Manobo Group

Manobo
Group
Ethnicity should enrich us
MANOBO GROUP
In terms of the ties and names of the many groups that belong to this family of languages,
the Manobo are arguably the most numerous of the ethnic groups in the Philippines. The
entire national population, including subgroups, is 749,042, occupying core areas in the
provinces of Agusan del Sur, Davao, Bukidnon, and North and South Cotabato from
Sarangani island to the Mindanao mainland.
The groupings cover such a large geographic area that localized communities, such as
the Bagobo or Higaonon, and the Atta, have taken on the identity of a unique ethnic grouping.
The affiliation of a dialect with a supergroup varies depending on various linguistic viewpoints.
Geography
Manobos are concentrated in Agusan,
Bukidnon, Cotabato, Davao, Misamis Oriental,
and Surigao Del Sur. The Manobo usually build
their villages near small bodies of water or forest
clearings, although they also opt for hillsides,
rivers, valleys, and plateaus. The communities
are small, consisting of only 4-12 houses.

Cultural History
Manobo tribe is culturally rich in traditional practices, medicinal uses, diversity, and
traditional knowledge based on their community plant resources. They dwell in hinterlands
and mountainous regions in the southern part of the Philippines and live an intricate life
dependent on agriculture and forest plants. Traditional ecological knowledge and beliefs of
indigenous peoples play an essential role in the conservation of biodiversity. This study seeks
to investigate the use of ritual plants of the Manobo tribe in Hinapuyan, Carmen and
Cabangahan, Cantilan, Surigao del Sur and to identify the availability of ritual plants being
used. Plant information with the local name, plant parts used, methods of preparation, ritual
uses, and Cultural Importance Index (CI) were quantified.

Cultural History
According to Opena (1985), Manobo is a generic term which refers to people who are still
in the subsistence level economy and are generally in the mountains and who practice the
slash and burn agriculture. Further she qualified that the term Manobo is very derogatory for it
connotes to be backward, uncivilized, ignorant, boisterous, unwashed, unkept, rough and
lawless. Hence, she opined that the use of the term must be used with discreetness, tact and
prudence. The term can also mean a slave (magdul) or a person destined to do all the menial
jobs in the house and farm.

Religion
Manobo revolve around the concept of many unseen spirits interfering in the lives of
humans.
They believe that these spirits can intrude on human activities to accomplish their
desires. The spirits are also believed to have human characteristics. They are both good
and evil in nature and can be evoked to both anger and pleasure.
Ethnic Groups
A tentative but more specific classification that needs attention divides the Manobo into a number of
major groups, some of which are:
1. Ata subgroup: Dugbatang, Talaingod, and Tagauanum
2. Bagobo subgroup: Attaw (Jangan, Klata, Obo, Giangan, Guiangan), Eto (Ata), Kailawan
(Kaylawan), Langilan, Manuvu/Obo, Matigsalug, (Matigsaug, Matig Salug), Tagaluro, and
Tigdapaya
3. Higaonon subgroup: Agusan, Lanao, and Misamis
4. North Cotabato: Ilianen, Livunganen, and Pulenyan;
Ethnic Groups
A tentative but more specific classification that needs attention divides the Manobo into a number of
major groups, some of which are:
5. South Cotabato: Cotabato (with subgroup Tasaday and Blit), Sarangani, Tagabawa
6. Western Bukidnon: Kiriyeteka, Ilentungen, and Pulangiyen
7. Agusan del Sur
8. Banwaon
9. Bukidnon; and others.
The various subgroupings are not sufficiently defined at present.

Society
The Manobo are probably the most numerous of the ethnic groups of the Philippines in terms of the
relationships and names of the various groups that belong to this family of languages. Mention has been
made of the numerous subgroups that comprise the Manobo group.
The Manobo occupy and have adapted to various ecological niches ranging from the coastal to the
rugged mountain highlands of the interiors of Mindanao. The different sub-groups are highly dispersed
transecting the entire island of Mindanao, there adapting to various environmental niches to develop self-
contained variations of a generalized culture. The orientation of all the subgroups, however, is upland.
Language
Ata (Ata of Davao, Atao Manobo, Langilan) is a Manobo language spoken in the Philippines'
northeastern Mindanao. It is spoken in the provinces of Davao del Norte in the northwest, Bukidnon in
the southeast, Davao de Oro in the northwest, and Davao del Sur in the south (northwest enclave)
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Manobo Group

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Manobo

Manobos are concentrated in Agusan,

Bukidnon, Cotabato, Davao, Misamis Oriental,

and Surigao Del Sur. The Manobo usually build

their villages near small bodies of water or forest

clearings, although they also opt for hillsides,

rivers, valleys, and plateaus. The communities

are small, consisting of only 4-12 houses.

uses, and Cultural Importance Index (CI) were quantified.

connotes to be backward, uncivilized, ignorant, boisterous, unwashed, unkept, rough and

jobs in the house and farm.

The various subgroupings are not sufficiently defined at present.

made of the numerous subgroups that comprise the Manobo group.

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