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Community Groups in Palawan

Explore the various indigenous communities in Palawan, a stunning region on an island in the Philippines. We showcase the distinctive practices, rituals, and lifestyle of every tribe in Palawan, ranging from the Tagbanua to the Batak, providing a fascinating window into the rich cultural legacy of these indigenous peoples.

Community Groups in Palawan

1. Batak

The Batak tribe, an endangered indigenous group with roughly 500 members, lives in the rugged northeast of Palawan, Philippines. They are known for their strong connection to nature and belief in nature spirits, which they communicate with through a shaman known as “babaylan.” Anthropologists think they are closely related to the Aytas of Central Luzon, as they share physical traits such as small stature, dark skin, and curly hair. Traditionally, the Bataks have mixed hunting, gathering, farming, and trading, including early contact with Chinese traders. In the 20th century, they were displaced by migrant farmers, which changed their way of life. The Bataks practice animism, regularly making offerings to nature spirits, and their shamans undergo spiritual experiences to communicate with these spirits and heal the sick. However, intermarriage with outsiders has led to the blending of their unique tribal culture and identity, raising doubts about their continued existence as a distinct ethnic group.

2. Agutaynon

The Agutaynon, an indigenous community probably residing in the northern areas of Palawan like Agutaya Island, Roxas, San Vicente, Brooke’s Point, Taytay, and Linapacan, are thought to be part of the Austronesian and Malayo-Polynesian family. They share language similarities with the Cuyonon and Calamian Tagbanua, two other indigenous groups in Palawan. However, they remain relatively obscure to the public due to their small population and lack of documentation, caused by their isolated location from mainland Palawan. Recent reports indicate that they are beginning to adopt modern ways of living.

3. Tagbanuas

The Tagbanuas, thought to descend from the Tabon Man, share resemblances in language, alphabet, and cultural practices like kaingin and belief in soul relatives. Mostly found in Central and Northern Palawan, they cultivate upland rice and perform the traditional rice wine ceremony, “Pagdiwata.” Their religion focuses on honoring the deceased and nature deities. Split into Central and Calamian groups, they reside in different Palawan areas. From a 1987 count of around 130,000, their population has dwindled to about 10,000, with 1,800 in Calamianes. They live in villages of 45 to 500 people, each with its distinct governing system.

4. Molbogs

The Molbog people, the sole indigenous Muslim community in Palawan, primarily reside in Balabac and Bataraza municipalities. Their roots in this region date back to before Spanish colonization, and they hold a special reverence for the pilandok, a unique deer species found only in the Balabac islands. Coconuts are central to Molbog agricultural practices. Their livelihood revolves around farming, fishing, and occasional trade with nearby communities. Molbogs have connections to the Orang Tidung or Tirum of Sabah, integrating elements from groups like Jama Mapun and Tausug. Through intermarriage with Tausugs, Molbogs have embraced Islam, with their mixed offspring known as “kolibugan.” Following Islam’s teachings closely, they adhere to the Five Pillars and engage in daily Arabic prayers. Molbogs played a key role in establishing the Sulu Sultanate, a union of Molbogs and Palawanon Muslims under Sulu Datus. Although they welcome outsiders for medical and educational support, attempts to introduce other religions are not welcomed within their community.

5. Palaw'an

The Palaw’an, also known as Palawano, is an indigenous group in Palawan, Philippines, divided into four subgroups: Quezon Palawan, Bugsuk Palawan, Brooke’s Point Palawan, and Southwest Palawano. They belong to the Manobo-based linguistic groups of the southern Philippines and originally inhabited South Apuruan and South Abo-Abo. Once nomadic, they settled due to agrarian settlers encroaching on their land, adopting a lifestyle of moving to fertile areas. Their small family units, unique hunting methods with poisoned spears, and fishing with special root sap distinguish them. Houses are built on hills near water sources, with floors raised off the ground. The Palaw’ans are cautious about illness, often avoiding outsiders, and measure age by referencing tree growth, lacking a concept of years. Their diet includes rice, fruits, vegetables, and wild game, with a specialty called pinyaram. Men wear g-strings, while women wear patadyong wraps, showing their distinct cultural attire.

6. Taaw't Bato

The Taaw’t Bato, also known as the “people of the rock,” form a small, traditional southwestern Palawano tribe residing in the Singnapan Basin nestled between Mount Matalingahan and the Palawan coast. They inhabit caves or open slopes, particularly seeking refuge in the crater of an extinct volcano during certain seasons. Their lifestyle, devoid of modern conveniences, remains largely unchanged, steeped in a distinct and enduring culture.

Taaw’t Bato dress is modest, with men wearing bark-cloth g-strings and women donning cloth skirts, sometimes acquiring blouses through trade networks. Their farming practices focus on crops like cassava, sweet potato, and sugarcane, supplemented by year-round hunting and foraging, especially using spring traps to catch wild pigs.

Engaging in both barter (sambi) and monetary exchange (dagang), they trade Candawaga’s marine fish for the Taaw’t Bato’s horticultural produce. Socially, they organize into marriage groups (ka-asawan) and larger collectives (bulun-bulun) for communal living and resource sharing.

Despite protective measures by the Philippine government to shield them from exploitation, the Taaw’t Bato face a looming threat from mining concessions in the Mt. Gangtong and Mantalingahan regions. Nonetheless, they steadfastly uphold their way of life, rooted in preserving their unique culture and living in symbiosis with their natural surroundings.

7. Cuyunons

The Cuyunons, originating from Cuyo Island in northern Palawan, are an esteemed ethnic group known for their religious dedication, discipline, and strong community ties. As Palawan’s most prominent ethnic tribe with a population of around 240,000 in 2015, most of them live permanently within the province. Their genetic and linguistic origins date back to Panay Island and Banjarmasin in Borneo as early as 1250 AD. Presently, they follow a mix of Roman Catholicism, Christian Protestantism, and Animism with influences from Spanish culture. The Cuyunons are a diverse group, with ancestors including Chinese, Arabs, Indians, Malays, Spaniards, and others who settled in Palawan. They have intermarried with various Palawan tribes such as the Bataks, Tagbanuas, Agutaynens, and Molbogs. Cuyunons are categorized into four subgroups based on settlement patterns and beliefs: Paraguanen, Poroanen, Mestiso, and Lakto. They are spread throughout Palawan, including Puerto Princesa, and have adapted to modern ways while preserving aspects of their traditional culture.

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