Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Practices (IKSPs):

A Lecture on the Indigenous Peoples of Panay

Joyce Christine D. Colon
Center For West Visayan Studies
U.P. in the Visayas
Indigenous knowledge systems and practices refers to systems, institutions,
mechanisms and technologies comprising a unique body of knowledge evolved
through time that embody patterns of relationships among and between
peoples, their lands and resource environment, including such spheres of
relationships which may include social, political, cultural ,economic, religious
spheres.

Direct outcome of the indigenous peoples to survive and thrive within their
given socio-cultural and biophysical conditions.
 Indigenous Peoples

A group of people or
homogenous societies identified
by self ascription and ascription
by others who have
continuously lived as organized
community on communally
bounded and defined territory
and who have under claims of
ownership since time
immemorial, occupied,
possessed and utilized such
territories, sharing common
bonds of language, through
resistance to political, social and
cultural inroads of colonization,
non-indigenous religions and
culture became historically
differentiated from majority of
Filipinos.

-RA 8371
 Indigenous Peoples
Indigenous communities, peoples
and nations are those which
having a historical continuity
with pre-invasion and pre-
colonial societies that developed
in their territories, considered
themselves distinct from other
sectors of the societies now
prevailing in those territories, or
parts of them.

They form at present non-

dominant sectors of society and
are determined to preserve,
develop and transmit to future
generations their ancestral
territories, and their ethnic
identity as the basis for their
continued existence as peoples in
accordance with their own
cultural patterns, social
institutions and legal systems.
-U.N. Sub-Commission on the Prevention of
Discrimination and Protection of Minorities
 Distinct characteristics of the indigenous peoples are:
(1)the conservation (to some extent) of their vernacular languages, traditional
socio-economic institutions, and cultural and religious practices;
(2) self-identification as distinct societies;
(3) subsistence-oriented economies;
(4) a special relationship with their ancestral lands.
 What distinguishes the
indigenous peoples?

-Concept of land as granted

and entrusted by one Creator
for everyone to harness,
cultivate, sustain, and live on.

-This land concept has

become distinct because it
adheres to the spirit of
collectivism and rejects the
idea of private property.

-Land is a central issue to

indigenous peoples because it
defines their very
existence. Because of this, the
similarities and differences of
their concept and
world view of land and the
conflict arising from it
 Population

Of the country’s current

projected population of p4
million, indigenous peoples
are estimated to comprise
some 10% or around 9.4
million.

There has been no

comprehensive count of
Philippine indigenous
peoples since 1916.
 Indigenous Peoples in Panay

Bukidnon Ati

As of 2011, there is a
total of 72, 206
indigenous peoples in
the Province of Iloilo
and Antique.

They inhabit the areas

of Capiz, Iloilo,
Antique, Guimaras and
Aklan.
Panay Bukidnon
The word Panay
Bukidnon is used as a
generic term to the
upland dwellers,
whether they are in
Capiz, Iloilo, Aklan or
Antique.
Sulodnon
The term “Sulod” is a compromise description, not a definitive term. They call
themselves Panaynon, Halawodnon, Iraynon and Bukidnon. These terms are generally
derived from the location of their residence.

Sulod implies a state of being”enclosed” as by the tall mountains. The whole cultural
linguistic group is referred to by this name because of the geographical location of their
settlements.
 Panay Bukidnon

They delineate their territory and

distinguish themselves from other
mountain groups by using the big
river systems as points of
reference, thus, taga-Pan-ay or
Panayanon, taga-Halawod or
Halawodnon, taga-Aklan or
Akeanon and Iraynon or taga-Iraya.

Bukidnon is a combination of the

root word “bukid” (mountain)
and the suffix “non” (a Hiligaynon
ending designating – state of being
from a certain place or – living in a
certain place).
 Is their a difference?

 Culturally, there is hardly any

difference among the Pan-ayanon,
Halawodnon, Iraynon and Akeanon
indigenous Panay Bukidnon groups
for they are of the same ethnic stock
with similar physical features,
ecological niches and common
traditions.

 However, the degree on the

distinctiveness in the strengths and
changes of their culture already
started to manifest and became
noticeable due to varying exogenous
factors influencing and altering their
indigenous knowledge and
worldview.
Who are the Bukidnons?
* It is believed that their
ancestors settled in the
lowlands because their twin
epics largely deal about the
sea.

•Earlier information stated

that they were shifting
agriculturists who had sold
their farms to the lowlanders.

•It was also suggested that

they were lowlanders who
migrated to the uplands at the
onset of the Spanish
occupation to escape
suppression.
Who are the Bukidnons?

•They have been referred to

as Montesses, Mundos,
Pulijanes and Babaylanes.

•Earlier information stated

that they were shifting
agriculturists who had sold
their farms to the
lowlanders.

•It was also suggested that

they were lowlanders who
migrated to the uplands at
the onset of the Spanish
occupation to escape
suppression.
Panay Bukidnon Indigenous Customs and Traditions
 Babaylan/Baylan

The function of a baylan is to

communicate with spirits during
important seances, to interpret
dreams and omens relative to
general welfare of the
community.

Serves as a folk therapist (both

mental and emotional stresses)
experienced by an individual; a
priest who officiates in rites and
is gifted with skills to
communicate with ancestral and
environmental spirits.
 Babaylan
Indigenous rituals such as
tiwtiw (a fishing ritual),
tubignon (a type of healing
ritual) and batak ka dungan is
performed by a babaylan.
 Batak ka Dungan
Dungan literally someone
who goes along with a person
hence a companion.

It means the soul of a living

person.

It is an individual’s mental
capacity or psychological trait
to persuade other people.

A person’s will power.

A prevailing belief among the

Bukidnon is the belief that
one’s health and general well-
being is equated to the state
of one’s dungan’s.
 Sugidanun
A repository of traditional
knowledge that links
generations of Panay Bukidnon
is made available through
their oral histories and is also
reflected in their rituals,
practices, traditions and
material cultures.

Their culture reflects their

history, collective memories
and value systems.
Sugidanun are narratives that are usually chanted in an archaic form of
Kiniray-a to welcome and entertain visitors.

Sugidanun does not only serve to entertain its listeners but its significance
lies in the context of it being used to transmit the traditional values and
practices of the indigenous peoples.
Tu-os in the Sugidanun

One of the customary laws

found in the Sugidanun is tu-os.

The meaning of the term itself is

varied, as it is dependent on the
context that it is used for. Tu-os
takes form in Panay Bukidnon
society in various ways.

Tu-os can either mean a

promise; an agreement or a
contract and it also serves as a
sign or a marker.
The story of Amburukay
begins with Datu Paiburong’s
daughters who were taken as
a form of payment in
exchange for his life after he
cut down some bamboos not
knowing that it was owned by
Makabagating, ang bantog nga
aswang or famous man-eater,
and his sister, Amburukay, an
enchanted woman.

The two girls, Inday Matan-

ayon and Inday Surangga-on
were raised by Amburukay as
her own daughters. She hid
them in a golden tower also
known as burukutan where the
well-kept maidens are held.
Among the Panay Bukidnon,
there is a strong and
prevailing belief that failure
to acknowledge and fulfill the
tu-os will incur disapproval,
punishments and sanctions.

These can either be carried

out by the spirit ancestors, the
community and most
especially, the kinfolks of the
offended party.
Mahinay magtangra
Kag ipa-intindi
Ilam kada ay Buyong
Hambal ni Paiburong
Hay isugid ko kanimo
Istoryahan ta ikaw
Sa tubig pa kag tus-on
Tubig pa kag tandaan
Buyong Paubaya
Uwa Daranuon
Ang urihi nga tubo
Bag-ong buskad
Kay Kulambo Kulambaw
Kung naghanggod sa banwa
Naghanggod sa kalibutan
Anang ipamalayi
Kag anang patigayunon
Si Buyong Labaw Donggon
Tubi pa kag tus-an
Tubi palang may tanda dun
Ka derikaryong pada
Ang bulawan nga medalyon
Linibo ka dekorasyon
Ginatos ka bulak