RRL 1

According to the study of Grey (2016) entitled “Cultural Beliefs and Practices of Ethnic
Filipinos: An Ethnographic Study”, that despite the factors like modernization, media, and
technology that affects the traditional beliefs and practices of Aetas, they were still able to retain
some practices regarding pregnancy, childbirth, puberty and adolescence, and death, in the present
time. In terms of pregnancy and childbirth of Aetas, it does not vary compared to non-Aetas, but
the only difference is when it comes with their health care beliefs and practices. Like for instance,
Aetas practice the use of herbal medicines like leaves when the pregnant woman is sick and using
of boiled leaves of plants to bathe a newborn child on their first two to three weeks. Meanwhile,
the puberty and adolescence of Aetas are also similar to non-Aetas, but the only variance is that
they have some rituals to welcome newly circumcised Aeta boys and requiring the Aeta girls to
jump a certain number of steps in the stairs during their first menstruation. Besides, regarding
death, they have some beliefs like during wake or as they mourn, no one should sweep the floor,
and then, if one dreams about a falling tooth, they believe that one of their relatives will eventually
die or will get sick.
However, those beliefs were currently affected by modernization such as media and
technology, that make some beliefs or practices lost or changed as a part of their tradition over a
period of time. Since some of them already lived in lowland areas like the Dumagats, they need to
adapt to the culture and beliefs of the people residing there, resulting in the elimination of their
other practices. Also, some printed publications, the broadcast media or new technologies affect
the beliefs of young Aetas as they wanted to conform to the latest trends. But, despite that situation,
there are still beliefs that they practice and consider up to the present time even with the effect of
modernization.
RRL 2
Nalangan (2010) conducted a study entitled “Pagmamaman: A World Culture Experience
and Dumagat Lifestyle” which presents the review of the practice of betel nut chewing in the world
and in the Philippines, specifically by the Dumagats, and the reasons for doing such. In Southeast
Asia, certain countries that practice betel nut chewing are Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar,
Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, and Vietnam (Nalangan, 2010). Meanwhile, Nalangan (2010)
stated that in the Philippines, the Cordilleran, Kalanguya, Mangyan, T’boli, Yakan, Manobo and
Dumagats are the indigenous groups that practice the pagmamaman or nganga chewing starting
from ancient times up to present.
Based on the results of the study of Nalangan (2010), there are five categories in
determining the reasons behind pagmamaman, namely cultural, social, economic, physical and
physiological reasons. Firstly, pagmamaman is done because of cultural reason, since Dumagats
considered it as their source of identity as a group. It is essential to perform during courtship,
wedding and death ceremony. Then, the social reason for the practice of pagmamaman is that it
can establish and maintain friendship among the Dumagat Tribe. It serves as a means to bring them
closer and a symbol for acceptance and rejection of friendship. Moreover, the economic reason of
pagmamaman of Dumagats is that they can use it for having a business or making money out of
it. Some Dumagats sell the ingredients of maman in their tribe for the ones who do not have those
ingredients planted in their backyard. Additionally, the physical reason of pagmamaman is that it
can benefit and promote having good health to every Dumagat who practice it. Maman can cure
illnesses like headache, stomachache, heatstroke and such, through the healing process called
buga, and it can also strengthen the teeth of the chewer. Lastly, the physiological reason of
pagmamaman is that it includes survival, stimulation of sexual drive and achievements of the well-
being.
The study of Nalangan (2010) showed that pagmamaman is one of the essential practices
of Dumagats that they still undertake up to the present time. It is discussed that they continuously
practice it due to the five reasons mentioned above. Through this research study, other practices,
cultures, and traditions of Dumagats will be discovered and also the reasons for doing those.
RRL 3
Delfin (2012) stated that some of the well-known ethnic groups derive their names from
different living things that are present in their surroundings. One of those ethnic groups are the
Dumagats that is inspired by the Tagalog word “dagat” which means ocean or sea. The ancestors
of their tribe used to dwell at coastal regions from Quezon and its neighboring provinces. However,
when the Filipino settlers from highlands and other parts of the country arrived, they have no other
choice but to move into the mountains as they have been pushed farther and farther each time. This
occurrence results in the dispersion of the Dumagats into a much smaller group in order to survive.
RRL 4
Dumagats depend on farming because this is one of their way to live. Besides, they also
practice fishing, kaingin and hunting animals for them to survive. Dumagats are originally from
Aurora but some of them can be found now in the mountains of Bongabon, since they have no
permanent house to live in. According to the official site of the Municipality of Bongabon, the said
municipality is an agricultural town in Nueva Ecija. Sandy loam soil is present on almost every
part of the said municipality and it is also fertile. Because of its rich soil composition, vegetables
like corn, rice, cabbage, onios, and pechay are commonly planted in the fields of Bongabon.
Among these vegetables, onions, cabbage, and pechay are raised on a large commercial scale.
Therefore, the town is known because of these vegetables since it is sold to neighboring provinces
especially in Manila.
With that, it can be the reason why Dumagats chose to live in Bongabon since they are
always searching for places where they can have more resources. Also, since farming is one of
their livelihood, they will have more opportunities in Bongabon because of its soil composition.
References:
Grey, E. (2016). Cultural Beliefs and Practices of Ethnic Filipinos: An Ethnographic Study. IRA-
International Journal of Mangement & Social Sciences (ISSN 2455-2267), 3(3). Retrieved
from http://dx.doi.org/10.21013/jmss.v3.n3.p30
Nalangan, G. P. (2010). Pagmamaman: A World Culture Experience and Dumagat Lifestyle.
Retrieved from https://www.academia.edu/8510921/Pagmamaman_A_World_Culture_
Experience_and_Dumagat_Lifestyle

Delfin, C. (2012). Living on mountain top, Dumagats finally connected to world of letters.
Retrieved from http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/regions/261580/living-on-
mountain-top-dumagats-finally-connected-to-world-of-letters/story/
About Bongabon - General Information. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://bongabon.ph/index.php/about-bongabon/general-information/.