-gamo” is a
spirit that lives in the water while “Tagamaling”  is a spirit
from heaven. They observe their beliefs and tradition to
maintain good relationship with the Tagainihit  who is the
creator of all things on Earth. 
-They also have their own dances and music. In any
celebration, the Dibabawon love to prepare food and to
dance with music through drum beating. 
(https://theinitiativephblog.wordpress.com/2018/01/15/disco
ver-dibabawon-higaonon/)

6.) Mamanwa  Agusan del -One of the oldest and still extant tribes in the Philippines,
Norte, and who bear a striking physical resemblance to the Negritos.
Surigao del -Leadership is accorded to the eldest and most respected
Norte males in their community to lead the Mamanwas.
-Some practices have fallen by the wayside, such as
traditional hunting by bow and arrow.
(http://www.ethnicgroupsphilippines.com/people/ethnic-
groups-in-the-philippines/mamanwa/)
7.) Mandaya  Davao Oriental, -Their name means “the first people upstream,”derived
Davao del Norte, from man “first”and daya üpstream or upper portion of a
and Surigao del river”.
Sur -The Madayas are shifting cultivators who rely largely on
swidden farming as a means for survival. Their other
means also include fishing, food gathering, hunting, and the
planting of abaca as a cash crop.
-They are excellent metalsmiths, who can fashion beautiful
 silver ornaments and brass items and weapons.

(http://www.ethnicgroupsphilippines.com/people/ethnic-
groups-in-the-philippines/mandaya-mansaka)

8.) Manobo  Agusan del Sur, -A Manobo community is mostly male dominated. The man
Bukidnon, is considered as the head of the family and he is the one
Davao who will make the family decisions.
Provinces, -The Manobo are both strong in mind and spirit, their
Cotabato cultural identity is firmly rotted in the land and its nature,
provinces, and is maintained through storytelling, language family and
Sarangani the passing on of traditional skills and arts.
Province, and (http://thingsasian.com/story/last-tribes-mindanao-manobo-
Sultan Kudarat river-people-cotabato)

 Davao del Norte -The name Mansaka is a combination of man (“first”) and
9.)Mansaka and Compostela (“saka”) to ascend, and is almost identical to the meaning
Valley of Mandaya.
-The Mansaka’s traditional clothing distinguishes them from
other tribes. The cloth and its patterns are handwoven.
Jewelry is an important part of the attire of both genders.
(https://ncca.gov.ph/about-ncca-
3/subcommissions/subcommission-on-cultural-
communities-and-traditional-arts-sccta/central-cultural-
communities/the-mansaka/)

10.) Matigsalug  Bukidnon -Their name comes from the words matig, meaning “from,”
(Tigwa-Salug and salug, meaning “river.” 
Valley) -The Matigsalug are known for their skills in hunting and
gathering, though they subsequently shifted to farming due
to the influence of the migrant farmers from the Northern
Philippines.
-They are famous for their “Kaamulan Festival”which is an
annual gathering of the seven hill tribes of Bukidnon. It is
held to unite and celebrate the unique indigenous culture of
each tribe that originally inhabited the region.
(http://www.ethnicgroupsphilippines.com/2017/05/15/the-
matigsalug-tribe-of-salug-river/ )

11.)Banwaon  Agusan del Sur - Also known as Adgawanon or Banwanon, the Banwaons
derived their name from the word banwa meaning "home."
They are village dwellers who live in remote locations,
mainly in the areas of Maasam, Libang, and Adgawan
Rivers.
 -Agriculture is their top source of livelihood, but they are
knowledgeable in farming and fishing as well. 
-Among the sacred ceremony of the Banwaons is tud-om,
which is a succession of sacred verses that is instituted not
only during harvest or thanksgiving but also during
community or tribal conflicts and in establishing a new
chieftain.
-Today, the Higaonon–Banwaon tribe is the second largest
cultural community in Agusan del Sur. Their population is
densest in the municipality of Esperanza and extends up to
the borders of Bukidnon and Misamis Oriental.
(http://www.ethnicgroupsphilippines.com/2018/05/15/the-
lesser-known-banwaon-people/)

12.)Subanen  Zamboanga -They are also known as Subanon or Subano, derived from
Peninsula and the word “suba,” a Visayan word meaning “river,” as most
Misamis of their settlements can be found near rivers or mountain
Occidental. streams. 
-According to the history of Zamboanga City, the Subanen
came around 2,000 to 6,000 years ago from Indonesia but
moved into the hinterlands upon the arrival of the Muslims,
who would often attack the Subanen to collect taxes and
capture slaves. With the migration of different groups of
people in the area, the Subanen were driven further into the
forest. There, most of the Subanen settled down and
subsisted on rice farming and fishing, in addition to
breeding a variety of livestock, such as chickens, water
buffaloes, pigs, and cattle.
(http://www.ethnicgroupsphilippines.com/2016/03/21/the-
subanen-people-of-mindanao)

13.)Tagabawa  They live in the -‘Tagabawa’ means people of the south as ‘bawa’ means
surrounding south.
areas of Mt. Apo -The Bagobo-Tagabawa had a well-defined social structure
even in those long-ago years, which appoints roles on the
people based on their strengths and recognized skills,
talents, and special affinity to nature.
- Like many tribal folks, as well, it's the conversion to
Christianity that is at the root of their changed ways.
Tagabawa was held in high esteem by the Jesuit
missionaries during the Spanish regime.
-Dominant color among the attires of the Tagabawa is the
color maroon, which quickly distinguishes them from the
other tribe that are predominantly red and blue.
(https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/162064/Business/Taga
bawa-The-southern-folks)
14.)Tagakaolo  Davao del -Tagakaulo translates to “inhabitants of headwater (olo sa
Sur,South of Mt. tubig) or sources of rivers and streams.”
Apo, and -Their lifestyle, wholly sedentary with principal subsistence
Sarangani dependent on agriculture, fishing, and paid labor. 
Province. -Central to their culture is the datu who presides over civic
and labor duties; a prominent datu could secure, either by
capture or by purchase. 
(http://www.ethnicgroupsphilippines.com/people/ethnic-
groups-in-the-philippines/kalagan-tagakaulo )

15.)Talaandig /  Bukidnon -Known as the dwellers of slopes and steeps, the Talaandig
Tigkalasan Province tribe is one of the 18 major ethnolinguistic groupings
classified as Lumad, and are fluent speakers of Inukit or
Binukid, the tribe’s native dialect.
-Their art pieces became an avenue to showcase the
brilliant and creative mind of the Talaandig and has since
gained worldwide recognition. The Talaandig Artist Group
participated in various art exhibits in different parts of the
Philippines, as well as in countries like Singapore, United
States, and Canada.
(http://www.ethnicgroupsphilippines.com/2020/05/19/the-
proud-talaandig-people-of-bukidnon/)

16.)Mangguwa-  Compostela -They are part of the Filipino, Tribal people cluster within
ngan Valley, Davao the Malay Peoples affinity bloc. This people group is only
del Norte, and found in Philippines.  Estimated to reach 3,488 in numbers
Davao Oriental. in 1987, they are scattered up to the great lakes of Buayan
or Maguindanao and in the territory between what is
occupied by the Manobo and the Mandaya in Davao and
South Cotabato. Their primary language is Dibabawon
Manobo. The primary religion practiced by the
Manguangan is ethnoreligion. Ethnoreligion is deeply
rooted in a people's ethnic identity and conversion
essentially equates to cultural assimilation.

(https://www.peoplegroups.org/Explore/groupdetails.aspx?
peid=46611)
17.) Tiruray/  Maguindanao, -Coastal or lowland Tirurays have close contact with the
Teduray and North Maguindanao Muslims and the "Christian" population.
Cotabato Many of them are modernized and have adopted them
neighbors' culture, while Tirurays who live in the mountains
have remained to live in the traditional way.
-Economic life of coastal Tirurays is centered around
farming, hunting, fishing and basket weaving. They are
known for their artistic skill in basket weaving in two-toned
 geometric designs. Those living in the mountains are
engaged in dry field agriculture supplemented by hunting
and gathering of forest products.
-Indigenous beliefs and practice, customs and rituals are
animistic. Tirurays who have close contact with the Muslim
Maguindanao were influenced to believe the Islam faith.
The Roman Catholics and the Episcopalian church have
been working among them for a long time and many
modernized Tirurays were influenced to believe. However
many of them still keep the old beliefs and still practice
indigenous rituals.
(https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/15502/RP )

18.)T’boli  T’boli lives in the -The T'boli distinguish themselves from other Tribal Groups
province of by their colorful clothes, bracelets and earrings, this tribe is
South Cotabato, famous for their complicated beadwork, wonderful woven
around lake fabrics and beautiful brass ornaments.
Sebu, Siluton -The T'boli culture is richly connected with and inspired by
and Lahit. nature, their dances are a mimick from the action of
animals such as monkeys and birds.
-The T'nalak, the T'boli sacred cloth, made from abaca is
the best known T'boli craft and is one of the tribes
traditional textile, this cloth is exchanged during marriages
and used as a cover during births. 
(http://thingsasian.com/story/tboli-tribe-south-cotabato )

19.)Ata Manobo  West and -Some of the Atas resemble the typical facial
Nortwest of Mt. characteristics of the Aeta in Luzon, Though they are
Apo, Davao del divided into different subgroups, they speak a shared
Norte, and language called Ata and can fully identify with each other.
Davao City. -Most of the territories of the Ata are underdeveloped.
Slash-and-burn agriculture was once practiced by the tribe,
but due to the deterioration of the land and depletion of
food sources in the surrounding areas, the majority turned
to trade and contour farming. Additional sources of income
include abaca gathering and basket-weaving or liyang.
-The Ata women have mastered the art of making liyang, a
woven basket used for harvesting or for wood gathering. A
liyang is made of abaca, rattan (uway), and a bamboo tree
(bagtok), which are all harvested in the forest. Most of
these products are sold at the market or to nearby towns,
as well as during special events like festivals.
(http://www.ethnicgroupsphilippines.com/2017/08/30/the-
ata-manobo/)
20.)Umayam-  The -They live very ordinary lives, mostly dependent on below-
non Umayamnon are subsistence level upland farming, fishing from the river, and
originally from gathering of non-timber natural resources.
the Umayam -Some are still practicing the traditional customs and
River and in the beliefs. They believe in the existence of the Almighty Super
headwaters of Natural being who created everything and controls
Pulangi River in everything. Some have been made Christians through
Bukidnon American and Filipino missionaries.
Province and (https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/18945/RP ).
Umayam River
in Agusan del
Sur.