- A distinct presentation of the diverse culture that makes up the unique and majestic composition of the inhabitants of these Provinces that called itself the Zamboanga Peninsula.

3. The Subanens are considered the
aborigines of Zamboanga migrating
from Indonesia around 2000 to 6000
years ago, settling in the area before
the Spaniards occupied it. They speak the Subanon
langauage. The name Subanen generally means “people
of the river”. They are primarily engaged in agriculture
and cultivation of crops in which they are good at, they
also raise livestock such as chicken, pigs and cattles.
The tribe has no religion and are animist, although
some subgroup converted to Islam and called
themselves “Kolibugan”.

4. The tribe believed in a supreme deity called
“Diwata Migbebaya” They believed in spirits who
are a part of nature. The “Balian” is the tribes
shaman occupies a very special place in Subanen
religious and social life. Subanen society is
patriarchal, with the family as the basic government
unit. There is no political heirarchy in the village
level, as in the datu system of government. Timuay
is the traditional title for the communal leader who
is also the chief arbiter of conflict between families
of a community. As peaceful people of the hills, the
Subanen lack warlike tribes, although war and ritual
dances are performed on special occasions, such as
weddings.

5. An ethnic group living primarily on
Basilan Island but also on Sacol,
Malanipa, and Tumalutab islands, all
off the southern tip of the
Zamboanga Peninsula, Smaller groups of Yakan live
elsewhere in the Philippines—particularly on the island
of Mindanao—as well as in Sabah, East Malaysia. The
Yakan speak an Austronesian, written either in Malay
Arabic or in Latin script, that is related to those of
northern Borneo. They are among the Muslim peoples
collectively identified as Moro.

6. The Yakan are mainly inland-dwelling
agriculturalists. Rice is their principal food crop,
and historically they were suppliers of rice to the
Tausug, the Samal, and other coastal (or
maritime) peoples of the region. Although the
Yakan are decidedly Muslim, their practice of the
religion is uniquely colored with local tradition.
Women and men, for instance, are not so starkly
separated, and veils for women are uncommon.
Weddings, moreover, frequently take place twice:
once according to Muslim practice, and once
according to Yakan tradition.

7. In the past, The Tausug people
were boisterous pirates that infested
the waters of Sulu Sea, but today
make a living in agriculture raising
water buffaloes and fishing. They are one of the largest of
the Muslim (sometimes called Moro) ethnic groups of the
southwestern Philippines. They are considered to be the
most politically dominant group in the Sulu Archipelago,
and are dispersed among several communities in Jolo,
Basilan, Tawi-Tawi and Southern Palawan. They have a
rich culture and foreign influence that dates back as early
as the 13th century.

8. When Sulu was trading with China, India, the East
Indies, Arabia and Japan. The formed the Sultanate of
Sulu in the 15th century. Jolo, which has been the seat of
power, is predominantly Tausug. Land is traditionally
owned by the clan and controlled by local leaders
known as datus. The customs of marriage and the
family follow Muslim tradition. Kinship solidarity is
very strong among the Tausug, and married children
often live near—or in the same household with—the
parents of the husband. The language of the Tausug,
like those of most Muslim groups of the Philippines, is
closely related to the languages of the central
Philippines, which belong to the Austronesian (Malayo-
Polynesian) language family.

9. The tribe are widely known as the
“Sea Gypsies” of the Sulu and
Celebes seas, The Badjao are
scattered along the coastal areas of
Tawi -Tawi, Sulu, Basilan and some coastal municipalities
in Zamboanga del Sur. Presently, about 2/3 of Tawi-Tawi
Badjaos still use boats as permanent living quarters, some
of their villages are flotillas. Among Themselves they’re
known as “SAMA LAUS (Sea Sama)”, they are expert
fishermen, deep sea divers and navigators. They make
frequent trips to shore to barter their goods for farmed
products, replenish their supplies and repair their

10. The Sama indigenous group in the
Davao gulf are often times mistaken to
have originated from Mandaya,
Mansaka and Muslim groups. The
tribe however insists that they are a separate group with a
distinct forms of music, art expression and tribal rituals.
Individuals are named after living things around them, each
name is completed with the term Samal which served as their
family name. It is therefore easy to identify tribe members
among other indigenous groups in neighboring islands. The
Sama tribe originally practiced animism, it was altered in the
18th century along with the onset of Christianization in the
area. Tribe members were baptized.

11. .Gradually they begin adopting Spanish names, their
indigenous names slowly disappeared. Ancient Sama
tribes believed in anito or spirits. Rituals of
panawagtawag or prayers asking for the anito’s
intervention are performed only by the balyan, usually
through dancing. When a man decided to marry a woman,
his parents gives the bride-to-be a dowry, such as sleeping
mats, mosquito net and clothing. The wedding ritual is
performed by the balyan and offerings for the spirits are
prepared. The datu served as the judge and prosecutor of
the tribe. The ancient Sama house is called tambobong,
made up of rounded timbers for posts, anahaw leaves and
lumbia for roofing, rattan strips for fastening joints,
lawaan for walling and patikan for flooring.

12. In 1569 Zamboanga was chosen as the site of
Spanish settlement and garrison on La Caldera.
Zamboanga City was one of the main
strongholds in Mindanao, supporting
colonizing
efforts in the south of the island and making
way
for Christian settlements. In 1599, troops of
Visayan soldiers along with the Spaniards
reached the shores of Zamboanga to help bring
peace into the island from Moro pirates. In 1635, Visayan laborers
were brought in and settled in Zamboanga to help construct Fort San
Jose (Fort Pilar). These influx of Visayan migrants and settlements
helped diversify the population bringing Catholicism and Visayan

14. According to the Philippine Statistics
Authority (PSA) in a survey done last
2015, the dominant religion in the
Zamboanga Peninsula is Roman
Catholicism with 2,352,626 adherents to
the religion, followed by Islam with
603,289 adherents followed by Other
Religious affiliations of 410,190
adherents, Iglesia ni Cristo with 53,291
adherents and those with no definite
religion stated is of 7,219 individuals.

15.  SUBANENS – Cosmogony exemplifies the basic
duality of mortal life and spiritual realm, with a
complex system of interrelationships between these
two cosmic elements. The physical world is
inhabited by the kilawan and the nonmaterial realm
is inhabited by the kanagkilawan.
 YAKAN – There is a belief in various spirits, some
of whom may sometimes attack people. There is
also a belief in a special devil who may attack and
torture people during the second month of the year,
a bathing ritual is performed on three successive
Wednesdays of that month.

16.  TAUSUG – Their world is full of environmental
spirits inhabiting nature especially rocks and trees.
These spirits cause sickness or good fortune, may
cause human suffering. These spirits are the saytan
(evil) and jinn (unseen creatures. Some saytan have
names, like balbalan (mananggal), a flying
creature that eats the liver of corpses.
 BADJAO – Believes in indigenous Badjao’s
recognition of their master and having wisdom is
the most beautiful way of having a good life. They
believed that the spirits of the dead are kept in a
grave by the Shaaban and are allowed to come
back to our world.

17. They believe in communicating with the dead and
of the living through ritual ceremonies , worships
and exorcism. As a welcome, people are cleaning
graves and conduct prayers. A ritual in tribe
acceptance involves a Badjao throwing a newborn
in the deep-sea and re-ascent as a new and older
man.
 SAMA – They believe that the spirits of the dead
are ought to remain in their individual graves,
requiring expressions of continued concern from
the living. Some graves are even believed to have
possessed miracle working powers.

18.  CEBUANO – During labor, pomelo leaves are placed
under the house to ward off evil spirits, family
members will burn dried leaves and roots so that the
smoke will free the mother from the painful labor
pains. When somebody dies people should not sweep
the floor it might cause death to other members of the
family. When someone gets sick it is due to their
naughtiness or carelessness and they are punished by
fairies, an herbolario is called to perform a healing
ceremony. When a star is close to the moon, it is
believed that it is a proper time to court a lady. The
man’s proposal will readily be accepted. When the
skies are filled with thousands of stars, it is the best
time to plant for it will bring a fruitful and bountiful
harvest.

19. SIBUG-SIBUG FESTIVAL (ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY) FEBRUARY 26
“CELEBRATING THE BOUNTY OF THE LAND AND SEA”

20. PASALAMAT FESTIVAL (PAGADIAN CITY) JANUARY 17
“CELEBRATING SR. STO. NIÑO”

21. HUDYAKA FESTIVAL (DIPOLOG CITY) MAY 30 – JUNE 9
“THE REVELRY FESTIVAL – SR. STO. NIÑO”

22. PAGSALABUK FESTIVAL (DIPOLOG CITY) 3RD SUNDAY OF MAY
“HIGHLIGHTING SUBANEN CULTURE”

23. HERMOSA FESTIVAL (ZAMBOANGA CITY) OCTOBER 12
“HONORING NUESTRA SEÑORA DEL PILAR”

24. MEGAYON FESTIVAL (ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR) SEPT 27-30
“THE UNITY FESTIVAL ”

25. BUKLOG FESTIVAL (ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR)
“SUBANEN RELIGIOUS RITES”

26.  www.ethnicgroupphilippines .com
 Encyclopaedia Brittanica 2015
 Elviajerodezambo.blogspot.com
 PIA Western Mindanao
 Piazampen.blogspot.com
 Lakad Pilipinas
 www.pna.gov.ph
 Flickriver
 Pinoy Adventurista
 Allaboutfiesta.wordpress.com
 www.wikipedia.com
 Slideshare.net/chris’Simply
 Joshuaproject.net
- Credit goes to all the original owners of the photographs used in this presentation.

27. Thank you for
viewing….
Please like and
share….