Tau sug

Who are the

Tausugs?
Let’s find out!
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND

-Derived from two words “Tau” which means “man” and “sug” meaning
“current” it literally means “people of the current.”
-Traditionally the Tausug are sailors, pearl divers and traders, their ancestral
homelands in the Sulu Archipelago have vigorous tidal currents that flow
from the Sulu and China Seas to the Celebes Sea. This translates literally into
the name people of the current.
-This native tribe, the first group in the
archipelago to be converted to Islam,
possess a courage that is beyond doubt,
their bravery is supposed to be
unquestionable, therefore the Tausug are
often named Tau Maisug or brave people.
-In the past the Tausug were boisterous pirates
who infested the waters from the Sulu seas but
nowadays make a living from agriculture, raising
water buffaloes and fishing. Aside from being
known as the best, gallant and ferocious freedom
fighters of the world the Tausug are famous for
being the best pearl divers in the world.
LOCATION
-They populate the Filipino province of Sulu
as a majority, but they also reside in the
provinces of Zamboanga del Sur, Basilan,
Tawi-Tawi, Palawan, and Cotobato,.
RELIGIOUS BELIEF
The Tausug follow Sunni Islamic beliefs and
practices. The five pillars are observed, although
only the elderly practice daily prayers regularly. All
illness, accidents, and other misfortunes are
ultimately God’s will. However, the Tausug retain
elements of pre-Islamic beliefs and, additionally,
see the world as inhabited by local spirits capable
of causing good or ill fortune.
CELEBRATIONS

Major events in the religious calendar

include fasting during Ramadan.
-Hari Raya Puasa – a day of feasting
immediately following Ramadan.
-Hari Raya Hadji – the feast of sacrifice
on the tenth day of the month of Jul-Hadj.
-Panulak Balah – a day of ritual bathing
on the last Wednesday of the Sappal.
-Maulideen Nabi – the birthday of the
Prophet, on the twelfth day of Maulud.
PRACTICES
MARRIAGE
-Traditionally a Tausug marriage is usually arranged by
parents, with the exception of the children of brothers,
first and second cousins are favoured spouses.
Marriageable women are kept in relative seclusion to
protect their family value. In the Tausug society, there is
no generally approved method for courting. While there
are opportunities for young marriageable people to meet
in the community, a young man cannot publicly
confront an unmarried girl.
-His knowledge of her must be
indirect and based on her reputation,
parental background, appearance,
and demeanor. Mere touching the
opposite sex is regarded as a prelude
to sexual relations.
Marriage by negotiation between the
parents is ideal as it is legally proper and
least likely to lead to violent conflict.
Usually, the boy will privately suggest the
name of a girl to his parents. If they
dislike his choice, he can threaten to
abduct her.
If they insist that he marry an undesirable
girl, he can threaten to run away from
home. Abduction is a quick, relatively
inexpensive way for a young man to get
the girl he desires who might otherwise
not be available.
It is also exciting since it is an
expression of his masculinity in a
culture which puts a very high value
on bravery. About one quarter of
marriages is abductions.
BAPTISM
-The ritual of baptism is called “paggunting”
the child clad in best garment is brought to the
group of “Imams” standing in circle.
-A few strands of hair are dipped in a container of
the water of butong.
-The child’s mouth is smeared with sugar.
Candle is lit at the beginning of the rite and then
blow off after.
BURIAL PRACTICES
-When the warmth is gone, the corpse is
sponged in cold water.
-The bathing is done by religious persons. The
Panday, and Imam, this is done in silence.
-The water used is fresh and perfumed with
betel nut flowers, kamanyan or insence, and
sandalwood.
-The corpse is wiped and then perfumed
and placed in a shroud.
-Burial is followed by a seven-day vigil.
Depending on a family’s economic
circumstances, commemorative feasts
may be held on the 7 , 20 , 40 , and 100
th th th th

day on the first, second and third

anniversaries of death.
HEALING PRACTICES
The mangugubat (curer) who have
direct access to the spirit world.
Traditional medical specialists, who
obtain their powers through dreams or
by the instruction of older curers, heal
mainly by herbal remedies and prayers.
Superstitious BELIEFS
-Aside from Allah, the Tausug are
also concerned with spirits inhabit
nature, especially rocks and trees,
and who are believed to be the
cause of human suffering.
Here are some of their superstitions:

-Do not cut your finger and toe nails at night

because someone with die.
-Don’t swipe the floor at night because you
are taking away the blessings.
-Women’s should not be nice-looking if their
husband dies.
 Clothing
The clothing of the Tausug is almost Arabic in
design and this is due to the great influence of
Islam in this place. Since the Tausug are an ethnic
group which is sea faring nature, they are exposed
to silk and some designs similar to Chinese
malongs of an unusual curvilinear tradition while
the rest can be seen from Arabic design.
BITAWI – is a blouse made of
plain material like satin and it is
ornamented with tambuku
(gold/silver buttons) on the
breast, shoulders, and cuffs. It is
usually worn with sawwal
(loose trousers) of silk or
brocade. A habul toyahian is
either slung across the shoulder
or allowed to hand on the arm.
vid tausug\_Batawi(360p).mp4
PATADYUNG – is an
all- purpose skirt worn
by both men and
women. It has various
other uses: as a turung or
headcover, sash or
waistband, blanket, ham-
mock, and others.
PIS SIABIT – this is
the head hear worn by
Tausug men. It can also
be left to hang in the
shoulder.
BADJU LAPI – a collarless
short-tailored jacket similar
to the bitawi. The sleeves of
the badju lapi are either
long or three fourths with
slits at the wrists.
Dances
Pangalay.
- traditional "fingernail " dance of the Tausugs
performs during weddings, social gatherings and
other festivities.
- accompanied with
shimmering costumes and
beat of the kulintang and
gabang with attractive long
synthetic fingernails made out
of either metal or natural
resources.
vid tausug\_Pangalay_Linggisan(360p).mp4
Daling-daling.
- Famous courtship
dance w/c means "my
love, my love" enjoyed
while the music play
and everyone sing
along as dancers paired
with open fan in each
hand held in their 1st
and 2nd fingers.
Sua ku sua
- a courtship dance that also
mean " my pomelo tree" as
tausugs are dependent to
pomelos. This dance a inspired
by pomelo tree, is likened to a
lady. It makes use of 2 white
fans that makes use of 2 white
fans swayed imitating the
pomelo tree while singing along
with rice powder-covered face.
vid tausug
\Sua_Ku_Sua_-_Tausug_Traditional_Song_Dance(480p).mp4
Barung-talo
-Form of self-defense
dance with fan in
hand. The dance like
movement shows a
fight between a hawk
and a cat.
SONGS
Tiyula-itum
named after a tausugs favourite
soup that is blackened and cooked
with slices of meat. Song is used in
pangalay dance.
Baleleng
-adopted by the nation and is famous in visayas
because of its rhythm, story on a perspective
for a young man bidding good bye for his
lovely maiden called "leleng" (my dear) as
"Frauline" in Berlin, bittersweet story of a man
who leaves the beloved for war.
Ayaw kang magtangis
- The man is requesting the woman
to stop crying because it also
breaks his heart.
INSTRUMENTS
Kulintang
is a modern term for an
instrumental form of music
composed on a row of small,
horizontally-laid gongs that
function melodically,
accompanied by larger,
suspended gongs and drums.
anyone can play.
Gabbang,
also known as bamboo
xylophone, is a musical
instrument made of bamboo
widely used in the southern
Philippines.Among the
Tausug and Sama, it is
commonly played to
accompany songs and dances
as a solo instrument or
Agung
is a set of two wide-
rimmed, vertically
suspended gongs used by
the Maguindanao, Maranao,
Sama-Bajau and Tausug
people of the Philippines as
a supportive instrument in
kulintang ensembles.
Traditional House
-The Ancient dwelling of the
Tausugs are built with indigenous
materials.
-Joti – is a plant they use for posts
while leaves are utilized for walls.
Digpi – the bark of a specific tree, used to
-

fasten walls and posts. It is a 6-8 feet long

which is pre-soaked in salt water for some time
then dried before it is used.
-Most of the Tausug houses have spacious
rooms. There is a verandah or balcony infront
of the houses.
-The kitchen is built separately from the
rest of the house to prevent smoke from
intering the main room.
-Usually on flatland, the house is entered
through sala (porch), a rooftless platform
attached to the sides of the structures.
The porch serves as the welcoming are
for visitors.
Tausug foods is
influence by Indian
foods. FOODS
The Sulu archipelago
is a particularly rich
fishing ground, so
seafood is plenty and
inexpensive.
Tiyula Itum
This special dish with a black soup
seafood with burnt coconut is a
mainstay at wedding and all other
celebrations
The most salient characteristics of
tiyula itum is its soup, a green tinted
dark gray from the burnt coconut that
is added to create its distinct flavor.
vid tausug\_Nakatikim_ka_na_ba_ng_Tiula_Itum_(360p).mp4
Beef Kulma
As special as its gets. The rich
stew is flavoured with coconut
milk, cinnamon, lemon juice and
lemon grass and spiced with curry
powder, red pepper and paprika.
Dollops of peanut butter are added
for creamy, nutty taste, it’s one of
the dishes that shows kinship have
with the rest of the region and the
ethnic root they share.
Chicken Piyanggang
A dish that also blackened with
the same burnt coconut paste
used to flavor tiyula itum.
The meaning of “piyangang” is a
description of how it’s made –
“grill after marinating”
Served as the main entrée for the
traditional wedding dulang(feast)
it’s cooked especially for the
bride and groom.
FESTIVALS
Rajah Baguinda
-celebrated every 2nd week of August.
The festival is celebrated to the essential
contribution of Rajah Baguinda in history.
He led the spread of the adoptation of Sulu
Sultanate government and Islam religion. It
starts on the second week of August in
Jolo, Sulu.
Knowing that they have the same faith, the
natives accepted Rajah in the island and his
arrival is not welcomed by the natives but he
fought back. Participants are in the city
throughout with the colorful costumes and the
performance of different cultural shows is
done to give honor to the arrival of Rajah.
Vinta Festival
A grand spectacle of colors adorns the seas of Jolo,
Sulu as vintas sailed off the island’s coast on
February 14 for the Vinta Festival. It was
organized by the Joint Task Group of Sulu.
The spotlight was on the Badjaos that showcase
vintas donated to them by the Joint Task Group
Sulu, the local government and other organizations
in Mindanao. Locals of Sulu watched in awe of the
spectacle of vintas at sea.
The Vinta with its trademark of vertical colors
The Tausugs are known to have perfected the craft
of boat-making like our own balangay that can
withstand the trials of the sea sans modern
equipments. Tausug craftsmen still make vintas and
other boats like those often seen in the city of
Zamboanga using the same methods and
“technology” for hundreds of years and from
generations to generations.
The People of the current
Tausugs
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