UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MINDANAO

YAKAN TRIBE
 UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MINDANAO

TRIBE HISTORICAL
BACKGROUND
 HISTORY

The Yakan are likely the first occupants of Basilan,

and m ay o nc e hav e o cc u pie d the e ntir e i s l a n d .
Afterwards, the coastal regions were involved by Sama
and Tausug from the Sulu Islands and, more as of late, a
few Christian Filipino settled not distant from the coast,
where they built up rubber and coconut ranches. The
sultan of Sulu once claimed Basilan’s northwest coast in
1842.

Insert Running Title 3

 HISTORY

• Muslim ethnic groups of Basilan Island of ARMM.

• The term Yakan is a mispronunciation of the word
yakal by the Spaniards.
• Foreign people often mistook the name of the yakal
trees as the native identity.
• The word “YAKAN” means “DAYAK ORIGIN”.
• The yakans speaks the dialect of “SAMA” language.

Insert Running Title 4

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MINDANAO

SIGNIFICANT
EVENTS
 LAMI-LAMIHAN FESTIVAL
L a m i - l a m i h a n i s a
festival celebration that is held
yearly in Lamitan. It could be
a celebration coinciding with the
foundation of Lamitan District.
This celebration could be
a basic grandstand to
t h e c o n v e n t i o n a l Ya k a n
a wealthy traditions and convention
s where music and moves,
and creates are protected. At
this celebration, individuals are
d r e s s e d i n
c o lo r f ul e n s e m b l e s t o t a ke a n
interest in horse races, parades, and
other activities. Insert Running Title 6
 PAGKAWIN (YAKAN
TRADITIONAL WEDDING)
• The groom’s entourage follows and accompanied by the
brave warriors who would dance the tumahik, as an
essential undertaking of the groom before he is allowed to
go upstairs the house of the bride and accepted by the
bride’s parents.
• As soon as the groom;s entourage arrives at the bride’s
house, he is asked to be seated on a chair or await for the
imam to hand him the spear and shield.
• In typical Yakan wedding, Pegkawin, the tumahik, is
symbolically performed by the “pamansak lella” (groom), as
he, the imam, and his relatives approach the house of the
bride where the wedding ceremony usually takes place.
Insert Running Title 7
 TENNUN (WEAVING)

• R e m a r k a b l e
technicolor geometric
weaves.
• Traditionally used as
garments.
• Inspiration for the
designs came from
the island living &
Islamic sacred
geometry

Insert Running Title 8

 TANYAK-TANYAK
(FACIAL ART)
• Face painting
• Worn only for
wedding ceremonies
• The patterns are
circles, spots, and
diamond that is
printed on the face
with the use of
bamboo implement.

Insert Running Title 9

 UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MINDANAO

ATTIRES AND
ACCESSORIES USED
OF THE YAKAN TRIBE
 ATTIRES Pis

Pis
§ Pis - is a headpiece worn by the
m a l e Ya k a n s t o s i g n i f y t h e i r
bravery.
§ Lapis Badju Pote – a white top Batawi Lapis Badju
that has a collar. Pote

§ Batawi - It is a tight-fitting sleeves

and is decorated with gold buttons.
§ Badju Pagalbatu Lellah - upper Kandit
garments
§ Kandit - is a long piece of cloth tied Badju
around the waist by the Yakans. Pagalbatu
Sawal Peyat Lellah
§ Jambu - are tassels attached to the
Jambu
sawal
§ Sawal Peyat - are the slim-fitting
pants/trousers of the Yakans.
Insert Running Title 11
Pangsak Attire

Pis is Men’s headpiece/scarf

weaved for daily use or
special occasions (left to
right)

§ Pis Pangantin -groom

§ Pis Ilalik - with design
§ Pis Abahi - elders
§ Pis Kasubulan -teens,
and young adults

Insert Running Title 12

 ATTIRES
§ Saputangan - most commonly Saputangan
used as a headscarf,
- the Saputangan also
functions as a sash or waistband.
Badju
§ L a m b u n g – I t i s “ B a d j u ” f o r Lambung Pagalbatu
women that are usually worn with
a white short sleeved blouse with Saputangan
huge collar.
§ Badju Pagalbatu – Upper
garments
§ Pinalantupan – It is a type of skirt Jambu
is layered over the trousers.
§ Jambu - are tassels attached to Sawal peyat
the sawal
§ Sawal Peyat - are the slim-fitting
pants/trousers of the Yakans.
Insert Running Title 13
ACCESORIES
Left to Right
• Tempeng Pangantin (left) with
moon shaped headpiece
• hibulan (Center)
• the most commonly used the
Simbong Pangantin (right)
headpiece wrapped on the
brides bun in style called
simbongan with dublun (coins)
and sugley (comb) decorated
with mussa (various colored
gems)

Insert Running Title 14

 ACCESORIES

• Ornaments such as necklace may be worn

as charms.
• Crocodile tooth polished with a hole at the
base.
• Yakans wear amulet against bullets
• Belts that are made of snake bones.
• Yakans wear manik tegiyas and manik
sembulan (necklace/bracelets).
• Yakans wear anting-anting.

Insert Running Title 15

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MINDANAO

DANCES OF THE
TRIBE
 WAR DANCE
TUMAHIK
v The Tum a h i k i s a mo c k w a r
dance performed by the males of
t h e Ya k a n t r i b e i n o r d e r t o
practice their fighting skills. The
movements, common among
Southeast Asian martial arts,
include traveling on the knees,
tumbling, and high kicking.
v Tumahik is a Yakan war dance
that shows off the performers’
virtuosity. The festival features
parades; dance and native
costume contests participated by
the barangay; a Yakan oratorical
and poetry competition that
highlights the tribe’s oral
tradition. Insert Running Title 17
 ATTIRES

• Fluttering their arms and shutting to native percussion, men and

women in brass-buttoned shirts, loose trousers, sashes,
overskirts and headgear formed colorful formations in the streets.
• Men jumped with spears and shields to show their virility, while the
women swayed with their patterned malong and baskets.
• Jewelry - The women wear a variety of jewelry, including necklaces,
bracelets, and earrings, often made from beads, shells, and other
natural materials.
• Sash - The men wear a colorful sash or bandana around their waist
that complements their traditional clothing.
• Sarong - The Yakan women wear a colorful and intricately woven
sarong or malong, a traditional tubular cloth that is wrapped
around the waist and draped over one shoulder.
Insert Running Title 18
 ATTIRES

• Blouse - The women also wear a blouse made of light and airy
fabric that is usually decorated with intricate embroidery and lace.
• Headscarf - The Yakan women wear a headscarf, which is also
made of intricately woven fabric and is draped over the head and
shoulders.
• These fabrics come from pineapple and abaca fibers that are
colored by herbal dyes. The Yakans maintain centuries-old
tradition of hand loom, which is handed down from generation to
generation. Each work is a labor of patience and love. This is why
it takes five days to produce only one meter. The results are
stunning, nonetheless. No Yakan fabric design is duplicated, as
there will be variations in lines and colors. Each design is culled
from the weaver’s memory or mood.
Insert Running Title 19
 PRAYER DANCE
TAHING BAILA
v Tahing – fish; Baila – dance. A
dance depicting fish moving in
the frantic waves of the ocean.
v The Tahing Baila is a Yakan
dance in which the motions of
fish are mimicked. It is a low
land tribal Philippine Folk dance.
v Often called the “Fishermen’s
Supplication dance”
v Dance imitates the movements
of fish and implores the goodwill
of “household gods” to ensure a
good catch
v Tahing baila is a Prayer dance
Insert Running Title 20
 ATTIRES

 Blouse - The women also wear a blouse made of light and airy
fabric that is usually decorated with intricate embroidery and lace.
 Headscarf - The Yakan women wear a headscarf, which is also made
of intricately woven fabric and is draped over the head and
shoulders.
 Jewelry - The women wear a variety of jewelry, including necklaces,
bracelets, and earrings, often made from beads, shells, and other
natural materials.
 Sarong - The Yakan women wear a colorful and intricately woven
sarong or malong, a traditional tubular cloth that is wrapped around
the waist and draped over one shoulder.

Insert Running Title 21

TAHING BAILA

Insert Running Title 22

 PRE-NUPTIAL DANCE

PAUNJALAY
The bride and
groom perform this
before the wedding
ceremony with their faces
dotted with white paint to
mask their identities from
evil spirits.

Insert Running Title 23

 WEDDING DANCE

PANGSAK
Involves a man and
his wife performing
complicated hand and foot
movements while their
faces are painted white to
hide their identity from evil
spirits.
PAMANSAK LELLA
( m a l e ) o r PA M A N S A K
DENDE (female) if
performed individually.
Insert Running Title 24
 WEDDING DANCE

PA M A N S A K
LELLA (male) or
PAMANSAK DENDE
(female) if performed
individually.

Insert Running Title 25

 ATTIRES

• Badju Pahalang – it is a
long,flowing skirt
• Badju Itapi – a loose – fitting
blouse
• Tapi – a colorful headscarf

Insert Running Title 26

 WEDDING DANCE
PINDULAS
v Pindulas refers to the Yakan
newlyweds dance.
Movements are similar to the
Pangalay of the Tausug tribe.
Pindulas is performed during
the Pangsat (or wedding).
v The dance is typically
performed during weddings
and other celebrations, and
i s a cc o m p a n i e d b y m u s i c
played on traditional
instruments such as the
kwintangan and agung.
Insert Running Title 27
 ATTIRES

• Baju - This is a traditional Yakan shirt or tunic that is made from colorful and
intricately woven fabric.

• Samping - This is a type of skirt or sarong that is wrapped around the waist
and secured with a belt or sash.

• Headscarf - Women usually wear a headscarf or hijab as part of their attire

during the Pindulas dance.

• Accessories - Both men and women may wear accessories such as necklaces,
bracelets, and earrings that are made from traditional Yakan materials such
as beads, shells, and silver.

• Turban - Some men may also wear a turban or head wrap as part of their
attire, which is also made from colorful and patterned fabric.

Insert Running Title 28

 WEDDING DANCE

PANSAK SI KARENDEHAN
v The Yakan of Lami tan ha v e a
v a r i a n t c a l l e d PA N S A K S I
KARENDEHAN or dance of the
maidens. This variant is an all-
female dance exhibiting languid
arm and hand gestures of the
pangalay.
v The dance is performed during
special occasion, such as weddings
and religious festivals.
v The dance movements are inspired
by the movements of birds, bees,
and other creatures found in their Insert Running Title 29
environment.
 ATTIRES

• Baju Ta'wisa - This is a traditional Yakan dress worn by women. It is

made of handwoven fabric and features colorful geometric patterns.
The dress is usually worn with a matching headscarf called a "tapi."

• Sinina - This is a traditional Yakan shirt worn by men. It is also made

of handwoven fabric and features colorful patterns. The shirt is
usually worn with a matching headgear called a "sawal."

• Sablay - This is a traditional Yakan shawl that can be worn by both

men and women. It is made of handwoven fabric and features
colorful patterns.

• Landap - This is a traditional Yakan skirt worn by women. It is made

of handwoven fabric and features colorful patterns.
Insert Running Title 30
 PANGSAK SI LALEY
• The dance is performed by females on top
of seven porcelain plates during festivals.
“Laley,” in Yakan, literally means
“plates”.The plates stand for the 7 days of
the week, of which 3 are unfavorable for
planting and not to be stepped on.In the
past, the plates are believed to be
footstools of the mythical seven sky
maidens or “Biradalli”.
• The dance shows the lady’s skill in balancing and
gracefulness while going through the motions of the
dance exhibiting languid and intricate footwork stances
symbolic of the age-old practices of the traditional cycle of
rice production to their belief and tradition. Insert Running Title 31
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FE6TD9PGNkY

Insert Running Title 32

 PANSAK SI BANGKU

• A male dance on top of a bench which may be

performed solo or group of 7 boys. The Yakans would use
their feet to separate the rice grains from its stalks and
peel off its skin, depicting the traditional manner of
milling and threshing palay with bare feet. This is also a
dance culture of Highland Muslims.
• The dance is usually performed under a moonlit night
when the “tuntungan”, a log drum, 2 meters long with
two ends, one elongated and the other notched. The
Yakans celebrate this feast as a sign of thanksgiving to the
spirits who answered the farmer’s wish for a bountiful
harvest.
Insert Running Title 33
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1GGTeXxHhg

Insert Running Title 34

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MINDANAO

MUSICAL
INSTRUMENTS
KWINTANGAN

Ø an instrument of five to seven bossed

gongs laid in a row, are used for
courtship and celebrations.
Ø kwintangan is basically to produce
the effect of several layers of drones
(nerwe) and melodies (kajah)
through the use of interlocking
rhythms in an aggressive rapid
tempo.
Ø This is why the Yakan kwintangan is
played at high speeds, virtuoso
playing and demands for very supple
wrists and an alert mind.
Insert Running Title 36
KWINTANGAN KAYU
Ø consists of five wooden logs
hung horizontally under a tree
near a rice field.
Ø this instrument is used to
serenade the palay (rice) plants
from the seedling stage until the
time of harvest.
Ø The Yakans believe that the
resonated sounds of the
instrument caress the palay
plants in their sleep,
encouraging them to yield more
fruit.
Insert Running Title 37
GABBANG
Ø a bamboo xylophone with six
bamboo blades resting on a
wooden box resonator.
Ø It is often used for entertainment
and is a practice instrument
among the young preparing to
learn the kwintangan. The concept
of producing music and techniques
for playing both the kwintangan
kayu and the gabbang are
essentially the same as that of the
kwintangan.
Insert Running Title 38
AGUNG

Ø a wide-rimmed bossed
gong,
Ø Is used for making
i m p o r t a n t
announcements and
providing music in
connection with social
negotiations, events,
celebrations, and the life
cycle.
Insert Running Title 39
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MINDANAO

THANK YOU
 REFERENCE
https://travelauthenticphilippines.com/textile-tribes-of-the-philippines-the-yakan-weaving-
weddings-and-wears/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yakan_people

http://www.cebu-philippines.net/traditional-filipino-clothes.html

https://www.yodisphere.com/2022/09/Yakan-Tribe-Cult.html

https://www.parangal.org/yakan

https://youtu.be/WfGTGsix21Y

https://youtu.be/mOOt5CaaIkg

http://tourismarmm.blogspot.com/2013/06/yakan-tribe-weaving-southernmost-major.html

https://narrastudio.com/blogs/journal/the-yakan-saputangan-a-showcase-of-skill-a-
kaleidoscope-of-colors

https://philippinescities.com/lamitan-city-basilan/lami-lamihan-festivals/
Insert Running Title 41