THE TAGBANUA

  The Tagbanua script (SURAT) preserved some of the Hindu ancient writing. It is written in vertical columns reading from top to bottom and the columns following in order from right to left. The inscriptions consists of incisions in the surface of strips of bamboo. In the picture, the one on the right is the modern Tagbanua script. The middle shows the Tagalog script and the left image shows the value of the letters in Roman characters. Masikampu Ignacio "Ampun' Cursod Joya, the 14th Masikampu of the Tagbanua and IPs of Palawan, used to write this way. Reference: Peoples of the Philippines by Albert Louis Kroeber, 1876-1960. Publication date: 1919. Courtesy of University of Michigan. Attribution: Masikampo Ruben C. Joya, 18th Masikampo of the Tagbanua and IPs of Palawan Usba et Masikampo Rikizam M. Joya, MD Usba et Masikampo Ashelon M. Joya Usba et Masikampo Ruben M. Joya, II Maradja et Masikampo Redeem M. Joya

  In the old days, the Tagbanua men and women would file and blacken their teeth. The upper and lower incisors were filed with a stone called u'urutan. The occluding surface would be filed to even them then the facial side to make it concave. The patient bit on a stick of wood during the procedure. After filing, the leaves of a vine called migay were rubbed on the face of the teeth. The black residue used to paint the teeth was made from chopped leaves of kabar and tambilikan- boiled until it turns black. The teeth were painted twice a year. Teeth blackening was supposed to protect the teeth and make it healthier. This custom was lost in the East Coast when the Christians came and eventually the Apuraw'non Tagbanuas stopped doing it. Teeth blackening (Ohaguro) is a custom used by the Japanese during the Meiji area. People from Southeast Asia and Oceania still practices it. Reference: Religion and Society Among the Tagbanwa by Dr. Robert Fox, 1982. Attribution: Masikampo Ruben C

The Tagbanua believe in their native gods. There were four major gods. The first deity was Mangindusa or Nagabacaban- lord of the heavens. Poco/Polo was the god of the sea and deemed a benevolent spirit. Sedumunadoc was the god the earth whose favor was sought in order to have a good harvest. The fourth god was called Tabiacoud who lived in the deep bowels of the earth. Image: A Tagbanua priest making offerings to Poco Reference: Luçon et Palaouan: six années de voyages aux Philippines by Alfred Marche. 1887. Attribution: Masikampo Ruben C. Joya, 18th Masikampu of the Tagbanua and Indigenous People of Palawan Usba et Masikampu Rikizam M. Joya, MD Usba et Masikampu Ashelon M. Joya Maradja et Masikampu Redeem M. Joya