Kitab Article III Sections 8 and 9 Arts and Beliefs

Article III. The Dulangan Manobo and their Cultural Practices

Section 8. Arts (Lilok)

(1) Sulok–Container for betel quid made from a kind of vine
(2) Tegesalsal–A person who makes bolos
(3) Suladan–Container for rice and corn
(4) Guma–Container for bolo
(5) Alat–Container also for corn and rice
(6) Lihub–Container for rice seeds
(7) Kekulong Basak–Necklace making
(8) Kekolong Usa–A method of giving meat to the tribe
(9) Betekel–Put on the hands of male and female children
(10) Tegunom–A person who weaves baskets
(11) Sekedu–Made-of-bamboo water container
(12) Melewas–Container for household items and rice
(13) Sinupow–Used for washing after moving bowels
(14) Ketuwang–Maker of rings, bracelets, and others
(15) Sinulon–Used for winnowing rice and corn
(16) Senagfing–Container for clothes and seeds
(17) Klefe–Container for valuables
(18) Puyot–Where a man keeps his betel quid
(19) Bluyot–Container for rice
(20) Le-sung–Where rice and corn are pounded
(21) Se-ulo–Pounding tool for rice and corn
(22) Bato Kelang–Put in the mortar to grind corn

Section 9. Belief in God (Nemula)

The tribe believes that Nemula has the power to create heaven, earth, animals, human beings, and everything that can be seen. He also owns nature.

(1) Giwata–Has the power to give intelligence and protection to the tribe
(2) Diwata–Keeper of the mountains, water, cave, rocks, and all that be seen in the forest
(3) Langa–A method of worship by the tribe to be guided by the Diwata or Nemula to have protection
(4) Bleyan–Healer of the tribe in a community, he or she knows if something bad is coming
(5) Efe Wayeg–Keeper of river, lake, and bodies of water, an invisible entity
(6) Efe Kayo–Keeper of trees, an invisible entity
(7) Efe Tudok–Keeper of mountains, an invisible entity
(8) Efe Eleb–Keeper of caves, an invisible entity

(This post is a part of a series on Kitab, the customary law of the Dulangan Manobos. See my introductory post for the list of posts containing all the sections of the law. You may also see the original Filipino version on Scribd.)

Kitab Article III Sections 6 and 7 Dances and Songs

Article III. The Dulangan Manobo and their Cultural Practices

Section 6. Dances of the Tribe

(1) Atang–A man shows his bravery through dance
(2) Kemboye–A man pounding rice or corn so that they will not get tired of what they are doing [This part seems incomplete.—Bloggger]
(3) Adal Uwak–The tribe imitates the dance of crows
(4) Lambeg Dagat–Music of the tribe produced from bamboo
(5) Adal Kinuta–A dance for a gathering of datus
(6) Adal Dilayaw–A woman shows this kind of dance to the datu. If she is liked, the dowry will be plenty. [This part seems incomplete.—Bloggger]
(7) Petpet–A dance or music to entertain the audience during occasions

Section 7. Songs of the Tribe

(1) Anggung–A courtship song of women and men for the person that they like or love
(2) Uwan–A song to attract viewers and listeners
(3) Tondil–A sign that a binusaya is a brave person
(4) Kabayan–A song during occasions
(5) Belenalo–The history of Dulangan Suboy, for listeners to enjoy
(6) Wanin–A song of an evil person to make himself invisible to his enemies
(7) Linambingan–A song of the tribe to fight for their land
(8) Telake–A song inherited from ancestors about their history, both good and bad
(9) Senggek–A song to entertain listeners and viewers during occasions and celebrations
(10) Delawet–A mourning song of a woman for the dead

(This post is a part of a series on Kitab, the customary law of the Dulangan Manobos. See my introductory post for the list of posts containing all the sections of the law. You may also see the original Filipino version on Scribd.)

Kitab Article III Sections 4 and 5 Births and Deaths

Article III. The Dulangan Manobo and their Cultural Practices

Section 4. Giving Birth

First, cut off the umbilical cord of the infant. If the umbilical cord indicates something not good [not specified how], act as though burying the infant and then hang him or her on a tree. Put water and scrapings from a coconut shell into a made-of-bamboo container and then wash the infant with the water. Make a hammock for the infant for sleeping. The father should butcher a chicken for the mother so that her milk will be plenty. So that the infant will not get sick, the mother should butcher and cook a chicken for her father-in-law and burn some feathers of the chicken and let the smoke pass the baby. Traditional beliefs include not letting a pregnant woman stand on a threshold because she might not have a swift delivery. If someone is about to sneeze while carrying a baby, he or she should stop because the baby’s life will not be long. If a lemuken chirps, your life will not be long or the baby will die.

Section 5. Funeral Practices [I’m not sure of my translation of this part. The original text is confusing and inconsistent in style.—Blogger]

(1) Wrap the body with a malong and tie the whole body. Find a tree (Tefedos) and raise the (Tigbakal). Cut and carve the log to be used as a coffin according to the measurements of the body. Others look for rattan and (Belem Bad). Some take food to the builders of the coffin going home. The women take ashes and leaves of camote and then pound them using a mortar and a pestle to be used as glue so that the odor of the body will not leak out of the coffin.

(2) During a funeral, the coffin is properly handled starting from the wake. It is placed inside the house for as long as the relatives want, until the burial. They shall have games, singing, dancing, putting of ashes on the forehead, riddles, and when paying their respects to the dead, they shall bring togo, palendeg, kuding (musical instruments made of bamboo) and duwagey.

(3) When the right time for burial comes, they shall butcher chicken, pig, and cow if the family can afford it. They shall invite all the people, datu or non-members of the community, and all the relatives on both sides. They shall gather because it is the day of interment. They shall share the expenses and hold a celebration as a proof of their love.

(4) After the interment, the relatives shall throw rice inside the house where the wake was held, before the house is abandoned. The tribe believes that a house where a person died should not be used as a dwelling again and another house should be built nearby.

(5) If the dead was a respected leader, the wake may run for more than one year before the dead is buried. On the day of the interment, all the recognized leaders of the Dulangan Manobo people territory shall be called and shall gather to mourn. This assembly is called Dakel Limud.

(This post is a part of a series on Kitab, the customary law of the Dulangan Manobos. See my introductory post for the list of posts containing all the sections of the law. You may also see the original Filipino version on Scribd.)

Kitab Article III Sections 1 to 3 Marriage and Others

Article III. The Dulangan Manobo and their Cultural Practices

Marriage processes: [The sections and subsections of Article III do not seem to be properly organized.—Blogger]

Section 1. Fekaenan Manok: Process

Fekaenan Manok refers to a wedding in the Dulangan Manobo tribe. Inherited from their ancestors who lived a long time ago, this is still practiced until now. The datu acts as the mediator between the family of the bride and the family of the groom. Before the wedding is held, both parties have to agree on the dowry that the family of the groom should give to the parents of the bride.

The parents of the groom and the parents of the bride have to negotiate first under the guidance of the datu. The parents of the bride shall say the dowry that they want for their daughter. If the parents of the groom are amenable, the wedding shall be planned right away.

(1) The parents and relatives of the bride shall butcher a chicken and cook it for the parents of the groom.
(2) The parents of the groom may not touch the rice and viand if they have not given anything to the family of the bride.
(3) The groom shall stay outside the bride’s house and may not enter if he has no mosquito net to offer when the door is opened.
(4) The betel quid prepared by the bride’s parents is worth one thousand pesos. The groom’s family shall pay for the quid and then chew it. [I’m not sure if my translation of this provision is accurate.—Blogger]
(5) Fenugang–When the man takes a woman as his wife
(6) Setogkok Ulu–During the wedding, the datu gently presses the heads of the bride and groom against each other as a sign that they’re married.
(7) Alangan–This is put on the path of the groom’s family, with mamaens attached. The groom’s family picks this up as a sign that they will give a horse or properties as dowry.
(8) Fenulot–A ganta of rice and a chicken prepared for the groom’s family, in exchange for one thousand pesos
(9) Sabakan–This contains five pieces [not specified of what] wrapped in a banana leaf with a roasted chicken, worth one thousand pesos. Clothes may also be used as payment for this.
(10) Ugsadan–The groom takes the seat specially made for him.

Section 2. Marriage Process

(1) Sunggod–The groom’s family has to give five horses and one carabao to the parents of the bride depending on the dowry set by the mother.
(2) Pliku Tamok–If the bride doesn’t want to be married, all the dowry should be returned to the groom.
(3) Tinabanan–The parents of the bride are given a horse. [This provision seems to lack necessary details.—Blogger]
(4) Tising–The parents of the bride and groom have to talk if their children like each other, and one horse has to be given [to the bride’s parents] as a sign.
(5) Enugsadan–The amount of dowry that the mother of the bride has received has to be returned to the groom in full amount, plus two animals. [My translation of this provision may not be accurate. The original text is confusing.—Blogger]
(6) Ited–If the wife dies, the groom has to give two horses to the woman’s family so that she can be replaced by her sister.
(7) Duduk–If the wife dies, she may be replaced by her daughter. [This provision seems to lack necessary details.—Blogger]
(8) Nesegaw–A man and a woman elope.

Section 3. Process on Taking the Wife of Another

(1) If the wife of a man is taken by another and the wife returns to her husband, the father of the woman has to give one horse to the husband. The paramour also has to give one horse to the husband.
(2) If the wife and the paramour decide to marry, the dowry has to be returned to the husband, plus one horse from the wife and one horse from the paramour. Instead of returning the dowry, the parents of the woman may replace her with her sister.

(This post is a part of a series on Kitab, the customary law of the Dulangan Manobos. See my introductory post for the list of posts containing all the sections of the law. You may also see the original Filipino version on Scribd.)