Nicko Coñales BSBA 1

Chryselle Lopez BSA 2

Danielle Hallasgo BSA 2

Jan Albert Manalo BSA 2

Francis Louie Lawas BSA 2

Gib Nomel Agbayani BSBA 1

Vahia Ralliza Dotarot BSA 2

Rhea Mae Dela Torre BSA 2

Julius Caesar Benhera BSA 2

Jade Marlowe Hidalgo BSA 2

Armaine Benabaye BSBA 1

Insight #1

The large island of Mindanao and all the smaller islands and islets to the south, including
the Sulu archipelago, are home to a diverse culture that cannot be adequately named.  For
convenience, the terms "the Philippine South" and "Southern Philippines" are sometimes
resorted to. The cultural diversity of the region is the result of a large influx of migrants from the
north over a long period of the region's history. Found here are three main cultural groups: the
early Filipinos who belong to various indigenous tribes living in the highlands and remote areas
of Mindanao, the Muslim Filipinos who were early converts to Islam and who regard the region
as their traditional homeland, and the Christian Filipinos who founded settlements and
communities in the course of their migrations from other parts of the country.

The indigenous cultural communities (ICC) in the Philippines or lumad are believed to
make up about ten percent of national population. Also known as cultural minorities, they have
been pushed to mountains and forests by lowlanders ever since towns and cities were built. Most
of the ICC do not possess money or private property which makes them to be discriminated and
gives difficulty on socializing on mainstream lands. With the destruction of the forests as well as
the efforts of turning them into Christians, the ICC struggle to protect their ancestral domain and
cultural identity.

Corazon Aquino enacted Republic Act 6734 to distinguish Moro from Christians in the
visayan term "native". Lumads are non-Muslim and non-Christian although their cultural
development appears to be toward the Muslim group. Also, based on the statement of Felipe
Landa Jocano, "language is the only differentiating element in ethnic cultures, particularly
among those which accoupy adjacent and contagious territory.

The most spoken language is the Manobo Family language, except the Blaan, T'boli, and
Teruday. The Cotabato Manobo is a group that has traditionally lived in the southwest highlands
of Mindanao.The Bagobos are a group that live in a very mountainous region of Mindanao
between upper the Pilangi and Davao rivers. The Bilaanor B'laan is a group that lives in south
central Mindanao. The Bukidnon is a group that lives in the highlands of of north-central
Mindanao. The Mandaya are an animist ethnic group that lives along the Mayo river. The T'boli
also pronouced as (Tiboli) are the people that lived in the southern part of the province of
Cotabato, in the area around lake Sebu, west of the city of General Santos.

Much of their land has been bought by multinationals and Filipino entrepreneurs.
Nevertheless, the Lumad people continue their struggle to defend their lands and culture. We met
Bai Ellen Manlimambaas, leader of the Matigsalog tribe, one of the Lumad groups in the
Mindanao island. According to her , “We live peaceful and free. We respect the earth, the
mountains, and the rivers. They give us our food, our shelter, and our medicine. Our land is our
life”. Bai Ellen, 55, is a leader of the Matigsalog tribe in the island of Mindanao. As a tribal
leader, she has been at the forefront of the Lumad and rural people’s struggle for resources, land,
and the right to self-determination. For actively defending the environment and her people’s
rights, Bai Ellen also lives under constant threat.

The Muslim cultural communities in Mindanao may be classified into thirteen (13) major
ethno-linguistic groups. These are the: Jama Mapuns of Cagayan de Tawi-Tawi; the Iranons of
Cotabato; the Kaagans of Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur and Davao Oriental; the Kalibugans of
Zamboanga; the Maguindanaos of Maguindanao; the Maranaos of Marawi; the Palawanons and
Molbogs of Palawan; the Samas of Tawi-Tawi; the Sangils of Sarangani; the Tausugs of Sulu;
the Yakans of Basilan, and the Bangingis of Tongkil and Zamboanga.

       The Iranon, Kaagan, Kalibugan, Maranao and Maguindanao live in mainland Mindanao. The
rest of the Muslim cultural communities such as the Jama Mapun, Palawanon, Molbog, Sama,
Sangil, Tausug, and the Yakan reside in the island provinces, except for the Bangingis, who can
be found both in mainland Mindanao, that is, in Zamboanga and in Tongkil, which is an island
municipality of the province of Sulu.

Muslims are people who have professed belief in Islam. As believers, they worship the
One God and revere Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him (pbuh), as the last messenger of
God. Additionally, they also believe in all the prophets which preceded Prophet Muhammad
(pbuh) and the holy books which they brought, such as the Psalms, Torah, and the Gospel. A
fundamental article of faith in Islam is belief in the Day of Judgement, when all humanity will be
recompensed for their deeds in this world. Muslims believe in angels, as well as in
predestination.

According to Mr Mojib a Muslim on his thoughts about thee importance of culture

“Preservation of social and personal identity keeps people understand and identify each other
more and more. We need youth understand their cultural heritage in order to  discover their
identity. Among the essential human heritage, history stands corner stone of presenting the
beautiful past in order to build best future. Nations share many historical values which help their
relationship remain in positive attitude.” He added “We must stop treating diversity as a
hindrance, for it should be exactly the opposite. Rather, an ethics based on our common
citizenship must be forged from a serious and profound engagement with the meaning of our
common humanity”

But despite the differences of these two groups, there has always been a commonality
among the inhabitants, whatever their origin, that in time allowed them to identify their interests
with those of the nation.  This kindred feeling, this commonality of interests, served to pull
together the indigenous, the Islamized, and the Christianized traditions into a single Southern
Philippine culture that transcends the momentary conflicts.