MANOBO
PEOPLE OF NORTHEASTERN COTABATO
The name Manobo is derived from the combination word of " Mansuba" from man (people) and suba (river) or river people. They can be found at river valleys at northeastern part of Cotabato but from the past they lived in northern Mindanao. They are probably one of the most largest ethnic groups here in the Philippines. The origins of Manobo are from early Malay people from the islands of Southeast Asia. Manobo are also located in Agusan, Bukidnon, Cotabato, Davao, Misamis Oriental, and Surigao Del Sur.
Usually, they only build four to twelve houses in their community and some build their houses near on the rivers, small bodies of forest like hillsides or valleys. They spoke many different languages and dialects making it very difficult to write, communicate and speak their language to outsiders or tourists.Manobo is a very large ethnic group, it includes : the Cotabato Manobo, Agusan Manobo, Dibabawon Manobo, Matig Salug Manobo, Sarangani Manobo, Manobo of Western Bukidnon, Obo Manobo, and Tagabawa Manobo. The Bagobo are the largest subgroups of Manobo tribe. About religion, they also believe to many unseen spirits just like other ethnic groups. Spirits have a factor in helping them to achieve and get their desires. Some of the Manobo have been separated from their beliefs but the influence of their past remains. Believing that there is a good spirit and evil spirit. The ruler of Manobo groups are called Sultan carried by the men. Sultan is the head of the group and under him are called royal and non-royal classes.
Their agriculture techniques are still primitive. Some indigenous people already evolve and learn techniques in crop rotating, animal and farm techniques. Not everyone uses primitive techniques like kaingin or slash and burn where they use fire to burn the trees and get the wood they need, some of them learned plowing techniques. Rice culture is crucial for the Manobo that they have several varieties of rice in their culture and agriculture rituals revolves around it. Manobo tribe is rich in indigenous knowledge about traditional plants and medicinal leaves in their plant resources. Knowing the importance of indigenous knowledge is necessary because they are based on the experience of their ancestors and sometimes their techniques are more effective. Some great and ritual plants like Areca catechu L., and Nicotania tabacum L. are protected by Manobo community.
Manobo ancestors wore abaca fiber blankets called linetungan if they were multicolored and bayas if they were exactly plain white. The traditional fabric that they use for clothes is abaca and weaved by the ikat pattern. Usually, the color of their clothes are combination of red, yellow, green, black, blue and white. The jacket for both men and women, the Agusanon Umpak o Illianon Kumbala is closed and worn over the head. Manobo men have two different kinds of trouser: for working and for festival events. The Manobo Literary arts also have atukon, riddles, proverb, fables, myths and legends. They addressed to the God their narrative poems believing that their spiritual beliefs affects their resources and desires.
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