Manobo

Tribes The way of life of Manobo

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 MANOBO TRIBE
ESSENTIAL
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in
DETAILS
WHAT ARE manobo
tribe
THE
TRADITION
AND CULTURE
BELIEFS OF
MANOBO?
 The Manobo are several casting, the Ubo fashion fine
people groups who inhabit weaponry and jewelry that
the island of Mindanao in they believe possess souls,
the Philippines. They speak making it harder for the
one of the languages maker to part with them.
belonging to the Manobo Agriculturally, they practice
l anguage family. Their swidden, a slash-and-burn
origins can be traced back farming, oft planting and
to the early Malay peoples harvesting rice, root crops,
who came from the and vegetables for
surrounding islands of consumption. Like the
Southeast Asia. Today, Bagobo, the Ubo believe in
their common cultural multiple deities headed by a
l anguage and Malay central figure, Diwata (God);
heritage help to keep them connected. The Manobo they're animist, they also believe in ancestral spirits and
cluster includes eight groups: the Cotabato Manobo, unseen beings inhabiting the animate and inanimate
Agusan Manobo, Dibabawon Manobo, Matig Salug objects found throughout their environment. In civic
Manobo, Sarangani Manobo, Manobo of Western matters, the political leader and Datu (Filipino chieftain) of
Bukidnon, Obo Manobo, and Tagabawa Manobo. The the village attains his position by virtue of wealth; speaking
groups are often connected by name with either political ability and knowledge of customary law, known as fendan.
divisions or landforms. The Bukidnons, for example, are The primary obligation consists of settling disputes among
located in a province of the same name. The Agusans, members of a family, neighbors, and the community.
who live near the Agusan River Valley, are named When a fine is set and/or imposed by the Datu, the
according to their location. The eight Manobo groups are accused has to pay it to the aggrieved party; if he's unable
all very similar, differing only in dialect and in some to, then he will become servant to the one who pays for
aspects of culture. The him, otherwise known as dok.
distinctions have resulted
from their geographical
separation.
Manobo tribe is culturally
rich in traditional
practices, medicinal
uses, diversity, and
traditional knowledge
based on their community
plant resources. They
dwell in hinterlands and
mountainous regions in
the southern part of the
Philippines and live
an intricate life dependent
on agriculture and forest
plant.
Manobo tribe in, Carmen and, Surigao Del Sur Manobo
tribe in Hinapuyan, Carmen and Cabangahan, Cantilan,
Surigao del Sur and to identify the availability of ritual
plants being used. Plant information with the local name
plant parts used, methods of preparation, ritual
uses, and Cultural
Importance Index (CI) were quantified. Manobo simply
means “people” or “person”; alternate names include
Manuvu and Minuvu. The term may have originated from
“Mansuba,” a combination of man (people) and suba
(river). Manobos are concentrated in Agusan, Bukidnon,
Cotabato, Davao, Misamis Oriental, and Surigao Del Sur.
The Manobo usually build their villages near small bodies
of water or forest clearings, although they also opt for
hillsides, rivers, valleys, and plateaus. The communities
are small, consisting of only 4-12 houses. They practice
slash-and-burn agriculture. Known for their intricate
 Wedding is a very extended family, especially her aunts and uncles and those
sacred ceremony for two who contributed to the bridewealth given by her father when
people. This is the he married the bride's mother. When the negotiations over,
ceremony where they the groom's family presents the head cloth (tenges), which
are united in marriage. symbolizes that the arrangements must be wrapped up
Most wedding tightly to ensure a happy life for the young couple. The seru
ceremonies, the groom ritual follows: the bride and groom sit before a dish of rice.
and the bride exchange Each of the spokespersons takes a fistful of rice, molds it
their wedding vows. In into a ball, and gives it to the couple, who feed each other.
Manobo Tribe, Marriage Then the guests join in the eating, with much revelry. The
is said to be bride's mother prepares betel chew and hands it to her
traditionally imposed by daughter, who offers it to the groom. This gesture
parental arrangement. symbolizes her tasks and duties as a wife. The couple are
The asking of marriage then given advice by the elders while the guests leave for
(ginsa) to the girl begins home. The groom's parents stay for three more days, during
when the two familes chose their datu (bai). The girl's which a purification ritual of chickens and rice is performed
representative then offers areca nut (betel chew) to the boy's for the couple's soul-spirit (gimukod), whose approval of the
representative, but they said that the boy's representative marriage is sought. The groom goes home with his parents
still politely refuses it until the negotiations for the bride to call his gimukod incase it stayed there while he was away.
wealth (kagun) begins. In this kagun, the groom's relatives, He does not stay away
most especially to the datu who is related to the groom's too long from his bride's
family will contribute. The Wedding date is determined in the home because, for
length of time when will the groom's family will raise the every day that he is
kagun. While waiting, the bride's relatives have to prepare gone, he must gift his in-
the rice, meat, fish, and rice wine that will be used in the laws with an article of
wedding feast (apa). On the day of the wedding, the groom clothing. "Marriage is an
is wearing a white handkerchief, he and his relatives will alliance system in which
walk to the bride's house. The bride is kept hidden behind a which reciprocity mutual
curtain in another room with someone guarding her. The obligation between the
groom's party knocked at the doorway y the ed- ipal, two or groom's and bride's
more of the bride's relatives who may ask the groom's party kinship groups are
for a gift, such as clothing or money. After the feast, the expected. It is,
elders sit on a large mat for the edteltagan he rirey, to therefore, a means of
display the symbols for the bride's value. Ten piles of corn maintaining peace and
kernels each are laid out in rows. Each pile symbolizes order, for the Manobo's
remuneration for the pains taken by the bride's family in practice of retaliation
rearing her. Then the groom's family presents the items of does not extend to one's kindred or allies. Incest taboo is
the kagun which may consist of a house, a piece of land, strictly followed up to a common great-great-great
clothing, money, articles made of iron, brass, and animals. grandparent on both the mother's and father's side."
These items are distributed to members of the bride's

LIFE OF MANOBO TRIBES