Eleven Tribes of Davao City

Maranao

Maranao Man

       Maranao means "people of the lake" with Lanao as their homeland referred to as lake. Like other Muslim tribes, they are brave and historically offered sacrifice in defense of their homeland and Islam. They are rich in literature the most famous of which is the Darangen.

     The Maranao musical heritage revolves around the kulinlang, a specific type of gong which plays sounds peculiar to their culture.

      Maranaos are best known for sophistication in wood and metal crafts like the impressive torogan, a special house built for a Maranao maiden; design motifs called okil, examples of which are the Sarimanok and Naga which are creative renditions of a cock and its fish and a dragon or snake, respectively.

Maranao Women

      

The Maranao is also known for their exceptional textiles of ornate designs and colors reflective of the social status of the wearer. The Malong is a classic example.

       If there is one trait noticeable among the Maranao is their large involvement to market trade which makes a Maranao community widely visible in every city and town in the Philippines.

     The Maranaos are in the districts of Poblacion, Talomo, Bunawan, Buhangin, Toril, Tugbok, Calinan and Marilog Districts (Davao Delights Blog, 2015).

Sama

      Within the Sulu Sea basin alone, the majority of the coastal people belong to he Sama cultural community. The term "Sama" is a derivative of the word "Sama-sama" meaning togetherness.

Sama Family

       Sama may be described as a cohesive and peace-loving people.

      Each Sama sub-group is identified geographically according to the name of their coastal settlement. These include: Sama Simunul. Sama Balimbing, Sama Tawi-Tawi, Sama Sibutu and Sama Ubian. Each of them have varied ancestral backgrounds, outlooks in life, economic lifeways and types of social upbringing.

     The Sama Simunul claims to have descended from a mixture of Arab and native blood. They point to the color of their skin and physical traits as evidence of such descent.

Sama Tribe

    

         The Sama Tawi-Tawi are said to have come originally from Johore. Their ancestors are believed to have crossed the ocean through small outriggers. Their forefathers were powerful men, having the supernatural power to invite unseen spirits called Jin to do things for them.

     The Sama Sibutu claimed to have descended from another makmudin named Mukthar. The descending lineage of Tuan Mukthar considers this Sama group as belonging to the Datu class, Like the Sama Tawi-Tawi, the Sama Sibutu also possess the limuh (knowledge) of jinism or spiritism.

     The majority of Sama people in Davao City are in the coastal barangays from Bunawan to Toril. (Davao Delights Blog, 2015)

Ata

Ata Family

     The Spaniards called the people living in the upland areas Atas, lumping many tribes together. These were the people they did not reach in their initial reduction efforts. Today, the term Ata applies to the relatively dark-skinned tribes found in Paquibato, Panabo, Carmen, Santo Tomas, Kapalong, and neighboring places.

     Some of them call themselves Ata Manobo particularly those in the Liboganon river basin, while those in Marilog up to parts of Bukidnon call themselves Matigsalug. Another group in the Kapalong area calls itself Talaingod. These Ata groups are one and the same.

Ata Chieftain

       In the past, they are noted to be highly nomadic and tended to live in single family units, with each house very far from the others. Considered the earliest inhabitants, they were pushed into the interior by new arrivals.

    Like the other Lumads, the Atas have been marginalized due to settler intrusion into their traditional areas. Most of the Atas abandoned their settlements when the Bisayans settled into their lands and/or bartered the lands for several cans of sardines or packets of tobacco.

       This type of "purchase" became the pattern in the transaction between the Lumads and the settlers, ultimately resulting in the dispossession of the Lumads.

     Today, the Ata people can be found in Paquibato District and in Callawa, Buhangin District. (Davao Delights Blog, 2015)

Tagabawa

Tagabawa Elders

     The Tagabawas inhabit the areas from Toril in Davao City, Santa Cruz, Digos, and Bansalan in Davao del Sur, to parts of Makilala and Kidapawan in Cotabato. The Spaniards identified Sibulan in Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur as the "more important capital" of the Bagobos.

     At the Davao Poblacion site, Bagobo territory is bounded by the Davao River, beyond which live Giangans and Atas. The Spanish priests estimated Bagobo population at 12,000 in the 1880s. But it may be difficult to determine their exact number as many of them have been assimilated into the majority Bisayan culture.

     The name Bagobo used here is restricted to mean the Tagabawa, which means "from the south". It does not include the other tribes found in Davao City such as the Obo and the Giangan. At present, the name Bagobo is loosely used to include the tribes, sometimes to include the Matigsalugs in the Marilog area. 

Tagabawa Family

     However, the original Bagobo, as used by the Spaniards, refer only to the native inhabitants centered around Santa Cruz and nearby areas, that is, the Tagabawa,

      In 1888, Fr. Juan Doyle described the Bagobos as the most advanced and intelligent of all natives in the Philippines archipelago.

        Tagabawa people occupy the districts of Marilog, Baguio, Calinan, Tugbok and Toril, where majority of them dwell. (Davao Delights Blog, 2015)

Matigsalug

  

Matigsalug Man

     The Matigsalugs are found in the eastern section of Marilog, Davao City, and in the towns of Kitaotao, Quezon, and San Fernando in Bukidnon. Matigsalug means people who live along the river, and this river is specifically Davao River which the Matigsalugs simply call Salog. Its source is in San Fernando, Bukidnon.

       It is not clear if the Matigsalugs paid tribute to the Kalagan Moros at the mouth of Davao River. But apparently the Kalagan Moros had control of territory up to Tamugan, or possibly beyond.

Matigsalug Women

    Despite the apparent subordination of the Matigsalugs by their neighbors, they were feared warriors. In san Fernando, Bukidnon, their chief leader was Datu Gapaw who fought off Moro (Magindanaw) invasions. The Matigsalugs allied with the Obus to effect a peace pact with the Magindanaws held in Kapuling, Kalagangan, San Fernando.

     Linguistically, the Matigsalugs are classified under the manobo, although racially, they would be darker than the Manobos. Lumads residing in Marilog District are of the Matigsalug Tribe. (Davao Delights Blog, 2015)

Obu Manuvu

Obu Manuvu Family

    The Obus occupy Tambolong, Baguio District, and Marilog District on the Davao side, and Arakan, Antipas, Roxas, MAgpet, Kidapawan, Makilala on the Cotabato side. Stray froups can be found in Southern Cotabato.

   As the Obus lived in very remote areas, the Spaniards failed to identify them as a separate tribe and simply lumped them together with the Atas. Pastellas called Atas "the indigenous natives who generally lived about the western districts of Mt. Apo."

    An Obu epic tells of the adventures of Tuwaang, particularly his fight with the Moros. Tuwaang is actually claimed by many other tribes, as variants of the Tuwaang epic are also sang among the Ata Manobo tribe in Talaingod in Davao del Norte and the Matigsalogs in San Fernando, Bukidnon. But instead of Tuwaang, the name of their hero is Tulalang. A common theme of his adventures is his fight with the Ikogans (tailed men) who are associated with the Moros. 

Obu Manuvu Dance

     Based on oral tradition, we can say that the Obus would most likely come from Butuan area. They would most likely be related to the Manobos of Agusan. Indeed, Obus can be classified linguistically under the Manobo. Oral tradition and linguistic similarity tend to make the Obus, Kulaman Manobos, the Bagobos (Tagabawas), as well as the Dibabawons closely related peoples who belong to the bigger Manobo family.

     The Obus can be found in the districts of Marilog, Baguio, Calinan and Tugbok. (Davao Delights Blog, 2015)

Clata

   

Clata Family

    The Clatas occupy a very small territory stretching from Catalunan to Calinan within Davao City. Their traditional population centers included Biao, Tagakpan, Dulian, Sirib, Gumalang, and Tamugan. They are also known as Giangan, with variants like Guangan, Gulangan, or Jangan, that means forest dweller.

  

     The boundary between Tagabawa and Clata was fixed at Lipadas River. Talomo River (ikawayanlinan) served as the boundary among the Tagabawas, Clatas and Obos. Davao River became the boundary between Bagobos and Clatas in the northeast part of Davao. Matina was apparently originally Clatas but they were pushed back by the Bagobos who controlled Toril.

Clata Instruments

    They were also known as Eto, Attaw, and Giangan. Despite the forest dweller appellation, the Clatas who were feared warriors, were also known for their fine artistry. 

    They wore the most beautiful and colorful clothes in the Gulf.

    The Bagobo origin myth of the first man and woman is of Giangan provenance. 

   Tuglay, the Bagobo first man is a Clata word for man and Tuglibong, the Bagobo first woman, is a Clata word for woman. (Davao Delights Blog, 2015)

Kagan

Kangan Family

     The Kagans inhabit pocket settlements scattered around Davao Gulf. Like the Kulaman Manobos and Sangils, the Kagans did not and still do not occupy a contiguous territory that they can claim as their ancestral domain. Most of their settlements are found at the mouth of or along a river. Their more important centers were Padada, Sirawan, Davao (Bankerohan), Tagum (Bingcungan), Madaum, Iho, Matiao, Pantukan, and Sumlug (Lupon). 

     In 1885, Fr. More estimated their number at around 4,000. Despite this small population, the Kagans lorded over the entire Gulf by controlling the key river systems. Indeed Davao Gulf might be considered a Kagan lake. The Kagans were closely associated with the Magindanao sultanate, with many polities recognizing the Magindanao Sultan as their suzerain.But at the same time, the Kagans exercised a lot of independence.

     The most important unifying factor of the Kagans was Islam. By the 1700s, most of them had been converted to this new faith, possibly through the Magindanaons. Samal oral tradition suggests Sharif Kabungsuwan, or perhaps his descendants, also proselytized in Davao. The genealogies of the various Kagan polities indicate some limkage with minor Magindanaw royalty. 

Kangan Woman

    Kagan power lay in better weapons and a network of local alliances. Their weapons were obtained from the Magindanaons as well as from Dutch or English traders. The leaders of the important centers were linked by kinship ties. They formed a formidable council that decided on certain matters, demonstrating a unity that allowed them control over the interior tribes from whom they exacted tributes. 

  

     The Kagans are in the District of Poblacion, Talomo, Buhangin, Bunawan and Paquibato.

     In later Spanish documents, the Gulf Kagans would be identified by the Spaniards as the Davao Moros. Datu Bago of Davao River and Datu Pampang of Madaum were mentioned by the Spaniards in the early 1800s in connection with negotiations defining the boundaries of the Davao Moro realm and the Spaniards realm on the Pacific Coast. (Davao Delights Blog, 2015)

Tausug

   

Tausug Family

 The present-day Tausug descended from the different ethnic groups that migrated to the Sulu Archipelago. Sulu sa/si/a (genealogy) and tradition speaks of Buranon, Tagimaha, Baklaya, Orang Dampuan, and Orang Banjar as the earlier migrants to the archipelago. 

    The word Tausug is in recognition of the geographic character of the Sulu Archipelago that lies in the path of vigorous tidal currents flowing from the Sulu and China Seas to the Celebes Sea. Practically all the groups in the Sultanate are sea-oriented: sailors, traders, fishermen, pearl divers, sea seed collectors, etc. Thus, Tausugs are "People of the Current". Also, they possess an unquestionable courage and bravery, therefore Tausug are Tau Maisug or "brave people".

Tausug Dance

    Men and women cut their hair and bound them with a black turban with a small piece of chintz tied around it. They were ruled by their chief and earned a livelihood from weaving cloth. Moreover, they were traders whose merchandise mostly consisted of products from the sea. 

    They were famous for their pearls which were white and round and had a luster that never faded. The large pearls measured about an inch in diameter. The Tausug had a pond where they kept large pearls and at night their luster lighted the surface of the water. The pearls were sold to the Chinese who came to trade regularly.

    The language spoken by the Tausug is primarily adopted from the vocabulary of the Tagimaha in whose locality the Sultan of Sulu lived and established the capital of the Sultanate-Buansa.

     The Tausugs are in the districts of Poblacion, Talomo, Agdao, Buhangin, Bunawan, Toril, Tugbok, Calinan and Baguio. (Davao Delights Blog, 2015)

Maguindanaon

    

Maguindanaon

 Maguindanaon means "people of the flood plain" for they mainly inhabit the broad Pulangi River valley and delta which occasionally flood.

      The Maguindanaon Tribe originally came from the former Cotabato Province now known as the Maguindanao Province.

    Historically, The Maguindanaons are the descendants of Shariff Kabunsuan and Putri Tonina who are both half blooded Arab and Malay, respectively, then Sultan Kudarat's descendant Datu Bago who migrated to Davao and fought hand in hand against the Spaniards, was married to a native of Davao wherein his descendants are now much known as the Kagan Tribe.

Maguindanaon Man

    

  The Maguindanaons are subdivided into two principal groups, each with its own dialect and traditional location: Tau-sa Ilud (people of the lower valley) and the Tau-sa Laya (people of the upper valley). The Tau-sa Ilud are concentrated in the areas around Cotabato City and extend to South Dinaig. They are primarily sedentary wet-rice agriculturists. Traditionally, they constituted the Sultanate of Maguindanao based near present day Cotabato City.

     The Tau-sa Laya are primarily concentrated in the areas of Datu Piang and extend south to the areas which include Buluan. They practice semi-sedentary agriculture and grow corn and upland rice. Traditionally, they constitute the Rajahship of Buayan based near present-day town of Datu Piang.

    Maguindanaons are scattered around the three district of Davao City and other nearby provinces like Davao del Sur, Davao del Norte and Davao Oriental.

Iranun

   

Iranun Princess

  The Iranun is an ethno-linguistic tribe in the southern Philippines. The Iranuns occupy a substantial portion of historic places in Mindanao, Sulu, Palawan, Sabah, and other parts of the Malay world.

   This group was termed by the Spanish authorities as Illano, Ilano, Ilana, Hilalones, Illanum, Illanun, or simply Moros and Mohametanas, being the defenders of the present day Illana Bay (Moro Gulf), and by US colonial writers in an over-simplistic manner as Moros, Mohamedans, marauders, pirates, raiders, slave traders, and "lords of the eastern seas."  

An Iranun Family

    

  Their population is estimated between 50,000 and 150,000 individuals. They continue to reside along the eastern shore of Ilana Bay, although some have also long inhabited the hill country lying between the coast and the southern edge of the Lanao Plateau. Since the middle of the century, intermarriages between the Iranun, Magindanaon, and Maranao have increased in frequency.

    In early times, the Iranuns living at the coast adopted a typical maritime lifestyle of seagoing invaders, which went on for at least 150 years prior to the inception of American colonial rule at the turn of the century. The Iranun raided throughout the islands of Southeast Asia, from the Celebes in the south to Luzon in the north and as far west as the Straits of Malacca. In search for slaves and plunder, they attacked merchant shipping and coastal settlements in the Philippines, the straits of Malacca and the islands beyond Sulawesi. (wikipilipinas, 2015)

(Source: Davao Delights Blog, http://davaodelights.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2014-01-01T00:00:00-08:00&updated-max=2015-01-01T00:00:00-08:00&max-results=26, March 23, 2015)