● Aeta
○ Lived in scattered mountains
○ Dark to dark brown, hair is
curly
○ Earliest habitants of the
philippines
● Lumad
○ Native of Indigenous
“Cebuano Term”
○ Non-muslim in mindanao
○ Comprise about 13 ethnic
groups
○ Generally known about tribe
musics
● Moro/Bangsamoro
○ 13 islamize etno linguistic
group of islands in the
philippines
○ Comprise of the 5% of the
Total population of the
Philippines
○ Non-christian majority in the
Philippines
○ Sulu-Sultanan “type of
council”
● Sama-Bajau
○ Tawi-Tawi Philippines
○ Group together
○ Had migrated to Indonesia
due to the conflict in
mindanao
○ Called sea gypsyst
● Igorot
○ Tropical forests
○ 1.5 million in the earliest era
○ Largest - south central adept
to rice tereses farming
○ Smallest - east
● Itneg
○ People of the Mountains
○ Occupancy the Mountains of
Abra
○ 35% of the population of
Abra
○ Found near river beds
● Mangyan
○ Generic name of the 8
indigenous groups found in
the island of Mindoro
○ 280k of total population
○ Amahan “Called to the
poetry”
● Maranao
○ Southern Tribe called “people
of the lake”
○ Known for their weaving,
wood, plastic and metal craft
○ Danao languages
○ Iranan people
● Ivatans
○ Batanes Philippines
○ austranition groups
○ Stone houses
● Ibaloi
○ Northern Philippines
○ Derived from the term
grasslands
○ Survived the great flood,
couple boar many children
● Subanon
○ Zamboanga Peninsula
○ Subanon Language
○ Distinguisged themselves by
their roots
● Waray
○ Largest etnolinguistic groups
○ Waray language
○ Habit whole island of Samar
● Eskaya
○ Bohol, Philippines
○ Language, literature and
dresses is different
● Tagbanwa
○ One of the oldest groups
○ Central Palawan
○ Possible descendants of the
Tabon Men
● Visayan
○ Native to the whole visayas
○ Largest ethnic group
○ 33 milion
○ Strong roman catholic
religion
● Tausug
○ Malaysia, Indonesia and
Philippines
○ Converted to the Islam
○ Tau and Sug meaning
“people of the current”
● Blaan
○ Davao Del Sur
○ 450k estimated popluation
○ Moved to the coastal areas
○ Organized over a Datu
■ Position is Hereditary
● Batak
○ Closely related to the Aetas
○ 140 indig people in the
philippines
○ Palawan
○ Small in stature same with
the Aetas
○ Hunting Gathering farm style
○ Also trading
● Isneg
○ Payak Province in Luzon
○ Mostly along the river but do
also farming
○ Traditional house, sits on a 4
wood
○ Two important rituals
■ Sayam - affluent
isneg family
■ Pildag - poor
members of the tribe
● Ilongot
○ Habit the Southern Sierra
Madre of Luzon Philippines
○ Headhunters
○ Men ventures to outside
world to absorb knowledge
● Ibanag
○ Cagayan, Isabela and Nueva
Viscaya
○ Largest Etnolinguistic
Minorities
○ I - People
○ Banag - River
○ Their language is being
diminished by the Goverment
● Suludnon
○ Capiz, laguna mountainous
area
○ Faced challenges in
preserving their culture
● Anitism
○ Original Religion of the
Philippines
○ Derived from the word Anito
which means souls of the
Ancient ones
○ Antonio Pigafetta
■ Italian Chronicler
■ Magellans Voyage
○ Pedro Chrino
■ Jesuit Scholar
■ Relations in the
Islands of the
Philippines
○ Isabelo De Los Reyes
■ Filipino Scholar
■ A prominent Figure in
the Philippine
Independence from
Spain
○ Cosmogony
■ Heavens, and the
waters
■ Birds flapping
■ Man and Woman
came out of the
weeds
○ Religious Heirarchy
■ Sonat
■ Babaylan
○ Anito Idols
○ Kalulhuatian
○ No hell in the Philippines
● Bathala
○ Supreme God of Being
○ Creater of men and earth
○ Three Daughters
■ Mayari - Goddess of
the moon, combat,
beauty and hunt
■ Hanan - Goddess of
Morning, childbirth
and new beginnings
■ Tala - Goddess of the
Morning and Evening
Star
● Apolaki
○ Battle with Mayari cut of one
of Mayari eyes
○ In the morning he rule while
in the evening mayari rules
● Anagolay
○ Goddess of Lost things
○ Daughter of Two major god
beings
○ Married dunakulum
● Dumakulem
○ Guardian of the Mountains
○ Also known as the Sky Gods
○ He create the mountains to
shield the earth from the
storms created by his sister
● Anitun Tabu
○ Goddess of Wind and Rain
● Amihan
○ Deity of the Wind
○ Described as a Bird
● Aman Sinaya
○ Goddess of the Sea
○ In battle with Bathala
● Anito
○ Ancestral spirits of Mankind
● Mapulon
○ God of Seasons
○ Deity of Good health and
Medicine
● Idianale
○ Goddess of Labor and Good
Deeds
○ Deity of craftsmanship
○ Deity of animal husbandry
○ Deity of agriculture
● Dumangan
○ God of Good Harvest
○ Enhance the harvest of man
● Dian Masalanta
○ Goddess of Lovers,
Childbirth and Peace
○ Youngest Deity
○ Kindest, most beautiful
● Bakunawa
○ Giant Sea Serpent
○ Believed to eat 6 out of the 7
moons
● Sitan
○ God of the Underworld
○ Four Agents of Sitan
■ Manggagaway - First
agent of Sitan.
Primarily blamed as
the cause of
diseases. Appearing
as a false healer. She
can prolong of one’s
disease
■ Mansisilat - Second
Agent of Sitan. She
was tasked to destroy
families, does this by
transforming to a
beggar.
■ Mangkukulam - The
only male agent of
Sitan. Third Agent of
Sitan. Fire God
■ Hukluban - Fourth
Agent of Sitan.
Objectives of the Discussion
(00:02 - 10:00)
● Identify the various indigenous
peoples of the Philippines.
○ There are many indigenous
groups in the Philippines,
which can be grouped into
categories based on
similarities in characteristics.
● Describe the cultures of the
indigenous peoples.
○ The lecture will focus on
inferring the pre-colonial way
of life of Filipinos by
examining prevailing cultural
beliefs and practices of
indigenous communities.
Importance of
Ethno-archaeology
● Ethno-archaeology aids in
reconstructing ancient life ways by
studying the material and
non-material traditions of modern
societies.
○ It helps archaeologists
interpret artifacts by looking
at existing societies, such as
those of indigenous
communities, that still
possess similar tools and life
ways.
Diversity of Ethnic Groups in
the Philippines
● The Philippine ethnic landscape is
highly diverse due to being an
archipelago of islands.
○ There are over 175 ethnic
groups in the Philippines,
with more than 175
languages.
● Language is a primary criterion for
defining ethnicity in the Philippines,
leading to the categorization of
ethnic groups as ethno-linguistic
groups.
○ The Tagalog, Cebuano,
Ilocano, Kapampangan, and
Pangasinan groups are the
 largest, comprising 85% of
the population.
Indigenous Peoples of the
Philippines
● Indigenous peoples refer to the
original inhabitants of particular
territories who were the first in the
country.
○ They are often descendants
of tribespeople who live on
as culturally distinct
colonized peoples, many of
whom aspire autonomy.
● Indigenous peoples are mainly found
in the hinterlands, maintaining their
traditional practices.
○ They desire their beliefs and
practices to be respected
and aspire for autonomy, as
mentioned in the Philippine
Constitution.
Legal Definition of Indigenous
Peoples
● The legal definition of indigenous
peoples comes from the Indigenous
People's Rights Act, enacted in
1997.
○ It emphasizes the need to
establish autonomous
regions for indigenous
peoples, as mentioned in the
Philippine Constitution.
● While there is an autonomous region
in Muslim Mindanao, there is still no
autonomous region in the Cordillera,
despite its mention in the
constitution.
Indigenous Peoples in the
Philippines (10:06 - 20:06)
● According to IPRA (Indigenous
Peoples' Rights Act), indigenous
peoples are a plurality of different
groups who resisted colonization
and non-indigenous religions and
cultures, historically differentiating
themselves from the majority of
Filipinos.
○ Majority are Roman
Catholics, but some have
maintained animist or
pre-hispanic practices
alongside formal Christian
affiliation.
○ IPRA includes
non-indigenous religions,
such as Christianity and
Islam, as they are not
indigenous to the Philippines.
Forms of Resistance
● Indigenous peoples resisted
colonialism through outright warfare
and retreat to the hinterlands.
○ Outright warfare was
exemplified by the
Bangsamoro people and
Igorot raids in northern Luzon
during the Spanish
colonization.
○ The Americans were more
successful in colonizing
these peoples, with the
Bangsamoro people making
pacts with the American
colonizers.
○ Retreat to the hinterlands
was practiced by the
Mangyans of Mindoro and
the Remontados of Rizal,
Quezon, and Aurora.
Indigenous Peoples' Population
● The population of indigenous
peoples is debated, with the census
indicating that they accounted for
only five percent of the total
population of the country,
approximately four million Filipinos.
○ Excluding Muslim groups, the
population would be higher.
○ The National Commission on
Indigenous Peoples
estimates the population of
indigenous peoples to be
higher, at around 12 million
people.
Negrito
● The Negritos are the aboriginal
peoples of the Philippines, believed
to have come to the Philippines from
mainland Asia approximately 30,000
years ago.
○ They are distributed across
various regions and are
called by different names,
including Agta, Dumagat,
Mamanwa, Batak, Ati, and
Iraya.
○ Despite the different names,
they share a similar
phenotypic appearance.
Description of the Agta People
(20:10 - 30:07)
● The Agta people have darker skin
compared to other Filipinos, kinky to
wavy hair, and relatively short
stature.
○ Spanish referred to them as
Negritos due to their physical
characteristics.
○ They speak different
languages that are not
intelligible with each other.
● Traditionally engaged in hunting and
gathering.
○ The Adta of Northern Sierra
Madre in Isabela are still
nomadic, while the rest of the
country's Agta are
semi-nomadic or
semi-sedentary.
Agta's Language and
Adaptation
● Speak languages borrowed from
neighboring populations.
○ For example, they speak
Pahanan, which is a dialect
of a language known as
Paranan, spoken by
non-Agta populations in the
Pinatubo area.
○ They have lost their original
languages and now speak
languages borrowed from
neighboring populations.
● Developed a mixed form of
language, a mixture of borrowed
languages and their native
languages.
○ Mamanwa in Mindanao is an
example of a group that has
developed this form of
language.
Mamanwa's Relationship with
the Environment
● The Mamanwa respect the physical
environment and are not
indiscriminate in extracting
resources.
○ They believe in
environmental spirits or
diwatas and fear offending
them during their activities
such as hunting and fishing.
Cordillera People and Culture
● Inhabit the biggest mountain range
in the Philippines, the Grand
Cordillera Central, consisting of
three mountain ranges.
○ Different indigenous
communities with distinct
languages such as Zabontok,
Ibaloy, Ifugao, and
Kankanaey.
○ Established rice terraces for
agricultural purposes in the
mountain area.
● The Cordillera consists of
autonomous villages called "ely,"
where the elders sit as a council.
○ The elders, all men, possess
knowledge about their culture
and enforce customary laws
based on past conflict
resolution methods.
○ Traditionally had endemic
warfare due to head hunting,
but now have systems of
peace pacts between
villages.
Land Ownership in Kalinga
(30:10 - 40:09)
● Different systems of land ownership
exist in Kalinga
 ○ Rice terraces are
family-owned
○ Swidden fields are owned
through use of fraud
○ Woodlands are owned by the
extended family group
○ Forests are communally
owned by the entire
community
○ Burial grounds are owned by
the spirits
○ Residential areas are
privately owned
Cordillera Material Culture
● Unique material culture found in the
Cordillera
○ Artifacts start as material
culture and become
archaeological artifacts when
abandoned and retrieved
through archaeological
means
○ Rice granary gods are kept in
rice granaries to guard the
rice against intruders
○ Kalinga skirt ornamented by
seashells, obtained through
trade with lowlanders
Indigenous Communities in
Cagayan Valley
● Cagayan Valley houses many
indigenous communities
○ Includes the Ibatan, Ivatan,
Gaddang, and Ibanag
○ Ibatan and Ivatan are two
different groups with related
languages
○ Common characteristic: their
languages are part of the
Ibanagic group of languages
Acculturation of Indigenous
Peoples
● Many indigenous peoples in
Cagayan Valley have embraced
Christianity and Islam
○ Relatively high degree of
acculturation, embracing
Western culture
Mangyan Groups in Mindoro
● Various Mangyan groups in Mindoro
with their own languages
○ Found in the hinterlands,
practicing swidden
agriculture, hunting, and
gathering
○ Traditional lifestyle based on
swidden agriculture and
semi-nomadic practices
○ Strong attachment to the
physical environment and
belief in environmental spirits
○ Practice of sustainable
subsistence agriculture, with
a long fallow period
Agriculture and Biodiversity
(40:13 - 50:13)
● The Mangan people practice diverse
agriculture, planting various crops
together to protect against pests and
soil erosion.
○ Use natural dyes from crops
for clothing.
○ Practice teeth blackening for
beautification.
● The Buhid Mangan live in extended
family groups and use a syllabic
script for writing, unlike many other
Filipino groups.
○ Preserve their own syllabic
script, which is based on
syllables and not letters.
● The Ambahan script is used for
writing literature, mainly love letters,
in Palawan.
Indigenous Groups in the
Philippines
● In addition to the Mangan, there are
other indigenous groups such as the
Agutainen, Kuyunon, Kagayanan,
and Palakwan, who live in caves and
practice slash-and-burn agriculture
for subsistence.
○ Have respect for biodiversity
and the environment.
● The Suludnon in Panay engage in
dry rice farming in the upland areas
of the Visayas.
Influence of Spanish Contact
● The Eskaya group in Bohol has a
writing system called the Eskaya
script, which is believed to have
been influenced by contact with
Spain.
○ This group has incorporated
some Spanish letters into
their alphabet.
Indigenous People of Mindanao
● The Lumad, traditionally
non-Christian and non-Muslim
groups, are now found to be
Christians or Muslims.
○ Traditionally led by headmen
or chieftains called datu.
● The Bagobo, B'laan, and Tiboli are
examples of Lumad groups with
unique traditional costumes and
textiles.
○ Known as dreamweavers
due to their textiles being
based on dreams.
Bangsamoro
● The Bangsamoro are the Islamized
groups of Mindanao, Sulu, and
Southern Palawan.
○ They were influenced by the
establishment of Muslim
sultanates in Sulu and
Maguindanao before the
Spanish arrival.
○ Many practices of Muslim
groups have been borrowed
from the Bangsamoro region.
Indigenous Practices in the
Philippines (50:16 - 00:12)
● The practice of male circumcision
and saying "salamat" (meaning
peace) are examples of indigenous
practices prior to Spanish arrival.
○ Manila was ruled by distinct
chiefs, not sultans, prior to
Spanish rule.
● Indigenous groups comprising the
Bangsamoro, such as Bajao, Iran,
Sama, and Yakan, are known for
practicing Islam.
Material Culture and Traditions
● Indigenous cultures have distinct
material cultures, such as the use of
ma'long for skirts and traditional
swords like the kalis and kris.
○ The Maranao have traditional
houses called torogan,
ornately designed with naga
motifs symbolizing dragons.
● Ethnographic data from indigenous
cultures can help understand the
past of Philippine society.
Tattooing in Early Philippines
● Spanish accounts, like Antonio de
Morga's, mention that tattooing was
practiced in the early Philippines,
particularly in the Visayan islands.
○ The Boxer Codex depicts
Visayan people painted with
tattoos, and a Kalinga warrior
also had tattoos on the chest
and arms.
● A famous tattoo artist from Buscalan
village in Kalinga used organic dye
from plants and thorns of a citrus
tree to create traditional tattoos.
Language and Writing
● Writing in the Philippines was
well-developed with characters
resembling Greek or Arabic
numbering and signs.
○ The "Doctrina Christiana"
was the first published
document in the Philippines,
written in the Tagalog script
called baybayin.
● There is a movement to revive the
use of baybayin and other scripts
like the Surat Mangyan.
Burial Practices (00:18 - 06:38)
● "they buried their dead in their own
houses"
○ Kept bodies and bones for a
long time
○ Venerated skulls as if they
were living in their presence
● In Kalinga, dead ancestors are
buried underneath the houses
○ No separate cemetery due to
reverence as ancestor spirits
Material Culture
● Display of skull as a trophy by
well-to-do natives in the 19th century
○ Carried with them as a show
of greatness and luxury
○ Included brassware, service
sets, and containers for sea
sources or cutters
● Brass-made beetle nut containers
among the Maranao and Ifugao
○ Ifugao beetle nut bag now
made of plastic
○ Used for chewing beetle nut,
a practice across the
archipelago and among
Taiwanese aborigines
● Militarization and armed conflict
○ Indigenous people caught in
the crossfire
○ Poses a threat to their
security
Urgent Need for Documentation
● Urgent need to document
indigenous cultures before drastic
changes due to acculturation and
modernization
○ Public awareness about the
richness of indigenous
cultures
○ Importance of valuing cultural
diversity
● Right of indigenous peoples to
determine which aspects of their
culture to preserve and change

Threats to Indigenous Peoples

● Commercialization and
bastardization of culture
○ Challenge to understand the
context of material culture
○ Offensive to display certain
indigenous textiles as wall
decorations
● Conversion to non-indigenous
religions
○ Tendency to abandon
indigenous practices in favor
of Christianity and Islam
○ Example of indigenous
people abandoning medicinal
plants due to Christianity
● Displacement due to large-scale
extractive projects
○ Many mining projects located
in ancestral domains of
indigenous peoples
○ Indigenous peoples caught in
armed conflict between
military and rebel groups