The Sangil appear to be of true Indonesian origin. They live in the Sangihe and Talaud island group, and around the southern coast of Mindanao in the Sarangani Bay area, with concentrations in Balut and Sarangani islands (2085) off Mindanao, and Jose Abad Santos (685) in the province of Davao del Sur where there are a total of 4322 (NSO 1980). They have been heavily influenced by the neighboring peoples, especially the Kalagan. Boat-making is a prime activity. Traditionally, the local village group was called a soa and composed of exogamous matrilineages; normal Filipino bilateral relationships developed later. Christianity and Islam are strong influences, but much of the traditional ancestor-based religion remains, with ritual specialists serving as intermediaries with the spirit world.