THE TAGBANUA

  Here is a tabulated comparison of the different scripts in the Philippines. Since the author spent time in Palaouan (Palawan), the Tagbanua script (SURAT) was exemplified. On the left column are numbers with the Roman letters and the Tagbanua script on its side. Common words like danum (water), aldaw (day), inum (drink), Tagbanua and even the name Geronimo Torres were translated. Para sa buwan ng wika, eto po ang aming handog. Reference: Alfred Marche. Luzon et Palaouan. Six années de voyages aux Philippines. 1887 Harvard Collection Attribution: Masikampu Ruben C. Joya, 18th Masikampu of the Tagbanua and Indigenous People 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

  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

Wali, a hunter from Tigman, was once lost in the forest for seven days and nights. He found the place at the head of the Maasin River where there were countless pigs. As he wandered there, he saw some huge houses with hundreds of rooms. These houses had roofs but no floors. When he saw the huge houses he was afraid. But he said to himself, I will go there even it is the place of the damdam [an evil spirit] for I am too tired to conti nue. As he approached one of the houses he met a very old man. It was a panya’an, the leader of the pigs, named li’iyan kat baga. The old man said to him: “Why have you come to my house?” Wali replied: “I am lost.” The old man then told him to enter one of the houses. After he had entered they chewed betel and Wali was given food. But the rice was soft-cooked with the chaff. When the meal was over the old man told Wali not to leave as his children were coming. Late that afternoon Wali saw thousands of small pigs approaching. They all dove into ...

Countless suday (a human-like spirit) are said to live in the sea and to swarm along the shores at night. The Tagbanuwa state that it is unsafe to sleep on the beach at night, particularly alone. These spirits are said to gather by the hundreds around the sleeper and to scratch their fingernails up and down his body. Then they stab the sleeper in the belly with their foot-long thumbnails.  (Robert B. Fox [Tagbanuwa Religion and Society] page 170) credit to the Office of Masicampo Ruben C. Joya Sr. [special thanks to Director Jeremy Barnes of the Philippine National Museum] portrayed image attributed to  https://beautilation.tumblr.com/post/31992015613

A long time ago, Biarongbarongan, who was a supernatural chief lived at the other side of Iraan river, [where the old agricultural high school was located]. He had two sons, namely, Baybayaren and Palaesgen. Both were married to Iloilo and Tabod, respectively. They were also enchanted. They owned wells with magical flowing water. From the wells, they could demand instantly anything that they asked for. At one time, Biarongbiarongan went for a tournament in a foreign land. After his defeat, he was beheaded and his head was pierced in the plaza. His fierce son, Palaesgen rode his enormous ship with hundreds of his followers to avenge his father’s death. When he was exhausted in his battle, he alighted in a tree and only his sword and shield continued to fight until he was victorious and went home to Aborlan. One afternoon, an ordinary man and woman happened to meet for a romance under Palaesgen’s house. He was angry at the sinful persons, thus he and his family together with ...

The Tagbanua wedding is a multi-step process and here is a summarized, but not exhaustive list of the occasion.  1. Surugiden- The couple should undergo this process with their parents/guardians and at least two (2) Bagerals in attendance. This will enable both parties to investigate and agree that the couple are eligible for marriage. 2. Sanggup- This is the process wherein the families agree on terms of marriage. 3. Surong et kapangasawa- Provision of support including, but not limited to monetary endowment (bandi). 4. Ceremony officiated by Masikampo Ruben Joya- The ceremony is led by the Tagbanua/IP Masikampo. He is trained and licensed to officiate Indigenous People's weddings by virtue of his status as head of the Tagbanua. 5. Da-ton- An offering for a successful marriage usually done by the Manlalambay 6. Tabad- Rice wine drinking as part of the ceremony 7. Sakluban et tapis- The bride and groom are covered in a ceremonial blanket. 8. Mang-mang- Or, pr...

Did you know that in recent years the Tagbanua adhere to the rule of Matrilocality? It occurs when the newly-weds build their house in the maternal residential area of the village (the area of matrilocality is the natal village of the woman). It also means that if the parents of the girl should move to another village, the sons-in-law and their elementary families should follow. The only rationale given for matrilocal residence is that it strengthens the bilateral family; it  would add an economically productive man and woman to the local kinship group of the girl's parents. Matrilocal residence also placed the girl's parents in an effective position for exercising primary authority. Forced separation is one technique used by the girl's parents to enforce their control over their sons-in-law. Polygyny (in which a man has more than one wife) is also restricted by the custom of matrilocal residence as it becomes necessary for men to obtain wives from a single village. ...

The Tagbanua and Indigenous People of Southern Palawan can be classified as one of the oldest tribes in the Philippine archipelago. We existed through the years with the guidance of our customary laws and the leadership of our Masikampo. But as years went by, the Tagbanua nation found itself on the fringes of the society. Poverty is rampant and brought a vicious cycle of under-representation in the local and national government. During his time as Masikampo, Ignacio Joya worked hard to connect us with the government; thus our grandparents remembered how life was better in the old days. Now his son, Masikampo Ruben Joya, is the leader of the Indigenous People and continues such legacy that his father left for members of the IP. He has laid out clear policies for education, health and alleviation of poverty. Masikampo Ruben Joya is in talks with the executive and judiciary branch of the Philippine government to make them aware of the Tagbanua's place in the society.  Pictured a...

"Irit Irit", I was told. Illiterate, she meant. That was the description I was given when I asked a local Tagbanua about her child. That is the truth for most of the Tagbanua nation and Indigenous People of Palawan. Education is such a lofty pursuit for so many IPs.  Poverty, poor access and unsustainable processes are some of the factors involved. Masikampo Ruben Joya believes that education is the way out of poverty. He advocates strongly for it and has program proposals lined up for members of the IP. As a private individual or group, how can you help? Here is a short list: 1. Sponsor a child or interested members of the tribe who wants to go to college. Tuition fees range from $100-200 every 6 months depending on the school they go to. 2. School provisions like notebooks, bags, pens or pencils. 3. Clothing like school uniforms and shoes. 4. Transportation vehicles to pick them from the villages to their school. 5. Books for grade schoolers and c...

The Masikampo is the supreme leader of the Tagbanua and the Indigenous People of Palawan. The title and position is inherited and the selection is done only by the Usba e't Masikampo or the princes/nobles of the Masikampo. Here are the requisites to become a Masikampo: 1. Osol      Not everyone can be a Masikampo. One must have the bloodline of a Masikampo.  2. Adat     The Tagbanua is a nation that has a set of customary laws that is being followed to this day. A person must be knowledgeable of these customary laws to be qualified as Masikampo. 3. Tuturan     This requirement basically entails knowing the genealogy and history of the Masikampo. 4. Surugiden      A Masikampo is expected to be trained and interested in jural procedures. This can only be learned through exposure during meetings of the elders and taught by the Masikampo to his son/sons. Such procedures are intricate and involves diplomacy and use o...

An Article about the Tagbanua by Fe Tria Fernandez.  LINK HERE . http://www.pia.gov.ph/philtoday/pt03/pt0312.htm The Tagbanuas are original race of people inhabiting Palawan. They are by far the most numerous of the ethnic groups that inhabited Palawan during the pre-Hispanic times. They are the most cultured of the original people because they have an alphabet of their own. Tagbanua music basically makes use of three kinds of musical instrument. Agong is a brass instrument 1½ feet in diameter with a fist-sized node at the center. It is played by beating the node with a stick wrapped with strips of cloth. Babandil, another kind of musical instrument, is similar to the agong but only about four inches in depth. It is played with the use of the beater made of soft wood. The sound is mellower than the gong. The third kind of musical instrument is the gimbal similar to the snare drum. It is a hollow wood 1½ feet tall, five to 10 inches in diameter and covered at...

Seated L-R: Orancaya Rodenio Saco, Ba'e Estela M. Joya, Masikampo Ruben C. Joya, Usba e't Masikampo Leah Joya The Tagbanua today. They stick to "ugali," tradition, and the moral rules of "adat," customary law. Magellan's secretary, Pigafetta, observed the practice of bl ood brotherhood ritual in 1521 just as I did myself in 2009. The chief is named Masicampo. On the picture, he appears with his wife. Her function as the ba'e has even been recorded in early Spanish logs. So this is a pre-colonial cultural tradition still very much alive in the southern Philippines. It has many affinities with lifeways in other parts of Southeast Asia, above all, with Borneo. The lady on the right hand flank of the second row, Dominica, is a chief dancer. She has played an important role in my project, above all, in the translation of ritual speech. A Palawan collection in the Oslo University Museum of Cultural History now holds most of the material culture items ...

The political center of Tagbanua tribe is in Aborlan, a town south of Inagawan where the former seat was held until the penal colony expanded. There are multiple stories about how the name of Aborlan came to be, but one that is being held by most tribal members is the one accounted in Dr. Robert Fox's book. The town's name came after Abalan , ?abal , which means "cloth". A report by the late Eulalio Palao dated 1953 accounted this version of the word " abel " or piece of cloth which came from a certain species of tree. Since the Tagbanua and other IPs of Palawan existed before the Spanish colonization, we affirm this origin of the town's name. Identity is important to everyone and knowing our roots, our history, ensures that we have a foundation that will flourish through the ages. Abelnan. Sources: Dr. Robert Fox, Tagbanua Religion and Society National Museum Image: Excerpt from Eulalio Palao, Principal, Aborlan Elementary School, April 21,...

The anointing and "lambay" of Masikampo Ruben C. Joya The island of Palawan stands famous for its scenic and serene beaches. International magazines and travel websites consistently ranked Palawan as one of the best in the world. Aside from the natural features of the landscape, the island of Palawan is also known for its people. There is a rich demographic diversity in the island owing to the multiple ethnic tribes calling Palawan their home. The Tagbanua tribe is one of the oldest indigenous tribes thriving in the archipelago. It exists with rich and elaborate culture and traditions which is being practiced especially by tribal members in the Central coast of Palawan. At the helm of the Tagbanua society is the Masikampo (Masicampo). Considered as the highest political leader of the cultural communities of Palawan, the Masikampo works to preserve the cultural integrity and secure the well-being of the province's indigenous people. According to history, the Masikampo...

        From the phrase ‘mas et ampu” or “higher than lords” this title is not based upon Spanish term “Maestro de campo” which Dr. Fox states that its origin may at least be one hundred fifty years or older.   The term “mas” means “greater” and “ampu” means “lord” with “ampuan” meaning “Lord” or “Maguindusa”, the Supreme God of the Tagbanuas. This rank is considered as higher than the Datu but lesser than the Sultan. By virtue of the authority of the Masicampo and based on intergenerational knowledge passed to the present successor, the term “Maestro de Campo” is hereby corrected in accordance with the right of cultural integrity.       The Masicampo is a vassal from the Sultan of Burnay (Brunei) who first established the civil hierarchy long before the colonization of Spain in the Philippines. It was a legend that the Masicampo is the son of the Sultan of Brunei by reason of the legend of Inagawan, the seat of t...