THE TAGBANUA

Intermarriage between Tagbanua, Pala'wan and southern Palawan tribes is not  an uncommon practice. There usually is a council held to agree on terms of marriage between families including variation in the dowry or "bandi". The process of Surugiden (Tagbanua)/Betiara (Pela’wan) has been settled since time immemorial. It is a process for conflict resolution, marriage solemnization and for penalizing transgressors for the violation of customary laws  (Fox).  IP Marriages are strictly solemnized in accordance with customary laws thru the process of Surugiden/Betiara  (Testimony of Pangiran Kaibiño Nangkud)

THE INDEFEASIBLE POWER OF THE 18TH MASIKAMPU OF PALAWAN AS THE APPEALS JUDGE OF THE CULTURAL COMMUNITIES A précis The State recognizes the inherent right of the ICCs/IPs to self-governance and self-determination and respects the integrity of their values, practices and institutions. Consequently, the State shall guarantee the right of ICCs/IPs to freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development. The ICCs/IPs shall have the right to use their own commonly accepted justice systems, conflict resolution institutions, peace building mechanisms and other customary laws and practices within their respective communities and as may be compatible with the national legal system and with internationally recognized human right. Section 13 and 15 of RA No. 8371. The term “cultural minorities” had been applied to the predominantly non-Christian groups of varying degrees of cultural development who form eight percent of the present population of the Philippines. There are onl...