Mangyan

Mangyan is a general term that refers to eight ethnolinguistic groups of proto-malay

origin that occupies the mountainous region of Mindoro island. The Mangyans are
the original inhabitants of Mindoro, the seventh largest island in the Philippines.

History

The Mangyan settled along the shores of Mindoro island approximately 600-700
years ago. It is believed that they had come from the southern regions of the
archipelago. They were gradually forced to leave their coastal settlements by more
aggressive groups. It appears that the Mangyan have traditionally been an unwarlike
people, choosing to give up an area uncontested rather than fight for it.
Before Spain conquered the Philippines, the Mangyans were already practicing the
"barter trade" to the Chinese, who traveled to the shores of Mindoro using their
ancient boats. The Mangyans traded their local products of cotton, root crops,
medicinal plants and bees-wax for beads, gongs, plates and jars.

Population
The Mangyan population is over 100,000, about 10 percent of the total population of
the island. The tribe is one of the 110 tribal groups of the country. Reports say there
are about 100,000 Mangyans spread over the country. They are usually clustered
into the Northern Mangyan (Tadyawan, Alangan and Iraya) and the Southern
Mangyan (Buhid, Taobuid and Hanunuo). A small group called Bangon is considered
a branch of the Taobuid. Another small group, Ratagnon on Mindoro's southernmost
tip, is closely related to the Cuyonin of Palawan. They are a very nomadic people,
who try to avoid outside influences in order to protect their own culture. During the
years they have gradually moved away from other settlers. They used to live by the
sea, but now they have settled in mountainous areas.
Generally, the Mangyans of Mindoro practise swidden agriculture combined with
hunting, fishing, gathering and trade.

Mangyan Tribes
The following are the eight Mangyan tribes that may look the same but have
different cultures and traditions:
Alangan
The Alangan Mangyans are found within the municipalities of Naujan, Baco, San
Teodoro, and Victoria in Oriental Mindoro, and in the municipality of Sablayan in
Occidental Mindoro.
The name Alangan was derived from the name of a river and mountain slopes in the
upper Alangan Valley.
Bangon
The Bangon Mangyans are found along the Bongabon river called Binagaw and the
surrounding mountains located within the municipalities of Bongabong, Bansud, and
Gloria in Oriental Mindoro. The Bangon Mangyans have their own culture and
language different from the other 6 major Mangyan tribes in Oriental Mindoro and
also their writing system. Hence, the Bangons have asserted that they be
considered as the 7th major Mangyan tribe not as a sub-tribe of the Tau-buid
Mangyans. On March 28, 1996 in a meeting in Ogom Liguma together with Buhid
Mangyans, they decided to accept the word Bangon for their tribe.
Tau-Buid

The Tau-buids are known as pipe smokers and even children begin smoking at a
young age. The Taubuid Mangyans are found within the municipalities of Socorro,
Pinamalayan and Gloria, but mostly they live in Occidental Mindoro.
1. Buhid

The Buhids are known as pot makers. Other Mangyan tribes, like the Alangan and
Hanunoo Mangyans used to buy their cooking pots from the Buhids. The word Buhid
literally means mountain dwellers. The Buhid Mangyans are found within the
municipalities of Roxas, Bansud, Bongabong and some parts of Mansalay in
Oriental Mindoro, and in the municiplaities of San Jose and Rizal in Occidental
Mindoro.
1. Hanunoo

The Hanunoo Mangyans live in the towns of Bulalacao, Mansalay and some parts of
Bongabong in Oriental Mindoro, and in the town of San Jose in Occidental Mindoro.
They, like the Buhids and Hanunoo-Mangyans possess a pre-Spanish writing
system, considered to be of Indic origin, with characters, expressing the open
syllables of the language. This syllabic writing system, called Surat Mangyan, is still
being taught in several Mangyan schools in Mansalay and Bulalacao.
1. Iraya

The Iraya is the tribe who lives in the beaches of Puerto Galera, San Teodoro and
Baco in Oriental Mindoro. However, most of them live in Occidental Mindoro, in the
towns of Mamburao, Sta. Cruz, Abra de Ilog and Paluan. Their steady diet consists
of rice, banana, sweet potato, and other root crops.
1. Ratagnon

Most of the Ratagnons live in Magsaysay, Occidental Mindoro. Like the Bangons,
the Ratagnons have a unique language that is similar to the Cuyunon dialect that is
spoken by the people who live in Cuyo Island in the northern part of Palawan. They
also wear accessories made of beads and copper wire.
1. Tadyawan

The Tadyawan Mangyans live in the towns of Naujan, Victoria, Socorro, Pola, Gloria,
Pinamalayan, and Bansud. Their ancient clothing is similar to the other Mangyan
tribes. Most of them used to wear accessories like bracelets and necklaces made of
beads. But today, most of the Irayas wear a civilized outfit. The Tadyawan, like the
other Mangyan tribes, depend on swidden farming. And like the Irayas, their steady
diet consists of rice, banana, sweet potato, and other root crops