The Mandaya
The Mandaya is a group of non-Christian, non-Islamic people living in Eastern Mindanao. The word "Mandaya" is derived from "man" which means "first" and "daya" which means "upstream" or "upper portion of a river". The Mandaya are mainly located in the provinces of [Davao Oriental, Davao del Norte, Compostela Valley, Surigao del Sur, Surigao del Norte, and the eastern areas of Cotabato. They are also scattered throughout the South-Eastern of Mindanao province and northward of Lianga, Surigao del Sur and Southern Agusan. Earlier accounts indicate that the Mandaya represented one of the most powerful tribes in these areas. The headman, known as Bagani holds political power over his territory. However, before assuming the title, each bagani had to kill seven to nine men in battle or through surprise raids upon neighboring areas.
Religion
They celebrate festivals to invite "diwatas" or spirits and ask for good health and healing for those who are sick. They use an assortment of bamboo musical instruments. The dead are buried with the coffin upright along with some food for the "journey". Their religion is animistic, believing in anitos, but they consider "Magbabayo or Tagal-lang" (God) as the Supreme Being. A festival for Tagbanwa (the owner of the land) is made every harvest season for thanksgiving. A carved image of this deity can also be found in their homes. Women priestesses (Bailans) mediate during the rituals.
Economy
Agriculture is the main source of living. Rice, tubers, and other cultigens are cultivated in pawa (swidden) farming) along with bananas, vegetables and root crops. Hunting for wild pig, deer, chicken, monkeys, lizards, birds and other animals complement farming. At an early age, children are taught how to hunt using spears and traps. The Mandaya are freshwater fishing experts. Individual, family and cooperative fishing are done using several methods like traps, stun rods, draining, spearing and also bare hands. Environmental destruction and degradation together with rapid urbanization have drastically reduced hunting and fishing. Trading has tremendously increased and agricultural plantations as Western ownership and economic system dominated Philippine scene. The development of abaca industry during the American time paved the way to cash economy. After the World War II, coconut industry made a breakthrough and is sustained until now. Barter system, however, is still exercised among the Mandaya in the hinterlands. By practice, farming is very much influenced by deep religiosity. Rites and rituals and other belief practices with lavish offerings are observed before, during and after farming. Au-yon (cooperative farming) is a common practice. Post-harvest pasawit (sharing) is valued to get more blessings the next planting season. The intimate belief of the Mandaya created a unique blend of nature, spirits and man. .
Politics
The early political structure of the Mandaya varied depending on the size of the erea of followers covered. A compact settlement of "community did not exist since dwellings were located the swidden farms were sporadically situated. Clusters of three to five houses usually bellonged to the ruling authority like the bagani or likid.
Location
The Mandaya indigeneous cultural communities are situated in Davao Oriental, a province mostly charactrized by rough terrain.
Who are the Mandayas?
According to John M. Garvan, there are four branches of Mandayas. The Tagum branch - occupies the area from the mouth of the Tagum river to the confluence of the Salug and Libuganon rivers, or perhaps a little farther up the two rivers.
Background
According to the writing of John Garvan in his memoir in the New York Academy of Sciences, the Mandaya is "probably the greatest and best tribe in Eastern Mindanao". Miguel Sadera-Maso writes that the Mandaya "are considered by the non-Christians as the oldest and most illustrious of the peoples.
The ethnographic map of the Spanish colonizers shows Mandaya existence in the present provinces of Davao Oriental, Davao del Norte and Compostella Valley, and from Tago town of Surigao del Sur and Southern part of Agusan del Sur. This colorful tribe since then have underwent many influences from neo-political and economic systems. Other sub-groups emerge with names taken from their locational self-ascriptions. Among these are the Mansaka, Dibabaon, Pagsaupan, Mangguangan, Maragusan, and Dibabaon (Cole, 1913); and the Kalagan Kamayo. William A. Savage-Landor includes the Tagacaolo as a branch of the Mandaya. Presently, the concentration of the Mandaya is in Davao Oriental that lies along the Pacific Ocean. Cole (1913) avers that Mandaya is the largest tribal unit in southeastern Mindanao.
Culture and Arts
Undoubtedly, the Mandaya have one of the richest cultural heritage among ethnic groups. They are very close to their families. Christianized Mandaya still retain some of the past beliefs creating a syncretic form of religion. Undoubtedly, the Mandaya have one of the richest cultural heritage among ethnic groups. They are very close to their families. Christianized Mandaya still retain some of the past beliefs creating a syncretic form of religion. Mandaya also has an array of musical rendition. Instruments like kudlong, a two-stringed zither with only one string with frets, deliver music with historical, eventful, and important meanings. Kudlong is played before hunting, staging the deadly pangayao (vendetta killing) or farming. It could also be for simply entertainment. One popular instrument also is the gimball or gimbao, a large drum made using deer hide from a doe on one side and from a stag on the other side to produce different tone and pitch.
