Datu Ulap
Kalinga People and the Traditional Tattooing Culture
- A practice that only survives largely in indigenous communities and is seeing a grassroots revival, the Kalinga people of the Cordilleras still practice traditional batok or tattooing traditions. For Kalinga men, tattooing was a symbol of a warrior while for women, tattoos symbolized beauty.
- Whang Od is one of the most famous mambabatok, as she has put her village of Buscalan in the spotlight for their continued practice of the tradition.
Mangyan People and the Hanuno’o Script
- The Mangyan people in Mindoro are known to preserve an ancient writing system, or Sulat, that is an abugida related to Baybayin, another Brahmic script.
- Hanuno’o script is traditionally carved on bamboo and is written vertically but written upward. Many inscriptions are poems and songs rather than historical records.
Panay-Bukidnon and the Binukot
- While the practice of binukot was widespread in the Visayas, the tradition until recently survived among the Panay-Bukidnon, the last indigenous Visayan group. A binukot was prized for her seclusion, was known to memorize songs, traditional dances, and epic tales, and was seen as highly suitable marriage material for suitors. She was not allowed to be exposed to the sun and was spared from outside labor, resulting in fairer skin.
- Binukot of the Panay-Bukidnon wear Spanish coins strung together and called biningkit.
Sama-Bajau and a Nomadic Life on the Sea
- The Sama-Bajau are known for their nomadic life on the sea, living either on stilt houses above water or on boats. Many of them live in Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago and even live in neighboring Borneo. Sama-Bajau people can spend up to five hours a day underwater during a free dive.
- Burak is a traditional sunblock applied to the skin worn by women in Sama-Bajau communities in Tawi-Tawi, made of manually pounded rice and turmeric.
Subanen and the Rituals of the Buklog
- The Subanen, a Lumad group in Mindanao, are known for their elaborate thanksgiving ritual called a buklog.
- During the event, a raised wooden structure called a ‘buklog’ is built where members of the community dance. The buklog acts as a trampoline that creates a sound that is believed to be the true voice of the spirits. This dance symbolizes the renewal of social and spiritual relationships within the community.
