Aetas reached the Philippines because of the land bridges or

narrow strait that connected all land masses in the world.

According to this theory, hunters at the time crossed these land
bridges but due to the movement of plates underneath the
Earth’s surface, these migration paths eventually disappeared.
Therefore, even those with no intent to colonize new lands,
were unable to return to their original homes.

Their distinguishing characteristics and practices

HISTORY

-The Aeta, like other Negritos, are the descendants of the

earliest modern human migrations into the Philippine islands
during the Paleolithic, around 40,000 years ago.

-It's possible that "Aeta" is derived from the Malay term

"hitam," which means "black," or from its cousin in the -Aetas are characterized by their skin color, height, and hair
Philippine languages, "itom or itim," which means "people." type. They mostly have dark to dark-brown skin, curly hair,
Aeta, also known as Ayta, Alta, Atta, Ita, and Ati in early and are usually below five-feet tall. Traditionally, Aetas are
ethnographic records of the people, were sometimes referred hunting and gathering indigenous people. They’re actually
to as "little blacks" because of their dark skin. among the most skilled when it comes to jungle survival –
they are even able to make use of plants as herbal medicine
-Short and slender, the Aeta are also dark-skinned; their and possess tools and
typical height is 1.35 to 1.5 meters; their frame is petite; their weapons. While they’re
hair is kinky; and they have large black eyes. Later migrants nomadic, they are able to
are thought to have driven them into the highlands and build temporary houses made
hinterlands of the Philippines, where they are thought to have of sticks
been the country's earliest settlers or aborigines.

Aeta or Agtaʾs Traditional Costumes

-As for their clothing, they wear plain and simple attire.
-According to historians, the Aetas (also known as Agtas) are Traditional Aetas, who are skilled in weaving and plating,
Australo-Melanesians. Historical accounts suggest that they’re wear wrap around skirts or bark cloth (for women) and loin
cloths for men. They are also into music and the arts – making
use of ornaments as accessories and have ensembles of
instruments to create melodious rhythms.

of the same group as those of Aborigines in Australia and

Melanesians of Solomon Islands. While they closely resemble
physical characteristics such as curly hair and dark colored
skin, it is not clear as to how they arrived in the Philippines. Colonial resistance and unfortunate displacement

-Most Aetas practice monotheism and are animists. They -Because they are usually scattered in mountainous areas, the
worship a Supreme Being and at the same time, also believe in Spaniards had a hard time introducing Catholicism to their
environmental spirits. They believe that various places in our population. They mostly resisted to change, which made it
environment are being governed by both good and evil spirits. difficult for the Spanish to colonize their areas. This is also
one of the reasons why they were able to preserve their
-Most historians point to the Bering Land Bridge Theory to cultural traditions and beliefs through to today.
explain the history of the Aetas. This theory suggests that the
-Most Aetas can be found in the northern part of Luzon. -Strips are either woven two by two at the bottom and one by
According to historical accounts, they have lived near Mount one on either side of the Aeta's twilled, checker close, or open
Pinatubo in Zambales for thousands of years. But, when worked weaves, all of which have strips woven two by two on
Mount Pinatubo erupted in 1991, it devastated the Aeta the bottom. Their approach to basketmaking is unique in that
population. The majority lost their homes while some re- they always start with an old basket and use it as a mold to
settled in urban areas. This gave way to Aetas create a new one.
being modernly influenced by prevailing
Filipino culture and practices. Some Aetas -This simple one-over-one construction has been used by the
have already married Filipinos. Most Aetas Aeta of northern Luzon to weave double-walled baskets made
also go to school nowadays. of banban, which is around 2 millimeters wide. In order to
achieve double walling, a banban's skin for the interior must
Challenges today be done in a plain weave, while the skin for the exterior must
be woven with fine nito strips. Sizes range from little bowls
-In the Philippines, Aetas as well as other with diameters of 18-20 cm to big burden baskets that may be
indigenous groups, belong to the carried on the back. The baskets have a square base and a
marginalized sector of the country. They’re round mouth. The lip of the basket is frequently laced with a
often displaced because their homelands have been destroyed strong rattan or nitovine rim.
due to illegal logging, mining, and slash-and-burn farming.
Thus, these situations have forced them to relocate and leave -The Zambales Aeta manufactured a market basket with a
their ancestral lands. handle made of smoked and natural bamboo in the 1970s.
Even the finishing braid on the rim has a lot of fine detail, and
-They are usually divided into three main groups: the Aeta there is symmetry in the weaving of the black and natural
from Central Luzon; the Agta of Southeastern Luzon; and bamboo fibers. Sturdiness is ensured with a split rattan handle
the Dumagat (also spelled Dumaget) of Eastern Luzon that reaches the bottom of the basket. It's decorated with a
-Negritos are a diverse group of people who dominate the braided collar and a wrapped handle. Winnowing baskets and
Philippines' archipelago from north to south, despite a mats are woven primarily by women, whereas armlets are
perceived lack of inclusive terms to describe them. Philippine made solely by men. Some raincoats are constructed of palm
Negrito groups is the best term to use when referring to the leaves and have a fan-like top that spreads out like a fan
Agta and Aeto in northeastern Luzon; the Aeta, Ayto and Alta around the wearer's body, except in front where their waistline
in Central Luzon; the Ati or Ata in Panay and Negros; the is high.
Batak in Palawan; and Iraya Mangyan in Mindoro. Remontado
of Rizal province, the Remontado of Sibuyan Island in
Romblon province, and the Ati are also included in this group Aeta bamboo combs etched
with geometric designs
-Baluga or Ita is also known as Remontado or Ita in the
(Illustrations by Emilio Baylon
provinces of Pampanga and Zambales; in Tarlac they are
Jr., 1994)
named Kulaman, Baluga or Sambal, while on Panay they are
known by the names Ita or Ati. Aeta also goes by the names
Kofun, Diango, Paranan, Assao, Ugsing, and Aita in the
province of Cagayan. -Northern Luzon's Agta are known for carving their bow
shafts, which are subsequently stained with soot to make a
-While the Philippine government has implemented mandates
striking pattern of black and white. Northern Luzon Agta uses
and acts such as the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act of 1997,
a bolo to initially scrape the portions that need to be
it’s not enough to protect them and help them cope with
blackened. In order to protect the scraped portion of the shaft,
matters such as access to jobs and livelihood support.
a thin layer of beeswax is subsequently spread over its surface.
Aeta Arts and Crafts The carved surfaces are then blackened by suffusing the
beeswax with soot. At least one-third or even one-half of this
-Etchings on everyday Aeta instruments and implements are rudimentary carving can be seen on arrowheads. It may only
the most popular type of visual art. Many household items, cover the area where the feathers will be fastened, depending
such as pots and pans, cutlery, and ornaments, have their outer on the model.
surfaces treated in this manner. Incised angular motifs adorn
bamboo combs. The shafts of arrows are decorated with
geometric patterns. Pinatubo Aeta leader, 2016
(Izzy L. Libo-On)
-Weaving and plaiting are also two of their specialties. Their
nego (winnowing baskets) and duyan (rattan hammocks) are
among the best in Aeta production. The Ilocano, Cagayano,
and Isneg weave their baskets in a single weave, whereas the
northern Luzon Aeta always use a double weave.
-They don't wear a lot of jewelry or accessories. Young a bias joint, a gaka string made of lukmong vine fibers, and a
women frequently don wraparound skirts. Elder men and kuhitan coconut resonator. Similar to other Mindanoo tribes,
women wore loincloths and bark cloth, respectively. In the Mamanwa use aydluing, a long guitar with numerous strings
Agta culture, elderly ladies wear a bark-cloth strip wrapped
around their waist and fastened to a string. Lowlanders' shirts,
slacks, and sandals are now worn by most Aeta who have Aeta man playing the kullibaw
come into contact with them in the past few decades. The in Floridablanca, Pampanga,
Pinatubo Aeta anitu or shaman wears a red cotton G-string for 1990 (CCP Collections)
ritual dances.

-A variety of plant species, including namuan (Artocarpus

sericicarpus), inbalud (Ficus sp.), dila, and salugen, are used
by the Batak to manufacture bark textiles (Antiaris toxicaria).
Bark clothing is now only worn by the seniors during rituals
due to the influence of lowland culture.

-The Aeta of Quezon, eastern Bulacan, Rizal, and Camarines -The Peablanca Agta play the timawa, a 42.5-centimeter-long
are known for their body scarification, which is a type of melodic bow made of mature reed
visual art. They inflict wounds on the back, arms, breasts, legs known as bikal, to communicate
and hands and then aggravate the wounds as they heal to melancholy or comfort someone. a
generate scars, using fire, lime and other ways. vine known as lanut is responsible
for its two strings. One end of the
Cultural and Oral Literature of the Aeta People bow is held in the mouth of the
There are several examples of Aeta literary arts that are passed musician as he or she strums the
down through oral tradition. strings. The instrument's
reverberation is amplified by the
Riddles in northern Cagayan province's Aeta language are instrument's mouth. In addition to
typically two lines long and rhyme assonantally. adjusting the shape of the lips or
blowing through the timawa, the
Muminuddukam
player can also produce varied pitches.
A ningngijjitam. (Pinnia)
(It wears a crown but isn’t a queen In all Aeta groups, dancing is commonplace.
It has scales but isn’t a fish. [Pineapple])
-Men and women may form an outside ring to enclose the
female dancers and enjoy dancing under the stars on a lovely
moonlit night. Men and women dance to the beat of their
Assini nga pinasco ni Apu
instruments while moving in opposite directions.
Nga magismagel yu ulu na? (Simu) (There is a cave with a
bolo in it -The Aeta's dances can be divided into two categories:
Full of bones it isn’t a grave. [Mouth]) celebratory and ceremonial. When you're getting together with
friends, celebrating a successful hunt, or just having a nice
time, you might want to engage in some festive dancing. This
Ajjar tangapakking nga niuk Awayya ipagalliuk. (Danum) includes the Pinatubo Aeta's binabayani, the Agta's borokil,
(When you cut it and the Iriga Aeta's war dances. It's not uncommon for
It is mended without a scar. [Water]) ceremonial dance to go on into the early hours of the morning.

Musical Instruments of the Aetas

-The flute, the mouth harp built from a sliver of slit bamboo, a
traded metal gong, and the bamboo violin are some of the
instruments found among the Aeta.

-In 1931, Romualdez (1973) discovered instruments among

the Aeta tribes. The Aeta's kullibaw is a bamboo mouth harp.
The Aeta of Zambales bansik is a four-hole mountain cane
flute. There are two strings to an Aeta of Batan "kabungbung"
(guitar) created from a single bamboo "node," which is then
cut open at one end, creating two cords that are tensioned by
"bridges." A resonant hole is carved into the underside of the Badjao: The Sea Gypsies of Mindanao
two cables. The Aeta of Tayabas' gurimbaw has a busog bow,
Sino nga ba sila? ng bagong panganak sa malamin na dagat at muling pag-ahon
ng mga nakatatandang mga lalaki sa sanggol.
Ang mga Badjao ay tinatawag ding mga Hitano ng
Dagat. Ito ay isang dibisyon ng Sama-Bajau na umasenso ang Magkaibang-magkaiba ang kostumbre ng dalawang
tribo ng Sama Moro ng Tawi-Tawi. Tinawag silang “Sama tribung kaagtas sa buhay. Ang mga Tausog ay hambog, tila
Abaknon” sa Western Samar, “Sissano” sa Papua New sila na ang nakaaangat sa mga Badjao, sapagkat sila ay may
Guinea, “Otang Laut” sa hilagang Indonesia, Singapore at paniniwala at tapang.
Malaysia, at “Badjaw” sa Maluku (Indonesia) at sa mga lugar
na lampas na ng teritoryo ng Indonesia. Ang mga pamilya ng
mga hitanong dagat na ito ay matatagpuan din sa Mindanao at
sa karagatan ng Sulu, Moro Gulf, Davao Gulf at Illana Bay

Kung sisiyasatin ng mabuti, napakalawak ang pag-

aaral sa mga Badjao. Kagaya ng ibang relihiyon, ang mga
Badjao ay may sarili ring mga kultura, tradisyon, kaugalian,
wika, pamumuhay, pamahiin, at marami pang iba.

Napakahalagang pag-aralan ito ng nakararami dahil

sa kaalaman ng lahat, ang kultura ng mga Badjao ay nawawala Sa isang banda, may nagsasabing nagsimulang
na. umalis ang mga Badjao sa mga isla ng Mindanao at Sulu
noong “first millenium AD” at nagsimulang maglakbay
Ito ay hindi na nabibigyan ng importansya ng lahat dahil
patungo sa timog at kanluran. Dahil dito, nagpirme na sila sa
ang mga Badjao ay hindi nabibigyan ng maayos na trato ng
Sulu, Cagayan at silang ang Borneo (Malaysia). Isang popular
lipunan.
na paniniwala naman ang nagsasabing nanggaling umano ang
mga Badjao sa Johore, Indonesia kung saan naninirahan sila sa
mga bangka.

Ngunit sa kabila ng iba’t ibang teorya hinggil sa

tunay na pinagmulan ng mga Badjao, kapansin- pansin na ang
pangunahing dahilan ng kanilang paglalakbay ay ang patuloy
napaghahanap ng mapagkakakitaan. At sa kasalukuyan, ang
mga badjao ay naninirahan sa Sulu, sa mga bayan ng Maubu,
Bus-bus, Tanjung, Pata, Tapul, Lugus, Bangas, Parang,
Maimbung, Karungdung at Talipaw. Matatagpuan din ang iba
pa nating katutubong Badjao sa kadulu-duluhang bahagi ng
Pilipinas.
BADJAO
Partikular sa Sabah Malaysia na malaking bilang ng
Ang mga Badjao ay isang pangkat-etniko na naninirahan sa mga badjao ang nakatira roon. Ang pangunahin na katangian
karagatan at mas kilala sa salitang “Sea Gypsies”. na makikita sa mga Badjao ay ang kanilang buhok na tulad ng
buhok ng mais dahil sa tindi ng sikat ng araw sa karagatan, at
Hindi natin dapat malimutan na nagmula sila sa isang lahi ng pagiging madilim na kulay. Base naman sa mga nakikita ko na
mga magigiting at mahuhusay na mandaragat, na noo'y katangian ng mga Badjao ay makulay ang pananamit at
kinokonsulta ng mga sultan na Malay dahil sa angkin nilang nakaugalian ng mga kalalakihan ang nakahubad bata man o
kagalingang pangkaragatan. Ngunit hindi malinaw kung saan matanda.
nga ba talaga nagmula ang mga Badjao.
Ang mga Badjao ay mas kilala sa pagiging matiyaga
Ang pangkat na Badjao sa mga gawain at masipag. Sila ay may angking kakayahan at
ay naninirahan sa Sulu, sa mga bayan ng Maubu, talino sa paggawa ng magagarang bangka at kagalingan sa
Bus-bus, Tanjung, Pata, Tapul, Lugus, Bangas, Parang, pag-langoy at higit sa lahat ang
Maimbung, Karungdung at Talipaw. Tinatawag din pagiging mapagmahal ng mga Badjao
silang Luaan, Lutaos, Bajau, Orang Laut, Samal Pal'u at sa kapayapaan.
Pala'u. Samal ang kanilang wika. Marahil isa ito sa malaking
Ang mga Badjao ay isang grupo ng mga taona dahilan kung bakit palagi silang
naninirahan sa kayamanan ng dagat gamit ang kaalamang naglalakbay at palipat-lipat ng
nagpasalin-salin sa kanilang mga ninuno. Isang ritwal ng di matitirahan, yan ay ang pag iwas sa
umano'y pagtanggap sa lipi ng mga Badjao, ang pagtapon gulo at mainit na paghaharap o
komprontasyon.
 Gayunpaman, ang pamumuhay ng mga Badjao ay Magaling din silang sumisid ng perlas. Dahil malapit
nakatira lamang sa bangkang-bahay. Isang pamilya na may sa Tausug, karamihan sa kanila ay Muslim. Gayunpaman,
miyembrong 2-13 miyembro ang maaaring tumira sa naniniwala pa rin sila sa Umboh o kaluluwa ng kanilang mga
bangkang-bahay at yaman dagat ang kanilang kinakain. ninuno.
Magaling sa pangingisda ang mga Badjao dahil ito ang
pangunahin nilang hanapbuhay. Gumagawa rin sila ng mga
vinta at mga gamit sa pangingisda tulad ng lambat at bitag.

Ang mga kababaihan ay naghahabi ng mga banig na

may iba't-ibang uri ng makukulay na disenyo.

Badjao Kultura at tradisyon

PANANAMIT

KULTURA Ang pananamit ng mga badjao ay makukukay at

kaakit akit tignan. Ang tradisyonal na suot mga lalaki ay may
Ang pangkat na Badjao ay naninirahan sa Sulu, sa mga saplot sa kanilang ulo at may makukulay na damit. Sa
mga bayan ng Maubu, Bus-bus, Tanjung, Pata,Tapul, Lugus, mga babae naman ay may mga perlas sila na kanilang gawa sa
Bangas, Parang, Maimbung, Karungdung at Talipaw. kanilang ulo na kanilang tinuturing palamuti sa kanilang mga
Tinatawag din silang Luaan, Lutaos, Bajau, Orang katawan. Makukulay din ang kanilang mga suot tulad ng mga
Laut, Samal Pal'u at Pala'u. Samal ang kanilang wika. Ang sa lalaki. May iba naman sa kanila na hindi nakasuot ng
mga Badjao ay isang grupo ng mga tao na naninirahan sa kanilang tradisyonal na pananamit.
kayamanan ng dagat gamit ang kaalamang nagpasalin-salin sa
kanilang mga ninuno. Isang ritwal ng di umano'y pagtanggap
sa lipi ng mga Badjao, ang pagtapon ng bagong panganak sa
malamin na dagat at muling pag-ahon ng mga nakatatandang
mga lalaki sa sanggol.

Magkaibang-magkaiba ang kostumbre ng dalawang

tribung kaagtas sa buhay. Ang mga Tausog ay hambog, tila
sila na ang nakaaangat sa mga Badjao, sapagkat sila ay may
paniniwala at tapang. Kahawig ng mga Samal ang kanilang
kultura. May haka-hakang sila at ang mga Samal ay isang
pangkat na nagmula sa Johore sa dakong timog ng
pinensulang Malaya. Nakatira sila sa mga bangkang-bahay. TRADISYON AT PANINIWALA

PANINIWALA

1. naniniwala ang mga Badjao na ang pagkilala sa kanilang

panginoon at pagkakaroon ng karunungan ay ang
pinakamabisang daan sa pagkakaroon ng magandang
buhay sa hinarap. Sa kanilang pagpapahalaga sa
kanilang panginoong Mohammed, binibigyan nila ng
karangalan ang mga salip (pinagmulan ng panginoon)
nito;

2. bawat simbahan sa kanilang lugar ay dapat na

Isang pamilya na may myembrong 2-13 miyembro mayroong mosque official. Hindi dapat na mawalan
ang maaaring tumira sa bangkang-bahay. ng Imam, ang nangunguna sa pagdarasal, Bilal, ang
tumatawag at nagpapasimula ng pagdarasal, at Hatib,
Pangingisda ang pangunahin nilang hanapbuhay.
ang nagsasagawa ng pagbasa tuwing araw ng biyernes;
Gumagawa rin sila ng mga vinta at mga gamit sa pangingisda
tulad ng lambat at bitag.
3. naniniwala sila na ang kanilang pinagmulan ay mga
Ang mga kababaihan ay naghahabi ng mga banig na dugong bughaw kung kaya’t ang kanilang mga kasuotan
may iba’t-ibang uri ng makukulay na disenyo. ay makukulay;
 Badjao. Sa pagsayaw nito, dapat na sexy ang galawng
babae.
4. ang mga espirito ng patay ay pinananatili sa isang
libingan at tuwing panahon ng Shaaban, ang mga TRADISYONAL NA PAGKAIN
kaluluwa ay pinapayagan ng kanilang panginoon na
bumalik sa ating mundo. Bilang pag-salubong, ang mga • Ang tradisyonal na pagkain ng mga Badjao
tao ay nililinis ang mga libingan at nagsasagawa ng ay panggi at isda. Ang kanin ay inihahain lamang sa
pagdarasal; hapag bilang panghimagas o ‘di kaya ay tuwing
mayroong espesyal na okasyon.
5. naniniwala sila na ang mga patay ay kayang makipag- • Walang almusal, tanghalian, merienda, at gabihan sa
usap sa mga buhay sa pamamagitan ng ritual mga Badjao. Kumakain sila kung kailan nila gusto at
ceremonies of celebration, worship, and exorcism. kung kailan sila may pagkain.

Seagypsies

TRADISYON

 Una, ang kasal ay tumatagal ng tatlong araw na sayawan,

kainan, at pagsasaya na buong bayan ay kasama;

 Pangalawa, ang pag-paplano ng kasal ay dapat na

pagkatapos ng ikatlong dalaw ng babae. Dapat din na
mas matanda ng isang taon o higit pa ang lalaking
mapapangasawa;

 Pangatlo, ang pagpapatuli ay hindi lamang para sa mga

lalaki kung hindi para rin sa mga babae;

 At pang-apat, ang Panday, babae o lalaking nag-

gagamot, ay tinatawag para sa pag-papaanak, pag-
gagamot ng nalaglagang ina, pagbibigay ng gamot para
sa pagpapalaglag, at para sa pagtutuli sa mga babae.

TRADISYONAL NA SAYAW

 Ang ilan sa tradisyonal na sayaw ng nga Badjao ay:

 Limbai- sinasayaw para sa malugod na pagsalubong

sa ikakasal at pamilya ng lalaki.

 Igal-igal- sa sayaw na ito, binibigyang pansin ang

pagka-lambit ng galaw ng mga kamay at pagka-sexy
ng galaw ng baywang ng babae.

 Daling-daling- ang sayaw na ito ay nagmula sa Sulu

ngunit itinuring na ring tradisyonal na sayaw ng mga