"Manobo" is the hispanicized
form of "Manuvu," which, of course, means "people." The
Manobo appear to be a remnant of the very first Austronesian invasion from
Taiwan, predating peoples like the Ifugao of Luzon. The Manobo supergroup
includes several of the groups described elsewhere (see
Bagobo,
Hiligaynon,
Bukidnon),
but there are also many Manobo peoples not considered apart from the main
group. The general orientation is now predominantly upland, as they were chased
from the valleys by invading Visayans and Spaniards. But the Manobo have an
adaptation to virtually every ecological niche, from rugged highland to coast,
and are found from Sarangani Island to Agusan del Sur, the Davao provinces,
Bukidnon, and North and South Cotabato. Kinship is figured bilaterally, and
nuclear households are kin-grouped into widely dispersed communities usually
situated on ridges high above mountain drainages. Some communities have long
houses. Leadership is achieved by a skilled and socially powerful
datu
who creates alliances in many ways, including marriage. Several area
datus
would be organized under a higher
datu, united in turn under the Sultanate
with a Rajah Muda. This structure is gradually giving way to the westernized
scheme of provincial government and local councilmen, which places more emphasis
on the young and educated. The distinctive ethnic costumes have mostly given
way to commercial clothing, with ethnic materials being sold commercially
as antiques.
AKA:
See subgroups
Location:
Large area of Mindanao
Languages:
Manobo family (many branches)
Supergroup:
Subgroups:
1) Ata subgroup: Dugbatang, Talaingod, and Tagauanum
2) Bagobo Subgroup: Attaw (Jangan, Klata, Obo, Giangan, Guiangan), Eto (Ata),
Kailawan (Kaylawan), Langilan, Manuvu/Obo, Matigsalug, ( Matigsaug, Matig
Salug), Tagaluro, and Tigdapaya 3) Higaonon Subgroup: Agusan, Lanao, and Misamis
4) North Cotabato: Ilianen, Livunganen, and Pulenyan; 5) South Cotabato: Cotabato
(with subgroup Tasaday and Blit), Sarangani, Tagabawa 6) Western Bukidnon:
Kiriyeteka, Ilentungen, and Pulangiyen; 7) Agusan del Sur; 8) Banwaon; 9)
Bukidnon
Subsistence:
Multicropped, intercropped, and swidden rice,
corn, beans, yams, sweet potatoes; hunting, gathenring.
Population:
749,042 (1994)