Source: https://guides.library.manoa.hawaii.edu/c.php?

g=105238&p=687428

lumad ethnolinguistic groups

1. Manobo
- the most numerous of the ethnic groups of the Philippines in terms of the relationships and
names of the various groups that belong to this family of languages.

Source: https://ncca.gov.ph/about-culture-and-arts/culture-profile/glimpses-peoples-of-the-
philippines/manobo/

2. B'laan
- traditionally live in the hills near the Davao gulf in territory abutting that of the Bagobo, and
in the Davao and Cotabato watersheds

source: https://www.csueastbay.edu/museum/virtual-museum/the-philippines/peoples/
blaan.html

3. T'boli
- in the mountain of Cotabato lives a colorful ethnic group known as Tboli. This group has
many names including Tagabili and T’Boli.
- The T’Bolis are people of medium build. They are light in complexion. Some of them are
square-jawed. Their hair may be curly or straight.
- To them, it is prestigious to have several wives. A wife though cannot enjoy the privilege of
the former. However, a husband who wishes to marry again must seek the permission of
the first wife. All the wives live under one roof. The first wife always assumes the
responsibility of apportioning equally among the wives all the household chores, and the
work in the fields.

Source: https://ncca.gov.ph/about-ncca-3/subcommissions/subcommission-on-cultural-communities-
and-traditional-arts-sccta/central-cultural-communities/the-tboli/

4. Mandaya
- According to the writing of John Garvan in his memoir in the New York Academy of
Sciences, the Mandaya is “probably the greatest and best tribe in eastern Mindanao
- They are located in the provinces of Davao Oriental, Davao del Norte and Compostella
Valley, and from Tago town of Surigao del Sur and Southern part of Agusan del Sur.

Source: https://ncca.gov.ph/about-ncca-3/subcommissions/subcommission-on-cultural-communities-
and-traditional-arts-sccta/central-cultural-communities/the-mandaya-ethnic-group/
 5. Mansaka
- ethnic group is found in the provinces of Davao del Norte and Compostela Valley
particularly in the cities of Davao and Tagum and other municipalities of the said provinces
in Pantukan , Maco Mabini, Mawab, Nabunturan and Maragusan.
- the most dominant ethnic group in Compostella Valley Province. They are said to have lived
in the area since the time when Magbabaya (Creator) created them.

Source: https://ncca.gov.ph/about-ncca-3/subcommissions/subcommission-on-cultural-communities-
and-traditional-arts-sccta/central-cultural-communities/the-mansaka/

6. Higaonon
- one of the least known ethnolinguistic groups that inhabit North-Central Mindanao. They
occupy the mountainous regions of Misamis Oriental, Bukidnon plateau, the mountain
borders of the provinces of Agusan and Lanao in the east and west

source: https://ncca.gov.ph/about-ncca-3/subcommissions/subcommission-on-cultural-communities-
and-traditional-arts-sccta/central-cultural-communities/the-higaonon/

7. Bukidnon
- one of the traditionalistic ethnic groups in the southern Philippines. They inhabit the
northeastern part of Mindanao, the second largest island of the archipelago.

Source: https://bukidnon.gov.ph/2012/11/09/brief-history/#:~:text=There%20are%20seven
%20different%20tribes,watershed%20areas%20that%20they%20inhabited.

8. Mamanwa
- Mamanwa has been classified as a Negrito subgroup
- appear to be an older branch of population appearances in the Philippines affecting to some
extent the Negrito of northeastern Luzon. Like all the Negrito groups in the country, the
Mamanwa speak a language that is basically that of the dominant group about them.

Source: https://ncca.gov.ph/about-culture-and-arts/culture-profile/glimpses-peoples-of-the-
philippines/mamanwa/

9. Subanen
- Subanen people are known as the aborigines of the Island of Mindanao, and are found
mostly in the northern, western and southern portions of the Zamboanga peninsula.

Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12338244/
 10. Tagakaulo
- originally came from the western shores of the gulf of Davao and south of Mt. Apo a long
time ago.

Source: https://theinitiativephblog.wordpress.com/2018/01/22/discover-subanen-tagakaolo/
#:~:text=The%20Tagakaolo%20tribe%20originally%20came,autonomous%20chief%20over
%20an%20area.

11. Tasaday
- very small ethnic community
- speaking a dialect closely related to the South Cotabato Manobo or Manobo Blit.

Source: https://ncca.gov.ph/about-culture-and-arts/culture-profile/glimpses-peoples-of-the-
philippines/tasaday/

12. Tiruray
- one of the ethnic groups that live in Celebes Sea, have retained much of their own religion in
spite of their proximity to the Magindanao of the Cotabato Valley. They live in the territory
bounded by the Tamontaca River to the north, and the Tran River to the south, the coast to
the west and the Cotabato Valley on the east.

Source: https://ncca.gov.ph/about-culture-and-arts/culture-profile/glimpses-peoples-of-the-
philippines/tiruray/

13. Ubo
- Manobo sub-tribe who inhabit the more isolated mountains of Southwest Cotabato in the
area known as Datal Tabayong, as well as, more southerly Davao del Sur.

Source: http://www.ethnicgroupsphilippines.com/ethnic-groups-in-the-philippines/manobo-obo/
#:~:text=The%20Ubo%20are%20a%20Manobo,subsequent%20years%20has%20proved%20difficult.

14. Dibabawon
- live in the remote Calinogan community of Compostela Valley Province, Mindanao.

15. Ata
- originated from Paquibato, Davao City. The Ancestral Domain of the Ata-Manobo covers
portions of the Municipalities of Kapalong, san Isidro, Sto. Tomas and Talaingod.

Source: https://ncip.gov.ph/ata-manobo/

16. Manguwangan
 - Located: Cordillera Sugut mountains in Mindanao.
- Their primary language is Dibabawon Manobo. The primary religion practiced by the
Manguangan is ethnoreligion.

Source: https://www.peoplegroups.org/Explore/groupdetails.aspx?peid=46611

17. Bagobo
- traditionally live in the east and south of Mount Apo and the eastern side of Cotabato

source: https://ncca.gov.ph/about-culture-and-arts/culture-profile/glimpses-peoples-of-the-
philippines/bagobo/