Figure 1.--Here we see young Bontoc girls caring for babies. The Bontoc/Bontok group lived in the central and eastern portions of Mountain Province, in central Luzon. There were various subgroups like Natonin and Paracelis who identify as Balangaos, Gaddangs or Kalingas. Linguists and anthropologists use the Bontoc language to identify the group. They were known for head-hunting and distinctive body tattooing. The AZO stamp box dates this coomrcial postcard to the inter-War era (1920s-30s).

The Philippines population includes a large number of consist of indigenous tribal peoples. There are 150 such indigenous ethnic groups, some very small. More than half are unique linguistic groups. The highland tribal groups tended to avoid contact with both the lowlanders and Spanish colonizers when they arrived, but this varied from tribe to tribe. Their more limited technology is why they became higlanders, driven from the more productive lowlands. Today the the distinctive tribal cultures and languages are declining. Intermarriage and increasing cultural contact has meant that they are being increasingly assimilated. While the are a substantial number of tribes, the account for only about 3 percent of the Filipino population. The tribal peoples are not a distinct ethnic group, but shares origins with the same people who inhabited the Philippines when the Spanish arrived (16th century). They are cultural/linguistic group as they resisted Spanish cultural assimilation and in the isolated highlands were more successfully than the lowlanders. They became known as highland/mountain people as they retreated into the rugged interior of the islands that were of little interest to the Spanish. Even before the Spanish invasion, cultural differences began to develop between the highland and lowland people. During the centuries of Spanish occupation, the tribal people fought to resist Spanish culture, including the Spanish language and Christianity and thus retained their customs and traditions. The rugged terrain they inhabited made their communities inaccessible without a major, costly effort with little return which discouraged the Spanish. Thus there was limited contact, although this varied from tribe to tribe. The major tribes include the Negrito (Luzon and Leyte), Igorot (Luzon), Mangyan (Mindoro), Palawan tribes, Panay (Ati and other Panay tribes), Negros (Ati and Panay tribes), and Mindanao (Lumad and Bajau). Many of these major tribes are collectives of small tribes which until the arrival of the Spanish did not consider themselves to be related peoples. Relations with the Spanish were often hostile. The situation changed with arrival of the Americans who pursued a more enlightened policy with the tribal people. As a result many such as the Igorot resisted the Japanese when they invaded (1942). They supported guerilla groups and aided the American forces liberating the Philippines (1944-45). The Japanese after the American invasion withdrew into Luzon's northern and central mountain territory for the same reason the tribal people had done. This was homeland of the Igorot. While driven back, the Japanese under Gen. Tomoyuki Yamashita managed to hold out until the end of the war.

Numbers

Origin

The highland tribal groups tended to avoid contact with both the lowlanders and Spanish colonizers when they arrived, but this varied from tribe to tribe. Their more limited technology is why they became higlanders, driven from the more productive lowlands. The otigins of the tribal people thus provide clues about the migratory patterns in prehistoric tribes and te peopoling of Oceania. Some clues could be worked outbthrough lingustic studies, but SNA reserach can provide real solid evidence.

Assimilation

Today the the distinctive tribal cultures and languages are declining. Intermarriage and increasing cultural contact has meant that they are being increasingly assimilated.

Ethnicity

The tribal peoples are not a distinct ethnic group, but shares origins with the same people who inhabited the Philippines when the Spanish arrived (16th century). They are cultural/linguistic group as they resisted Spanish cultural assimilation and in the isolated highlands were more successfully than the lowlanders.

History

These indigenous pwoople became known as highland/mountain people as over time they retreated into the rugged interior of the islands, And as a result, were of little interest to the Spanish. Even before the Spanish invasion, cultural differences began to develop between the highland and lowland people. During the centuries of Spanish occupation, the tribal people fought to resist Spanish culture, including the Spanish language and Christianity and thus retained their customs and traditions. The rugged terrain they inhabited made their communities inaccessible without a major, costly effort with little return which discouraged the Spanish. Thus there was limited contact, although this varied from tribe to tribe. Relations with the Spanish were often hostile. The situation changed with arrival of the Americans who pursued a more enlightened policy with the tribal people. As a result many such as the Igorot resisted the Japanese when they invaded (1942). They supported guerilla groups and aided the American forces liberating the Philippines (1944-45). The Japanese after the American invasion withdrew into Luzon's northern and central mountain territory for the same reason the tribal people had done. This was homeland of the Igorot. While driven back, the Japanese forces under Gen. Tomoyuki Yamashita managed to hold out until the end of the war.

Diversity

The Philippines is a large sprawling Archepelago. This different tibal groups developed on the various islands. Thre are avout ten major tribal grouos. The major tribes include the Negrito (Luzon and Leyte), Igorot (Luzon), Mangyan (Mindoro), Palawan tribes, Panay (Ati and other Panay tribes), Negros (Ati and Panay tribes), and Mindanao (Lumad and Bajau). These major tribeal groupings are collectives of many much smaller tribes. Thus the total number if tribes is about 150. Until the arrival of the Spanish these tribes ofen did not commonly consider themselves to be related peoples. And there was sometimes violent intra-tribal conflit. It is only in modern times that tribal realtiins have been discovered, primarily through linguistic studies. Of course DNA analysis opens up new methods to study these relations. In more pratical terms, threats from the larger Filipino society has encouraged the various tribal groups to band together to protect their rights.

Created: 3:36 AM 5/18/2022
Last updated: 2:04 AM 8/23/2024