THE TALAANDIG

(BUKIDNON)

DELA CRUZ, CHERRY MAE B.

AR21FA3
SEPTEMBER 25,2019

DR. NAZARIO L. CEBREROS

INDIGENOUS CREATIVE CRAFTS
 The name “Kitanglad“ was derived
from a legend that there was once a
great flood that submerged the native
lands of Bukidnon and only the tip of
the mountain, the size of
a “tanglad“ (lemon grass), remained
visible (“kita“ in Visayan).

The Talaandig
The Talaandig are one of the indigenous
groups in the province of Bukidnon,
Mindanao Philippines who has continued to
preserve and promote its indigenous
customs, beliefs and practices despite the
strong influx of modernization and change.
The Talaandig population is roughly
estimated to be at about 100,000 people
or more. The members of the group are
found in barangays and municipalities
surrounding the mountain of Kitanglad,
the historic domain of the Talaandig
people.

The Talaandigs are one of the indigenous groups in the province of

Bukidnon, who has continued to preserve and promote its indigenous
customs, beliefs and practices despite the strong influx modernization and
change. The Talaandig are known to be dwellers of the steep places. They
are the people of the slopes (andig).
This groups is found in
barangays and municipalities
surrounding the mountain of
Kitanglad specifically in the
towns of Lantapan and Talakag.

Mid-length blouses with a skirt.

Their clothes are embroidered
with geometric patterns.

Belief System
The belief on the existence of the highest God called Magbabaya and the
spirits who guard and protect nature is manifested in the social, economic
and political aspects of the life of the Talaandig. Thus, when the Talaandig
establishes a farm, he performs the Talabugta and Ibabasuk rituals, after
harvest, he performs the Pamamuhandi for the thanksgiving, for the
recognition of the superior leadership, he performs the Panagulambung,
when he goes hunting, the Punaliket and palayag, and for a higher form of
socio-economic and political activity, the Talaandig performs the Kaliga
ceremony.
Talaandig on the existence of gods and spirits is also reflected in the
protection of the house. These include Dadagunan hu Suguy who guards the
lawn of the house: Anilaw ha Sumagda who guards the door, Sinyuda
Kahibunan who keeps the hall, Diwata ha Manilib who records the activity of
people inside the house and Diwata Pinatanlay who guards the house at the
ridge of the roof.

The Talaandig belief on the existence of the human soul called Gimukud or
Makatu is manifested in the pregnancy ritual called Panlang. During the
ritual, the goddess of pregnancy is invoked to protect the soul of the unborn
child and the mother against evil. When the child is born, Kagmakatu ritual
is performed to formally welcome the child as member of the family.

Kinship
Marriage is the most significant basis of Talaandig kinship. Before arranging
marriage, the consanguinity and affinity relationships of contracting parties
are determined as basis for settling the appropriate customary laws and
procedures. During marriage, counseling is established as guideline to
preserve relationship. This is carried out in the observance of the Bayluwa
custom where each of the couple is instructed to tell problems related to
their relationships as husband and wife only to their parent-in-laws. This
custom provides smooth relationship
with in-laws who have the parental
authority to discipline their own
children.

In Talaandig kinship terms, a father is

called Amay; a mother, Inay; a
brother, suled; a sister, atubay. Uncle
is called Aba or Abang. While an aunt is
called Ida or Idang. Apu is a general
term for grandparent. Parent-in-laws
are called Ugang. A son-in-law is called
Makaamong while a daughter in law is
called Lagambay.

Both the Talaandig and Higaonon indigenous communities claimed Mt.

Kitanglad as their sacred "temple" and ancestral home. They believed that
the forest was the source of life because it served all of their needs: wild
animals for food; medicinal plants to cure illnesses; timber for house
construction; and rattan to make baskets and other crafts.

Indigenous Knowledge and Oral Traditions

The Talaandig learning system is embodied in various forms of oral tradition.

These tradition includes the narratives called Nanangen, epic called Ulaging,
poetic songs called sala and songs called Idangdang Limbay are particular
songs about animals.
The long historical narrative of the Talaandig is call Gugud. It is considered
sacred because it relates to the existence of the gods and spirits at the time
of creation. A Talaandig story to recall is called Barbat while a reference
story is called Sampitan. The Talaandig sayings or proverb is called
Basahan; a customary law, Batasan while a brain twister or riddle of the
Talaandigs is called Antuka.

Indigenous Leadership and Customary Laws

The Talaandig indigenous political system and leadership are governed by
existing customary laws called Batasan. Batasan is a set of sacred customs,
traditions and policies sanctioned through the religious
beliefs and practices of the tribe. Being sacred, the leadership of the
Talaandig community under the sanctions of customary laws is highly
respected. A ritual to institute the Talaandig leadership is called
Panagulambung. This ritual is done in the presence of other leaders as a
confirmation and proclamation of authority of a Datu. A Datu is a mediator
and a leader. His major role is to intervene in conflicting relationships in
order to secure peace and harmony in the community. In moments of crises,
the Datu readily takes the responsibility to lead.

Healing
The Talaandig has two methods of healing illness. One is through a religious
ceremony. Another is through the application of traditional herbal medicine.
Illness is treated by means of a religious ritual when the Mananambal
(healer) who is usually a Baylan, a prophet or medium believes that the
illness is inflicted by spirits. Traditional herbal medicine, on the other hand,
is applied when the cause of the illness is natural. In most cases, ritual is
prescribed only when the natural healing power of herbal medicine fails to
cure the sick.
Economy
The Talaandigs are semi-settled agriculturalist in the uplands. The traditional
crops of the Talaandig include corn, rice, rootcrops, abaka and banana.
These crops are usually produced at consumption levels. Supplements to this
subsistence level economy are raising chickens, pigs and other livestock.
Pigs and chickens are usually utilized for religious purposes while large
animals such as horses and carabaos are used for payment of debt and
other financial obligations. The Talaandig technology includes blacksmithing,
weaving, embroidery, hunting and food gathering.

References
https://www.scribd.com/document/241127285/Talaandig-Manobo
https://www.scribd.com/document/206629865/The-Tribes
https://www.scribd.com/doc/86266583/The-Life-and-Tradition-of-Bukidnon
https://thenativepeopleofmindanao.wordpress.com/ethnic-groups-of-
mindanao/