Phil.
Indigenous - Parman
Tagbanua & Tau’t Batu
Tagbanua
The name "Tagbanwa" literally means "people from our place".
"Banwa" means country or place. The Tagbanuas share a
remarkably similar social and cultural heritage with the coastal
peoples.
They are brown-skinned, slim and straight haired ethnic group
1. Ancestral Domain
Inhabits the eastern and western coastal areas of central Palawan Island, living
largely within the municipalities of Aborlan, Quezon, and Puerto Princesa. They
are also found in Coron Island, north of Palawan, Busuanga Island and Baras
coast. The estimated total population is 129,691.
2. Language
They speak the Palawano language and several dialects like Tandulanon,
Silanganon, and Baras in each locality.
3. Religion
They maintain their own spiritual religion and devotion to their deities through
ritual, dance, and music.
The Tagbanuas believe in a supreme being called "Magindusa" who is the creator
of heavens and the earth.
The Tagbanua's religious leader also functions as a healer of the community and
is called "babaylan".
4. Culture
The basic social unit of the Tagbanua is their nuclear family. They are
monogamous.
They dress just like the non-tribe lowlanders but some elder men prefer to use G-
string for comfort while filling the field or fishing.
Known for a rice wine ritual called Pagdiwata.
The highest potential source of income for the Tagbanuas are handicrafts
particularly woodworking, mat-making, and basketry.
5. Governance
Tagbanua society is composed of autonomous villages recognizing an ethnic
leader, the Masikampu. Ginu'u, community leaders, possess titles bestowed
centuries ago by the Tausug rulers of Sulu and handed down father to son.
Villages are integrated into the national system of local administration via elected
barangay captains and councils.
Tau’t Batu
The Tau’t Batu or Taw Batu means “people of the rock”. They were found by a study team still
residing in their cave homes although others had already moved out to the open slopes.
1. Ancestral Domain
They occupy the Singnapan Basin, a bowl shaped valley situated In the
southwestern part of Palawan, bounded by Mt. Mantalingajan on the east and a
coastal terrain on the west. On the north lies the municipality of Quezon and on
the south, the deeper hinterlands of southern Palawan, which are still unexplored.
The entire population of the Tau’t Batu as July 2005 is 286 individuals from 66
households.
2. Language
Their primary language is Southwest Palawano
3. Culture
They are primitive in their life-style, even in the way of dressing. The men still
wears G-strings made of bark and cloth and the women wear a piece of cloth
made into skirts to cover the lower body.
The Tau’t Batu craftsmanship is cruder compared with other Palawan group,
except in exceptional cases involving basketry.
There are two musical instruments known, the Kubing and Kudlong
They are swidden cultivators, practicing multiple cropping with cassava as the
major source of carbohydrate.
They also indulge in sambi or barter and dagang or monetary exchange
The basic social unit among the Tau’t Batu of Singnapan is the ka-asawan
marriage group.
The ka-asawahan or household units are further grouped into larger associations
called bulun-bulun which literally means gathering.
4. Religion
They follow an animist religion steeped in spirit beliefs.
5. Governance
The Tau’t Batu are egalitarian, but incipient ranking and leadership development
are discernable.
