TRIBES

Tausug

The Tausūg or Suluk people are an ethnic group of the Philippines, Malaysiaand Indonesia. The Tausūg are part of the wider political identity of Muslims of Mindanao, Sulu and Palawan known as the Moro ethnic group, who constitute the third largest ethnic group of Mindanao, Sulu and Palawan.[citation needed]They originally had an independent state known as the Sulu Sultanate, which once exercised sovereignty over the present day provinces of Basilan,Palawan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, the eastern part of the Malaysian state of Sabah(formerly North Borneo) and North Kalimantan in Indonesia.

Maranao

The Maranao people (Maranao: ['mәranaw]; Filipino: Mëranaw(based on Papanoka Mera)[2]), also spelled Meranao, Maranaw (based on Marapatik) and Mëranaw, is the term used by the Philippine government to refer to the southern tribe who are the "people of the lake" (Ranao in the Iranaon language),[citation needed] a predominantly-Muslim region of the Philippine island of Mindanao. They are known for their artwork, weaving, wood and metal crafts and epic literature, the Darangen.

Maguindanaon

Maguindanaon is an Austronesian language spoken by majority of the population of Maguindanao Province in the Philippines. It is also spoken by sizable minorities in different parts of Mindanao such as the cities ofZamboanga, Davao, and General Santos, and the provinces of North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato, Sarangani, Zamboanga del Sur,Zamboanga Sibugay, as well as Metro Manila.

Samal

The Sama-Bajau refers to several Austronesian ethnic groups of Maritime Southeast Asia. The name collectively refers to related people who usually call themselves the Sama, Samah, or Samal; or are known by the exonym Bajau(/ˈbɑːdʒaʊ, ˈbæ-/, also spelled Badjao, Bajaw, Badjau, Badjaw, Bajo orBayao). They usually live a seaborne lifestyle, and use small wooden sailing vessels such as the perahu, (Layag in Meranau) djenging, balutu, lepa, pilang, and vinta (or lepa-lepa).[3] Some Sama-Bajau groups native to Sabah are also known for their traditional horse culture.

Yakan

The Yakan people are among the major indigenous Muslim Filipinoethnolinguistics groups in the Sulu archipelago. Having a significant number of followers of Islam, it is considered as one of the 13 Moro groups in thePhilippines. The Yakans mainly reside in Basilan but are also in Zamboanga City. They speak a language known as Bahasa Yakan, which has characteristics of both Sama-Bajau Sinama and Tausug (Jundam 1983: 7-8). It is written in the Malayan Arabic script, with adaptations to sounds not present in Arabic (Sherfan 1976).

TRADITIONS

Hari-raya

Eid al-Fitr (Arabic: عيد الفطر‎ ʻĪd al-Fiṭr, IPA: [ʕiːd al fitˤr], "festival of breaking of the fast"), also called Breaking the Fast Feast, the Sugar Feast, Bayram(Bajram), the Sweet Festival or Hari Raya Puasa[3] and the Lesser Eid, is an important religious holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide that marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting (sawm). The religious Eid is a single day during which Muslims are not permitted to fast. The holiday celebrates the conclusion of the 29 or 30 days of dawn-to-sunset fasting during the entire month of Ramadan. The day of Eid, therefore, falls on the first day of the month of Shawwal. The date for the start of any lunar Hijri month varies based on the observation of new moon by local religious authorities, so the exact day of celebration varies by locality. However, in most countries, it is generally celebrated on the same day as Saudi Arabia.

Michelmas Day

Michaelmas /ˈmɪkəlməs/, the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel (also theFeast of Saints Michael, Gabriel, Uriel and Raphael, the Feast of the Archangels, or the Feast of Saint Michael and All Angels), is a day in the Western Christian liturgical year that occurs on 29 September. In medieval England, Michaelmas marked the ending and beginning of the husbandman's year, George C. Homans observes: "at that time harvest was over, and thebailiff or reeve of the manor would be making out the accounts for the year."[2]
In Christianity, the Archangel Michael is the greatest of all the Archangels and is honored for defeating Satan in the war in heaven.[3] He is one of the principal angelic warriors, seen as a protector against the dark of night, and the administrator of cosmic intelligence. Michaelmas has also delineated time and seasons for secular purposes as well, particularly in Britain and Ireland as one of the quarter days.

DANCES

Pangalay

Pangalay (also known as Daling-Daling or Mengalai in Sabah) is the traditional “fingernail” dance of the Tausūg people of the Sulu Archipelago and Sabah.[1] The dance also means offering from its Sanskrit origin pang-alay. Mangalay which also means dance is very similar to classical Balinese and Thai dances.
The dance is the most distinctively Asian of all the southern Philippine dances because dancers must have dexterity and flexibility of the shoulders, elbows, and wrists[2] – movements that strongly resemble those of “kontaw silat'. The Malaysian art of Buah Pukul is classified as silat despite its Yunnan origin, kuntao is "way of the fist", from kun 拳 meaning fist and tao 道 meaning way. This term was originally used for Chinese martial arts in general. ThePangalay is predominantly performed during weddings or other festive events.[1] The male equivalent of the Pangalay is thePangasik and features more martial movements, while a pangalay that features both a male and female dancer is calledPangiluk.[citation needed]

Asik

The Asik is a solo slave dance from Mindanao that is usually done before the performance of singkil. The umbrealla-bearing attendant performs this dance to win her sultan master's favor.

Singkil

The Singkíl originated from the Maranao people who inhabit the shores of Lake Lanao. It is derived from a story in the Darangen, the Maranao interpretation of the ancient Indian epic, theRamayana. The name of the dance itself means "to entangle the feet with disturbing objects such as vines or anything in your path". It is a popular dance performed during celebrations and other festive entertainment. Originally only women, particularly royalty, danced the Singkíl, which serves as either a conscious or unconscious advertisement to potential suitors.
The lead dancer, in the role of Putri Gandingan (the Darangen name for Sita), graciously step in and out of closing bamboos poles arranged in either a parallel, rectangular, or criss-cross fashion while manipulating either apir (fans), mosala(scarves), or even just their bare hands. A kulintang and agung ensemble always accompanies the dance.
While often erroneously referred to by non-Maranaos as a "Muslim dance", the Singkíl is in fact secular in nature, performed by the Ummah communities of the Maranao and Maguindanao. Initially, the dance was performed with just one pair of bamboo poles, eventually adopting the use of two criss-crossing pairs.

Tahing Baila

Tahing Baila is a dance of the Yakan people that depicts the sea-faring people mimicking the movements of a fish.

Sagayan

Sagayan is a Philippine war dance performed by both the Maguindanao and Maranaodepicting in dramatic fashion the steps their hero, Prince Bantugan, took upon wearing his armaments, the war he fought in and his subsequent victory afterwards.[1]Performers, depicting fierce warriors would carry shield with shell noisemakers in one hand and double-bladed sword in the other attempting rolling movements to defend their master.[2]

FESTIVALS

Kadayawan Festival

The Kadayawan Festival is an annual festival in the city of Davao in thePhilippines. Its name derives from the friendly greeting "Madayaw", from the Dabawenyo word "dayaw", meaning good, valuable, superior or beautiful. The festival is a celebration of life, a thanksgiving for the gifts of nature, the wealth of culture, the bounties of harvest and serenity of living. It is held every third week of August.

Kaamulan Festival

Kaamulan Festival is an ethnic cultural festival held annually in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon in the Philippines from the second half of February to March 10, the anniversary date of the foundation of Bukidnon as a province in 1917. It is held to celebrate the culture and tradition of the seven ethnic tribal groups—Bukidnon, Higaonon, Talaandig, Manobo, Matigsalug, Tigwahanon and Umayamnon—that originally inhabit the province.[1][2] It is the only ethnic festival in the Philippines.[3]
Kaamulan comes from the Binukid word “amul” meaning to gather.[4] Kaamulan is gathering for a purpose—a datuship ritual, a wedding ceremony, a thanksgiving festival during harvest time, a peace pact, or all of these together.

Kagay-an Festival

KAGAY-AN FESTIVAL – Cagayan de Oro’s local answer to mardigras celebrated during the annual feast of the city’s patron saint, Saint Augustine on August 28. Traditionally done in a three (3) hrs. parade of civic-military groups, the event is colored by participation of contingents in bedecked costumes, choreographed movements, lively sounds and gimmickry to bring out the desired theme or social message. Added attractions are the inclusion of huge floats in parade and school drum & bugle corps.