SUBANEN TRIBE
“suba” means “river”
“non”, “nun”, or “nen” indicates a locality or place of origin
Subanon means “those who live along riverbanks and coastal areas.”
was originally named Sibuguey and is located in West Mindanao.
Their language is generally referred to as Subanon.
Four subgroups of the Subanon:
the residents in and around Mount Malindang,
Sindangan,
Sibuguey, and
Siocon
Subanon Tribe History
The Subanon tribe originally inhabited the Zamboanga Peninsula.
They encountered Arab traders who spread Islam in the region.
Later faced domination by the Tausug and Maranao, who captured slaves and
imposed tithes.
During Spanish colonial rule, fortifications were built to protect the Subanon from
Muslim raids.
Despite challenges, the Subanon preserved their culture and customs.
In the 20th century, they faced deforestation and land exploitation.
Economy
The main economic activities of the Subanon include:
Agriculture
Hunting and Trapping
Fishing
Gathering Forest Products
Trading
Subanon Tribe Culture, Customs and Traditions
Marriage Practices:
Polygyny is practiced.
Levirate and sororate marriages are common, maintaining family ties even
after a spouse’s death.
Spouse selection can be through arranged marriage, hiring a go-between,
or modern courtship.
Marriages involve a bride-price negotiation process (pamalabag), where
past conflicts are resolved.
Death Rituals:
The deceased is wrapped in white cloth, placed in a log-coffin, and given
provisions for the spirit world.
Rooster blood is smeared on mourners' feet to ward off spirits.
The widower mourns for three evenings, invites the dead spouse to "eat"
with him, and holds a kano feast before resuming normal activities.
Subanon Crafts
Pottery: Subanon earthenware is simple in design, made by hand-shaping clay,
drying it under the sun, and firing it over coals. Pots are treated with natural
materials like likway leaves and lamay bark to strengthen them.
Basket Weaving: Subanon are skilled in making baskets from rattan and bamboo
strips, used for transporting crops, storage, and religious purposes. Baskets have
specific names and are woven using techniques like twilling and twining.
Indigenous names for baskets:
Biaw - The largest basket, used to transport unhusked corn or
coconuts.
Baban - Second in size to the biaw, it is used for carrying various
agricultural produce except grains.
Storage Baskets (Bandi and Danas) - Used to store dry food like
grains and nuts.
Niygo - A winnowing tray with a parallel-close-weave pattern used for
separating grain from chaff.
Gyagan - A sifter tray with a parallel-open-weave pattern used for
sifting finer particles from grains.
Fish Traps (Bantak and Sanggab) - Utilitarian baskets used for
trapping fish, made using the twining weaving pattern, where flexible
warps and wefts are tied together.
Receptacle Baskets (Sukat and Ginumbuwan) - Used for religious
offerings, also made with the twining weaving technique.
Mat Weaving: Most Subanon, regardless of age or gender, weave mats for
various uses, with little decoration.
Cloth Weaving: Subanon cloth weaving uses cotton and abaca fibers, often dyed
red or black with native or aniline dyes. The process includes binding and dyeing
fibers for intricate patterns.
Metalcraft: The Subanon make some weapons and tools, but also trade for finer
items like the kris, kampilan, barong, and pes from Muslims. Their forges include
bamboo bellows and wooden anvils.
