BAGOBO TRIBE

Scattered throughout the Southern Philippine Archipelago slowly disappearing tribes untouched by neither time nor colonization still exist in present time. Along the desolate eastern coast of the Davao Gulf, centuries ago, new migrants mixed with the native population, forming a new community that was given the name Bagobo. This tribe traces its origin from the people who brought Hinduism to Mindanao, its name was derived from the words bago meaning new and obo meaning growth. Throughout centuries a strong social structure has enabled these native groups to blend well with the original population, retaining their indigenous customs, beliefs and values. 

The mountainous region between the upper Pulangi and Davao rivers is the homeland of the Upland Bagobo, the coastal Bagobo once lived in the hills south and east of Mount Apo, where according a legend, their supreme god and common ancestor Apo Sandawa ruled as God. Mount Apo is the Bogobo ancestral domain and their sacred place of worship. 

Sibulan is an ancient settlement of the Bagobo, located at the foot of a dormant volcano Cuernos de Negros, meaning the Horns of Negros but also known to the natives as Magaso.Sibulan was the center of all the Bagobo tribes when the Spaniards try to conquer the island of Mindanao at the end of the nineteenth century. The Spaniards gave this region its name; the Land of Sibuls or land of numerous springs. Long time ago a group of Spanish soldiers met a group Bagobo women carrying bamboo tubes, tools they used to fetch water from the many springs in the area. None of the women understood the soldiers when they were asked what the name of the place was. The women thought the Spaniards were asking them for the source of the water, so they replied, Sibuls, meaning spring. 

The Bagobo are by origin a nomadic tribe, they travelled from one place to the other by hacking their way through the virgin forests. The region was abundant with cogonal land with tall trees and had a wide area of hunting grounds. The bow and arrow were used both in hunting wild boar, deer or monkeys and fishing in crystal pure waters gushing from the slopes of Mount Apo. Apo means grandfather of all mountains and is the highest mountain peak in the Philippines. The land was also cultivated with various crops, but left behind after harvest time in search of a better place to cultivate. 

The inhabitants in the early settlements feared the Anitos, spirits, which include deceased ancestors and nature-spirits or diwatas, who could grant their desire through offering of sacrifices. Their religion is an array of innumerable gimokods (spirits) who have to be shown respect. The Bagobo also believe in a supreme being who inhabits the sky world, as well as a deity, a supernatural immortal being who will brings sickness and death to incestuous couples. The principal Spirit is the great creator named Eugpamolak Manobo or Manama. 

The knowledge of spirits and ancient legends resides in old tribal women, better known as mabalian, often they tell story of Tuwaang, a brave and strong warrior with different powers. One legend recalls the fight between Tuwaang and a giant from the land of Pinanggayungan. A maiden of the Buhong Sky who was fleeing from the giant of Pangumanon came across Tuwaang who was riding the sky on lighting. Tuwaang and the giant fought for the maiden, the giant used his magical powers and threw a flaming bar at Tuwaang. He was able to escape this ordeal by using his own magical ability and call the wind to fan the fire and let the giant be engulfed by his own flames. 

The mabalian are also the ritual practitioners which include healing, they are also skilled as weavers.The women weave abaca cloths with earthly tones, heavily embroidering it with beads and stitch work. They are known for their inlaid metal betel boxes, finished with bells and baskets that are trimmed with multi-colored beads, fibers and horses hair. The never ending jingling of the many tiny brass bells woven into the clothing became a Bagobo symbol. It is not rare that the heavily ornamented Bagobo are considered the most colourful people of the Philippines. 

Some Bagobo people have abandoned their tribal roots and embraced modern life, but most of the tribe's members remain proud of their heritage, traditions and their native cultural identity. They still wear their colorful costumes and play their ritual music with gongs and kulintangs, they dance their indigenous dances, stomping their feet on the ground and sing their harvest rituals in solemn chants. They will pass on their skills and knowledge to preserve their living, ethnic culture, a culture that is built to endure throughout generations to come.

   The story of the Bagobo tribe has somehow resemblance to the story of Aztec Civilization

The Aztec Empire was peopled by a group that was once nomadic, the Mexicas.  Their chroniclers told them that after their long journey from Aztlán, they found themselves to be outcasts, until they found the sign sent to them by their god Huitzilopochtli, and began to build their city.  And so the Mexica peoples continued, and the Aztec Empire began.

The city of Tenochitlan was soon to become one of the largest cities in the world.  The power of the Mexica peoples became more consolidated, and they began to form alliances.  Their military power grew as well, and they began to conquer peoples in the surrounding areas.

                                   

                  The Creation:   Bilaan (Mindanao) and Chinese

One may not exist without the power of the creator. This blog will tell you how the Bilaan also known as Mindanao was wonderfully created by the creator. Together let's venture the story behind the creation of Mindanao and how it connects to the famous Chinese story of creation of the God Pangu.

"Bilaan Tribe"
Photo not mine

The Story of the Creation Bilaan (Mindanao)

             In the very beginning there lived a being so large that he cannot be compared with any known thing. His name was Melu, and when he sat on the clouds, which were his home, he occupied all the space above. His teeth were pure gold, and because he was very cleanly and continually rubbed himself with his hands, his skin became pure white. The dead skin which he rubbed off his body was placed on one side in a pile, and by and by this pile became so large that he was annoyed and set himself to consider what he could do with it.

         Finally Melu decided to make the earth; so he worked very hard in putting the dead skin into shape, and when it was finished he was so pleased with it that he determined to make two beings like himself, though smaller, to live on it.

          Taking the remnants of the material left after making the earth he fashioned two men, but just as they were all finished except their noses, Tau Tana from below the earth appeared and wanted to help him.

        All went well until one day a great rain came, and the people on the earth nearly drowned from the water which ran off their heads into their noses. Melu, from his place on the clouds, saw their danger, and he came quickly to earth and saved their lives by turning their noses the other side up.

           Melu did not wish any assistance, and a great argument ensued. Tau Tana finally won his point and made the noses which he placed on the people upside down. When all was finished, Melu and Tau Tana whipped the forms until they moved. Then Melu went to his home above the clouds, and Tau Tana returned to his place below the earth. 

             The people were very grateful to him, and promised to do anything he should ask of them. Before he left for the sky, they told him that they were very unhappy living on the great earth all alone, so he told them to save all the hair from their heads and the dry skin from their bodies and the next time he came he would make them some companions. And in this way there came to be a great many people on the earth.

Pangu/ Panku

Photo not mine

The Story of Pangu:

           In the beginning, there was nothing in the universe except a formless chaos. This chaos coalesced into a cosmic egg for about 18,000 years. Within it, the perfectly opposed principles of Yin and Yang became balanced, and Pangu emerged (or woke up) from the egg. Pangu is usually depicted as a primitive, hairy giant who has horns on his head and wears fur. Pangu began creating the world: he separated Yin from Yang with a swing of his giant axe, creating the Earth (murky Yin) and the Sky (clear Yang). To keep them separated, Pangu stood between them and pushed up the Sky. With each day, the sky grew ten feet (3 meters) higher, the Earth ten feet thicker, and Pangu ten feet taller. This task took yet another 18,000 years.


            After the 18,000 years had elapsed, Pangu died. His breath became the wind, mist and clouds; his voice, thunder; his left eye, the sun; his right eye, the moon; his head, the mountains and extremes of the world; his blood, rivers; his muscles, fertile land; his facial hair, the stars and Milky Way; his fur, bushes and forests; his bones, valuable minerals; his bone marrow, sacred diamonds; his sweat, rain; and the fleas on his fur carried by the wind became animals.

The comparison of the two creation stories:

             
           In the Story of the Creation of Bilaan in Mindanao, it is comparable to the Chinese Mythology which is the Pangu. In the story Pangu, there was nothing in the universe except formless chaos and Pangu emerged from the egg. He was usually depicted as a primitive and a hairy giant. He then created the world by separating the Sky and Earth and stood for 18,000 years. He became weaker and died, and from his own body, there comes the wind, the thunder, the mountains and so the other elements of the earth especially the human which was created from his fleas. The story of Melu and Pangu are both indigenous and was developed by the ancestors, in which both are ancestral mythologies of the Chinese and the Bilaan people. In the story of Pangu, he was the first man who created heaven and earth, same as Melu who created the earth. Unlike Pangu, Melu created two beings like himself, though smaller to live on the earth which was created by him. He even saved the people and gave them other companions. In Pangu, he did not witnessed his own creation especially the humans living in the earth. Still he died leaving with great honor. We have different stories, regardless how we are created, it is very important that we preserved each stories that was created by our ancestors.