Introduction:

The Indigenous Peoples’ in the

Philippines: Background
UNIT 1:
Definition of indigenous peoples

 The indigenous peoples in the Philippines are defined by the Indigenous

Peoples‟ Rights Act (IPRA) of 1997 as:
“A group of people or homogeneous societies identified by self-
ascription and ascription by others, who have continually lived as organized
communities on community-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, customs, traditions
and other distinctive cultural traits, or who have, through resistance to political,
social and cultural inroads of colonization, non-indigenous religions and
cultures, become historically differentiated from the majority of Filipinos.
History
 Before the advent of Spanish colonialism, the people of the islands in the archipelago were independent communities or
villages of tribes or clans. Spanish colonization from 1521 to 1896 succeeded in subjugating most of the islands of the
archipelago, which eventually formed the Philippines. However, within the islands some communities remained
independent from Spanish colonial rule.
 Throughout the 300 years of Spanish colonial rule, these communities were able to defend their territories and evade the
colonizers, maintaining their relative independence while continuing to practice their own systems and ways of life. This
disparate historical experience created a dichotomy between the colonized lowland Filipinos and the uncolonized
peoples.
 Thus, evolved a distinction between the majority Filipino population who were colonized and subjugated early during the
Spanish colonial period, and those who resisted and withdrew to remote and inaccessible areas where they retained their
original ways of life. It is this latter group of peoples who today comprise the indigenous peoples of the Philippines.
Population

 There are no accurate figures on the population of indigenous peoples in the Philippines because
of the lack of any formal census. Disaggregation of data for indigenous peoples in the national
census has not yet been done because of the absence of specific questions on indigenous ethnic
identity in the national census survey questionnaires.
 The most recent figures based on an unofficial survey conducted by the National Commission on
Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) estimates the population of indigenous peoples in the Philippines to
be 12-15 million.
 But the actual population may be higher than the results of government surveys. Indigenous
peoples roughly constitute 10-15% of the total population of the Philippines and are present in
65 of the country’s 78 provinces. The majority of indigenous peoples (61%) are found in
Mindanao, 33% are found in Luzon, and 6% are in Visayas (NCIP 2009).
Figure 1 shows the geographic distribution of
major groups of indigenous peoples in the
Philippines. Figure 1: Geographic distribution
of Philippine Indigenous Peoples.
 Ethno-linguistic groupings

 The IPRA identifies 8 ethnographic regions in the country, namely:

The Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR),

Region I

Region II

Region III

Island Group

Southern and Eastern Mindanao

Central Mindanao

Northern and Western Mindanao

 However, these ethnographic regions were designated by the Government 4 primarily for administrative
purposes and for representation in its National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), rather than based on
actual ethno-linguistic groupings.
 The Philippine indigenous peoples are made up of widely diverse cultures. The estimated total number of
distinct indigenous ethnic groups ranges from 70 to 140.
 The NCIP website presents a list of 90 entries, while a compilation from various sources shows 109 indigenous
ethno-linguistic groups and subgroups. Each indigenous group has its own distinct identity, language and
indigenous socio-political and cultural systems and practices, with some similarities between and among others.
 Particular generic terms are used to refer to indigenous peoples in different regions of the country, although the
indigenous peoples usually identify themselves as belonging to a particular ethno-linguistic group or subgroup.
Among the major groupings of indigenous peoples in the
Philippines are the following:
  the generic and collective term for the indigenous
peoples of the Cordillera mountain range in northern

IGOROT 
Luzon.
Igorot is derived from the prefix i- (people from) and
golot (mountain) to literally mean “people from the
mountains.” This term was for a long time considered
derogatory, but it has increasingly been accepted and
appropriated by indigenous activists as a term of pride in
their identity as indigenous peoples.
 The Igorot make up 99% of the population in the
Cordillera region and live in the highlands, foothills,
plateaus and river valleys of the Cordillera mountain
range. They currently total about 1.5 million in population
and are composed of various ethnic groups and subgroups
or tribes.
 The major ethno-linguistic groups in the Cordillera are the
Kankanaey, Bontoc, Ifugao, Kalinga, Ibaloy, Isneg and
Tingguian.
 However, the people prefer to identify themselves as
belonging to their own “ili”, which is an indigenous
community having its own defined territory or ancestral
land and its own indigenous socio-cultural systems.
LUMAD

 a generic term used by others to refer to the

indigenous peoples of Mindanao, who make up
the largest number of indigenous peoples in the
country.
 It is a Visayan term meaning native, indigenous,
“of the land”.
 The Lumad are composed of numerous indigenous peoples scattered throughout the Mindanao island.
There are 18 major Lumad groups namely: Subanen, B’aan, T’boli, Mandaya, Mansaka, Tiruray,
Higaonon, Manobo, Bagobo, Bukidnon, Tagkaolo, Ubo, Banwaon, Kalagan, Dibabawon, Talaandig,
Mamanwa and Manguangan.
 They live in the mountainous areas of Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Bukidnon, Agusan del Norte,
Agusan del Sur, Surigao, Zamboanga, Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Cagayan de Oro, North
Cotabato, South Cotabato and Saranggani Province (KAMP 2002).

 To simplify, the Lumad may be clustered as follows: the Manobo cluster, the Blaan T‟Boli-Tiduray
cluster, the Mandaya-Mansaka cluster, the Subanen who live largely in the hinterlands and coastal areas
of the Zamboanga Peninsula; the Higaonon or “mountain dwellers” in the plateaus of Bukidnon; and the
Mamanwa in Surigao del Norte (Erni 2008).
 In Mindanao, a distinction is made between the Lumad or non-Muslim indigenous peoples and the
Islamized population or Moro peoples. Many do not recognize the Moro people as indigenous, although
some of the Moro ethnic groups are listed by the NCIP in its list of indigenous peoples. There are seven
major ethnic groups among the Muslims in the Mindanao-Sulu area. These are the Maranaw,
Maguindanao, Tausug, Yakan, Samal, Iranun and Kalagan.
MANGYAN
 a generic term for the indigenous peoples of the
island of Mindoro and in Sibuyan island.
 They are usually clustered into the northern
Mangyan (Tadyawan, Alangan and Iraya) and the
southern Mangyan (Buhid, Taobuid and
Hanunuo).
 There are also several indigenous peoples living in
the islands of Palawan. These are the Tagbanua
(Kalamianen), Palaw-an, Molbog and Batak.
  used as a generic term for indigenous peoples with
distinct physical features – short, dark skin, curly
NEGRITO hair – living in different regions of the Philippines
from north to south.
 Around 30 groups of Negrito have been identified.
They live in dispersed groups throughout the
country, including the Agta in the remote forested
areas of Cagayan in northern Luzon, the Dumagat
people in the Sierra Madre Mountains in eastern
Luzon and along the Pacific coast down to the
Bondoc and Bicol mountains. Others are found in
western and southern Luzon, with larger
populations living in the Zambales-Bataan
mountains (sometimes called Hambal, Aeta,
Sambal), the Baluga in Pampanga and Tarlac, and
in the Southern Tagalog foothills.
 Still other Negrito groups are the Ati in Panay and
Negros, Palawan, Guimaras, Romblon
LIST OF INDIGENOUS
PEOPLE IN THE
PHILIPPINES
 Ethno-linguistic Group Location of Domains

Cordillera and Region I

Eastern Bontok(Balangao, Tonglayon, Sakki, Madukayan, Barlig) Mountain Province

Central Bontok (Bontok, Sadanga, Alab) Mountain Province

Isneg Apayao, Ilocos Norte

Tinggian ( Adasen, Binongan, Ilaud or Itneg, Masadiit, Banao, Gubang,

Mabaka, Maeng, Mayudan, Danak) Abra

Northern Kankanaey(Kankanaey, Iyaplay) Mountain Province

Kankanaey Ibenguet Benguet

Kalanguya Benguet, Ifugao

Karao Benguet

Mandek-ey Benguet

Ibaloy Benguet, Baguio City, Pangasinan

Ayangan Ifugao

Ifugao Ifugao
Tuwali Ifugao
Kalinga (Banao, Mabaka, Salegseg, Guilayon, Cagaluan, Guinaang, Balatok,
Lubuagan, Malbong, Naneng, Taloctok, Mangali, Lubo, Tinglayan, Tulgao,
Butbut, Basao, Dacalan, Sumadel, Dananao) Kalinga, Apayao
Apayao Kalinga Apayao
Bago La Union, Ilocos Sur:
Region II and Carabllo Mountains
Agta Cagayan, Quirino, Isabela
Kalanguya Nueva Viscaya
Bugkalot Nueva Viscaya, Quirino
Isinai Nueva Viscaya
Gaddang Nueva Viscaya, Isabela
Aggay Cagayan
Dumagat Isabela, Cagayan
Ibanag Cagayan
Itawis Cgayan
Ivatan Batanes
Rest of Luzon Sierra Madre Mountains
Aeta, Negrito, Baluga, Pugot Zambales, Bataan, Tarlac , Pampanga
Abelling Tarlac
Agta Aurora, Palayan City, Camarines Sur
Dumagat Quezon, Rizal, Aurora, Dumagat
Remontado Rizal, Laguna, Quezon
Bugkalot Aurora
Cimaron Camarines Sur
Kabihug Camarines Norte
Tabangon Sorsogon
Abiyan (Aeta) Camarines Norte, Sur
Isarog Camarines Norte
Itom Albay
Pullon Masbate
 Island Groups
Agutaynon Palawan
Tagbanua Palawan
Dagayanen Palawan
Tao’t Bato Palawan
Batak Palawan
Palawanon Palawan
Molbog Palawan
Iraya Mangyan Mindoro Occidental/Oriental
Hanunuo Mangyan Mindoro Occidental/Oriental
Alangan Mangyan Mindoro Oriental
Buhid Mangyan Mindoro Occidental/Oriental
Tadyawan Mangyan Mindoro Occidental/Oriental
Batangan Mangyan Mindoro Occidental
Gubatnon Mangyan Mindoro Occidental
Ratagnon Mangyan Mindoro Occidental
Ati Romblon
Cuyunon Romblon
Ati Iloilo, Antique, Capiz, Aklan
Sulud Bukidnon Iloilo, Antique, Capiz, Aklan
Magahat Negros Occidental
Korolanos Negros Oriental
Ata Negros Oriental
Escaya Bohol
Badjao Cebu, Bohol
Kongking Leyte, Samar
 Southern and Eastern Mindanao
Manobo Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur
Mandaya Davao Oriental
Mansaka Davao del Norte
Dibabawon Davao del Norte
Banwaon Agusan del Sur
Bagobo Davao del Sur, Davao City
Ubo Manobo Davao del Sur, Davao City
Tagakaolo Davao del Sur
Talaingod, Langilan Dacao del Norte, Davao City
Mamanwa Surigao del Norte
Haigaonon Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur
Blaan Davao del Sur, Saranggani, South Cotabato
T-boli South Cotabato
Kalagan Davao del Sur
Tagabawa Davao City
Manobo B’lit South Cotabato
Matigaslog Davao City, Davao del Sur, Davao del Norte
Tigawahanon Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur
Sangil South Cotabato, Sarangani
Central Mindanao
Aromanon North Cotabato
Tiruray Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao, Cotabato City
Bagobo North Cotabato
Ubo Manobo North Cotabato
Higaonon Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur
Subanen Lanao del Norte
Maguindanao Maguindanao
Maranao Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur
Iranon Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur
Karintik North Cotabato
Blaan North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao
Lambangian Sultan Kudarat
Dulangan Sultan Kudarat
 Northern and Western Mindanao
Subanen Zamboanga del Norte/Sur,
Misamis Occidental/Oriental,
Zamboanga City
Talaandig Bukidnon
Higaonon Bukidnon, Misamis
Oriental/Occidental
Matigsalog Bukidnon
Umayamnon Bukidnon
Manobo Bukidnon
Kamigin Camiguin
Yakan Basilan
Sama Tawi-Tawi
Badjao, Sama Laut Tawi-tawi, Basilan, Sulu
Archipelago
Kalibugan Zamboanga del Sur/del
Norte
Jama Mapon Sulu Archipelago

Sources: ECIP, NCCP-PACT , ONCC, OSCC, OMA, DENR, CPA

LIST OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE BY REGION
Region Province ICC/IPs Community ICC/IPs
1 ARRM Maguindanao Barangay Labungan, Datu Odin Sinsuat Teduray

2 Region IX Zamboanga del Barangay Lacarayan. Tigbao Subanen

Sur
3 Region III Aurora Barangay Diteki, San Luis Dumagat
4 Region X Bukidnon Sitio Kibuwa, Barangay Bukidnon
ImpalutaoImpasug-ong
5 Region XIII Agusan del Sur Barangay Plobalcion, Loreto Manobo

6 Region VII Negros Oriental Abaca, Barangay Sab-ahan, Bais City Ati/Ata

7 Region VII Cebu City Side B, South Reclamation Project, Badjao

Barangay Mambaling
8 Region XI Davao City Sitio Pigdalahan, Barangay Pandaitan, Matigsalig/Ata-
Paquiabto District Manobo
9 Region XII Saranggani Sitio Wali, Maitum T’boli
10 Region VIII Northern Samar Barangay San Isidro, Las Navaz Mamanwa

11 Region XII North Cotabato Amabel, Magpet Manobo

12 Region XII Sultan Kudarat Sitio Tanansang, Barangay Palavilla,
Lutayan
13 Region VI Guimaras Sitio Kati-Kati, Barangay San Miguel, Ati
Municipality of Jordan, Guimaras

14 Region VI Capiz Sitio Tag-ao, Dumarao, Capiz Ati

15 Region VI Antique Sitio Igcaputol, Poblacion North,
Barangay Tobias Fornier San Jose Ati
16 Region II Isabela Barangay Dalig Kalinga, Aurora Gaddang
17 CAR Mountain Barangay Caneo, Bontoc Bontok
Province