BADJAO

Sulu is an island province of

the Philippines located in the
Autonomous
Region
of
Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
CAPITAL: JOLO

The BADJAO are popularly

known as SEA GYPSIES of
the Sulu and Celebes Sea.
Badjao ORANG LAUT or
MAN OF THE SEAS

Many badjaos LIVE most

of
their
lives
IN
HOUSEBOATS,
which
occasionally cluster in
moorings near certain
strands and beaches, so
as to do business in
nearby market places of
the land-dwelling Sama
and Tausug.

The Badjao or sea gypsies inhabit the shores and waters of

Sulu archipelago.
Classification of Badjaos according to lifestyle:
BADJAO INHABITING SIASI ISLAND - are semi-sedentary,
building stilt-houses over the water and engaging in fishing.
BADJAO OF SITANGKAI build permanent homes on the shore
SAKAYAN BADJAO - live in houseboats, their stilt-houses
serve as a temporary refuge when their boathouses undergo
repairs.

Their physical features are distinctively

attributable to their environment and their
mode of life. They have sturdy built dark
brown skin and bronze hair. Their manner of
walking is affected to a large extent by their
crouching on boat stern while sailing or
fishing.

Originally, the Badjao were

land
dwellers,
but
the
constant pressure on their
safety by the other Muslim
tribes forced them to seek the
sea. They eventually found
that the sea afforded them
greater avenues of escape in
the event of attack.
The sea environment shaped
Badjao attitude. They learned
to exploit the sea to their
fullest
advantage.
Their
prowess is in fishing, raising
seaweeds and oyster. Pearl
gathering
is
another
occupation, and products of
the sea they gather to sell at

HOUSEBOATS

There are different kinds of

houseboats, among them the
lipa, djenging and dapang. The
lipa has no outriggers while the
djenging and dapang have.
Over both the lipa and djenging
boats, the houses are built to
shelter the Badjao from sun and
rain their structures, however,
are different.
The lipa structure is loose and
detachable; long poles are
attached here and there to
frame the shape over which a
nipa roof is rolled

LIPA HOUSEBOAT

In the djenging, the house structure

is walled on all sides by wooden
boards, nailed permanently, with
window openings and doors and
galvanized sheet for roof. The size
of the djenging seems to depend on
family status.
The dapang is a boat of varied size
and length, with outriggers, and is
used for fishing or short trips.
Other boats are simple dugouts,
used
for
transport
between
houseboats and often left in the
care of the young.

DJENGING BOAT

DAPANG BOAT

HOUSE ON STILTS

The Badjao house is

built over the water
using tree trunks as
posts.
The roof is
made of nipa and
matted coconut leaves;
the front doors swing
from rotating wooden
hinges.

The stairs, with three rungs above

the water, leads to a porch-like
landing
of
irregularly-shaped
boards, and to a one-room, twodoor
structure
that
is
a
combination sala and sleeping
room without beds. The stairs are
also where the woman of the
house
sometimes
does
her
washing by simply squatting on
the last rung and soaking the
clothes
in
sea
water
and
slamming them against the stair
post to dry. In like manner, she
washes plates and cooking pots.
The stairs are fenced like a small
verandah at the top and on the

The cramped living room

has two entrance doors
with two small windows
shaped out of the center
wall and overlooking the
landing; one side has
another window and the
other side has a door that
leads to the kitchen. The
sala has two wooden
benches, a water jar in one
corner, a toolbox on the
center side, across one
roofbeam hangs a pile of
fishing nets, and three
mirrors on separate walls,
which are meant to drive

The sleeping room is

practically empty except
for a mat that spreads out
on the floor.
The kitchen is likewise
sparsely equipped with
native stoves, water jar
baskets for food supplies
and pots for cooking.
The kitchen door at the
end exits onto a long
plank.

atup
Batang-bubungan
Dagan
dapan
Dingding
djenging
Hag
Harunan
Lantay
Lauk-luuk
lipa
Lubing-lubing
Palimsa-an
Ubong

FIN