Indigenous People of Mindanao
Manobo
The name Manobo came from Minovo or Minobo which means “person” or “people.” This tribe can be found in Agusan, Bukidnon and Cotabato in Mindanao. The tribe is noted for their colorful attire. Aside from this, they adorn their bodies with accessories made of seeds, shells and crocodile teeth. The original native Manobos are fond of chewing betel nuts. They also have tattoos on their bodies.
Tiruray
The Tiruray live in Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat and Cotabato. Tiruray came from the words Tiru (place of birth or origin) and Ray (from daya- upper part of the stream or river). They can be divided into two groups: acculturated and traditional. The acculturated Tiruray are those who have had close contacts with the Christian and Muslim groups. The traditional Tiruray are those who have kept their old ways and beliefs. They earn their living through farming, hunting, fishing and gathering of forest products. The Tiruray’s community is called Inged. In the Inged, they have a leader who oversees the clearing of the field, planting and harvesting of crops, and the equal distribution of food.
T’boli
The Tagabili or T’boli can be found in the mountains of the western part of Cotabato. Their major livelihood is farming. They also weave abaca cloth. Tinalak is the name of their finished product. The T’boli women are fond of decorating themselves with jewels like necklace, earrings and bracelets. They also tattoo their bodies.
B’laan
The B’laans occupy the mountain ranges from Davao del Sur to Cotabato. They are kaingin farmers. When B’laans get sick, they consult their tó fulung (learned) or tó admango, an elder who has the power todetermine what caused the sickness or who caused it. The tó admango talks or asks who or what caused the sickness by mentioning a particular spirit, fun bulol — spirit of the hill; fun e-el — spirit of the water, etc. Some B’laans live closely with the T’bolis. This is probably the reason why their dialects are similar.
The name Manobo came from Minovo or Minobo which means “person” or “people.” This tribe can be found in Agusan, Bukidnon and Cotabato in Mindanao. The tribe is noted for their colorful attire. Aside from this, they adorn their bodies with accessories made of seeds, shells and crocodile teeth. The original native Manobos are fond of chewing betel nuts. They also have tattoos on their bodies.
Tiruray
The Tiruray live in Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat and Cotabato. Tiruray came from the words Tiru (place of birth or origin) and Ray (from daya- upper part of the stream or river). They can be divided into two groups: acculturated and traditional. The acculturated Tiruray are those who have had close contacts with the Christian and Muslim groups. The traditional Tiruray are those who have kept their old ways and beliefs. They earn their living through farming, hunting, fishing and gathering of forest products. The Tiruray’s community is called Inged. In the Inged, they have a leader who oversees the clearing of the field, planting and harvesting of crops, and the equal distribution of food.
T’boli
The Tagabili or T’boli can be found in the mountains of the western part of Cotabato. Their major livelihood is farming. They also weave abaca cloth. Tinalak is the name of their finished product. The T’boli women are fond of decorating themselves with jewels like necklace, earrings and bracelets. They also tattoo their bodies.
B’laan
The B’laans occupy the mountain ranges from Davao del Sur to Cotabato. They are kaingin farmers. When B’laans get sick, they consult their tó fulung (learned) or tó admango, an elder who has the power todetermine what caused the sickness or who caused it. The tó admango talks or asks who or what caused the sickness by mentioning a particular spirit, fun bulol — spirit of the hill; fun e-el — spirit of the water, etc. Some B’laans live closely with the T’bolis. This is probably the reason why their dialects are similar.