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ANCESTRAL DOMAIN ETHNOGRAPHY

NCIP Administrative Order 04 of 2012, Revised Omnibus Rules on Delineation and Recognition of Ancestral Domain/Lands
of 2012

1. The testimony of elders or community under oath.

2. Other documents directly or indirectly attesting to the possession or occupation of the area since time immemorial
by such ICCs/IPs in the concept of owner/s which shall be any one (1) of the following authentic documents:

a. Written accounts of the ICCs/IPs customs and traditions;

b. Written accounts of the ICCs/IPs political structure and institutions;
c. Pictures showing long term occupation such as those of old improvements, burial grounds, sacred places and old
villages;
d. Historical accounts, including pacts and agreements concerning boundaries entered by the ICCs/IPs concerned
with ICCs/IPs;
e. Survey plans and indicative maps;
f. Anthropological data;
g. Genealogical data;
h. Pictures and descriptive histories of traditional communal forests and hunting grounds;
i. Pictures and descriptive histories of traditional landmarks such as mountains, rivers, creeks, ridges, hills, terraces
and the like; or
j. Write-ups of names and places derived from the native dialect of the community.

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III. ETHNOGRAPHIC DATA TO BE COLLECTED

Outline Data Needed Remarks

1. Geography & People
Name of Ethnolinguistic Group Manobo
One Family
Kinship and Social relationship binding them as one
ancestral domain.
Language as binding entity of their identity as Manobo
ethnolinguistic group who claimed as one.
Sector from logging companies that entered the AD and the
gold mining economy.
Why agusan allows separate claims?
Logging company that entered the ancestral
domain and what year? (refer to DENR/CENRO-
Bayugan)
Find Literature, if available. (Garvan, Pastells,
Elkins)

Historical development of From ______to ______ then the spread of nuclear family Find Literature, if available. (Garvan, Pastells,
peoples with inter-marriages to other family coming from other Elkins)
banwa. From hunting and kaingin to large scale production
such as rubber, abaca and falcate plantations. Mining
economy was also introduced.
Description of the Ancestral The claimed AD was called by themselves as pasak where Unsa ang ancestral domain para sa ilaha?
Domain they are the mig-ugpa (settlers) and tumindok (lumad). Ngano nag claim sila?
Within the ancestral domain are places where they establish
Yuha (farm). Pangayamanan (hunting ground) such as Unsa ang nahiapil sa pasak?
bobongan (mountain) and wuhig (river, creek and water
bodies) can also be located within the claimed AD/ pasak. Describe what within the AD?
Apogan (sacred place) were also identified. Those places
where their ancestors were buried are being treated as Key Words: Pasak, Banwa, Uminugpa, Mig-
sacred and burial grounds of the current time. ugpa, Yuha, Bayoy, Tagbanwa
Location & Traditional Boundary La Purisima and portions of San Martin and Bolhoon. Isa-isahon og butang ang mga identified banwa.
(Narrative) Identified 39 banwa, each with corresponding leaders/datu,

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some datu led 2 or 3 banwa.
The claimed AD or what they call pasak is located at the
municipality of Prosperidad, ADS and portion of brgy.
Bolhoon, municipality of San Miguel, SDS.
It is traditionally bounded by the following based on the
agreed and signed traditional boundary settlements through
a Kasabutan that were facilitated during the duration of the
social preparation. Local terms used for the word boundary
are pag-aetan or pag-utlan.
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Naa ba one-to-one correspondence sa sectoral
(is aka banwa, isa ka leader?
Na-unify ba ang 39 Banwa? Naa ba unifying
governance structure? Change over time?
Perimeter Boundary Markers of the AD
Names of places and landmarks – refer to Inday
Buyog
- Between Bayugan
(manukad sa kanto sa brgy. San jose, Prosperidad
og Osmena; padulong sa New Tiniwisan og Villa
Ondayon; taman sa San Miguel, Surigao del Sur.
Ang sa taas nga bahin iya sa Bayugan og ang sa
ubos iya sa Prosperidad)
Beginning from junction of Brgy. San Jose and
Osmena; going to Brgy. New Tiniwisan to Villa
Ondayon then to San Miguel, SDS. The upper part
will be the AD of Bayugan and the lower part will
be the AD of Prosperidad. – Mar. 28, 2011
- Between Bolhoon
Buko-buko sa Bukid sa Pandapoon (ang luna nga
maagian sa tubig ambak paingon ngadto sa
teritoryo ni Datu Pinig Luciano Wagdos, iyaha ni
Datu Pinig o gang luna nga maagian sa tubig,
ambak paiingon sa teritoryo ni Datu Bakilawan
Calpito Egua, iyaha ni Datu Bakilawan. – Nov. 15,
2011
- Between Mabuhay, Prosperidad
Nagasukad sa Sapa sa Kokat; padulong sa Bukid
sa may Villangit sa may Platinum, sangko sa
Bukid sa Maeytigbaw. – Sept. 9,2011
-Between San Martin and La Purisima
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Location & Traditional Boundary Topo Map made by PGAS. Produce soft copy and attached for reference
(Map) and visual appreciation.
Community-made Map 2014 made during the CBWG
capacity building, ADSDPP Data Collation and during the
2015 data gathering at Sitio Gacob. The map shows the
location of banwa, burial, sacred and hunting grounds. It
also shows the mountains and creeks found within the
claimed AD. Traditional boundary markers are also reflected
in the map.
Physical Terrain
relationship of the ancestral The claimed AD is located in brgy. La Purisima and portion of Details with regard to distance – refer to
domain to the geographic brgy. San Martin in the municipality of prosperidad, Agusan ADSDPP Data
region del sur. The AD also includes portion of brgy. Bolhoon
(Manhulayan, previously part of La Purisima) in the
municipality of San Miguel, Surigao del Sur.
The ancestral domain is bounded to the W and NW by the
municipality of Bayugan City, ADS; to the E and NE by the
municipality of San Miguel, SDS; and to the S by Brgy.
Mabuhay, Prosperidad, ADS. – refer to draft ethno (SPadillo)
It is considered one of the nearest AD to the government
center of ADS which is located in Patin-ay, Prosperidad.
Nearest airport is the Butuan Airport in Butuan City and the
nearest seaport is the Lianga Seaport in the municipality of
Lianga, SDS.
traditional territorial boundary Pag-aetan is the Manobo term which can be equated to Tan-awon pa sa agreement og mapa. I-discuss
and boundary markers boundary. Common to Manobo that pag-aetan or the diria dapit ang mga stories og kasaysayan ngano
traditional markers were mountain ridges, creeks and rivers. mao ang nahimo nga boundary.
These pag-aetan were usually placed on landmark such as
mentioned above because according to them, these
landmarks are permanent and do not disappear.
water bodies These water bodies serve as fishing ground for Manobo. What water bodies ang naa sa AD? Dagko o
Aside from that, they get their drinking water from springs, gagmay? Unsa ang current status sa water
creeks and rivers that can also be found near or within their bodies? Nausab o wala ang water quality?

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banwa. Common also to a Manobo banwa that it is near Ngano nausab or ngano wala?
running water. Water bodies especially creeks and rivers are
common fishing ground for the uminugpa (settler/member
of the community) of the banwa.
plain Estimated percentage that composes the slope of the AD is
hilly 8% - 18% slope from the barangay of La Purisima and San
Forested Martin. As it approach NW near the pag-aetan of Bayugan
Rugged and Prosperidad Ads, the slope elevates upto 18% - 50% and
denuded above slope. Near the boundary of of AD and Bolhoon is Change sa forest pagsulod sa logging company?
18% - 50 % slope. (DENR) Unsa ang use before and after logging
During the data gathering, the vegetation was composed concession? Unsa nga mga company?
mainly of forested areas. However, some have already
cultivated large areas for planting abaca, falcata, rubber and
corn. The remaining forested area is still often used as
hunting ground and camote and vegetable garden.
Inevitably, there are already parts of the AD that is now a
mining area.
Settlement Patterns
Dense or clustered; sparse or Scattered. Clustered near purok/sitio centers. Dili linear og
scattered; linear or grid dili grid except those near the poblacion.
Housing materials used Rattan strips for fastening post, Inak-ak and Lawaan as walls In La purisima most of the houses use
and house frames. Anahaw Leaves and Lumbia (Sago Palm) galvanized irons for roofing when the entry of
for roofing. small scale miners entered their place giving
them a source of income. In San Martin, most of
the houses use indigenous materials because
the road is not easily accessible.

Types (e.g. floating on logs) Most of the Houses are stilt, with floors a meter above the For the protection from roaming wild animals.
ground.
Special purpose buildings Storage facilities, payag, tagoanan sa bulawan, rest house,
Recent developments Logging roads, recreational area/social hall, water system Refer to ADSDPP
level II, electricity, schools (closed), GI Sheet, post-harvest

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facilities, quarry, health center, bridges, government

facilities
2. Ethno-Cultural Data
Local Geography
Specific description of Within the ancestral domain, there are many mountains, Unsa ang mga traditional markers? Ngano?
traditional boundaries & rivers, creeks, and other land formation that was named and Ginaunsa pagpili? Unsay ang rason sa
markers known to all by the claimants. These names of land pagbutang og markers? Naa ba o Unsa ang mga
formation have also served as address to the mig-ugpa of timailhan sa boundary? Unsa kini nga mga
the banwa within the claimed AD and also known by those timailhan? Naa ba mga kasabutan? Unsa ang
Lumads outside the claimed AD. proseso sa panagsabot? Kinsa ang mga
magsabot sa pagbutang og markers?
Stories, legends The legend and stories of Bagolan, Alpha and
Omega?
Sinugdanan sa lugar nga Bahbah?
Myths and Magics? Superstition?
Diwata?
Historical accounts
Peace pacts Tampuda held in Maug River between Banwaon and Refer to CIPerez
Manobo. Apo Sawod, a Manobo from Sibagat serve as Key words: Tampuda, Magahat, Apo, Manigaon,
baewan during the tampuda. Baewan
Culturally significant ecological Mga Bukid, sapa, suba, gakob, kahoy. Each corresponds to Refer to IBuyog and pictures
features (rivers, lakes, ponds, stories and economic activities.
creeks, streams, forests,
mountains, rocks, caves)
Man-made structures (roads, Refer to VLobood and ADSDPP Data
bridges, religious
buildings/churches educational
facilities, local government
buildings, water system,
communication system, market,
etc.)
Local History (Origin of the
Community)

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First Settlers VLobood

Change Over the Years
Events that Affected the Lives of CIPerez
the Communities
Entry of Other Groups; like MGeolagon
migrant settlers, logging or
mining companies or
plantations
Archaeological data (burial JBat-ao
sites, midden & settlements as
evidenced by pottery, tools,
accessories, jewelleries,
beadworks, coffins
Population VLobood/SPadillo/ADSDPP
Census of Population
Socio-Demographic Data (HH
size, age, gender, occupation,
education, ethnicity, religion)
Historical demographic changes
(primary & secondary data)
Social Organization & Kinship MGeolagon
Marriage patterns
Marital residence
Formation of the nuclear family
Gender roles
Enculturation
Traditional education of
children
Genealogical chart
Descriptive genealogy
(consanguineal relationship)
Technology & Economy MMonato/ORocero

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Pattern/Practices of obtaining They do farming, fishing, and hunting/foraging for daily

food (hunting, fishing, foraging, subsistence.
farming, etc.)
Substantive belief & practices in
use of natural resources for
(1) production,
(2) consumption,
(3) distribution &
(4) exchange
Recently acquired economic Mining, planting of FALCATA and rubber Planting Falcata and Rubber started with the
activities entry of BIsaya in 1964. The income from the
(manufacturing, merchandising, lumbers enticed the natives to do the same.
commerce)
Food processing Sugnuhan, Meat fats are stored in a bamboo. Cooking using The meat is suspended in air over the amber.
Kodon (clay pot).
Dietary habits
Economic relationship with Botong (barter) done in Liangga Surigao del Sur. Rattan,
other groups (trading, bartering wooden Handles, Abaca, are usually exchange for utensils,
& other market exchanges) clothes, salt and etc.,

Manggad- when one gets interested in the possession of

others, he offers another thing of similar or greater value in
lieu thereof.
Land is Life:
(1) Spiritual relationship of
people;
(2) Economic relationship
of people
(3) Use of land & natural
resources;
(4) Management of land &
natural resources
Impact of rapidly changing

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global economy on “land is life”

Political Organization CIPerez
Indigenous politico-legal
institution
Changes that have taken place
over the years
Description of the (1)
indigenous political structure/
system;
(2) rules of succession in
leadership;
(3) powers;
(4) function
Customary laws on land tenure
Customary laws on resource use
& management through IKSP
Customary laws on natural
resource-based conflicts
Process of traditional
resolution/settlement of
conflicts within the
community and inter-tribal
communities
Indigenous ways of settlement
and link with the Barangay
Justice System
Relationship with the state
system over the years
(introduction of new
institutional arrangements; new
relationship with LGUs like
IPMR

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Ideology & Religion LMPlaza/MMonato

Indigenous beliefs & practices
How new religions that entered
into their community are
interpreted & reinterpreted
over the years
Rituals linking religious beliefs &
practices with the ecosystem
Arts, Crafts & Intangible LMPlaza/MMonato
Culture
Songs
Dances
Music
folktales
Pictures APOson

 This section on “geography and people” is a detailed description of the ancestral domain, noting its exact
location and traditional boundaries on the community/cultural map. This should be done with the active
participation of the local people. Use local terms for describing their traditional and natural boundaries and
not the existing political boundaries.
 Physical Terrain: relationship of the ancestral domain to the geographic region, traditional territorial
boundary and boundary markers, water bodies, plain, hilly, forested, rugged, denuded, etc.
 Settlement Patterns: Dense or clustered, sparse or scattered, linear, grid; housing—materials used, types
(e.g. floating on logs), special purpose buildings (e.g. for ritual, justice hall, long house) and recent
developments due to urbanization and modernization.
 Determination of the ethnolinguistic group to which the community belongs: how do they call themselves;
how are they called by others; what is the native language (e.g. Manobo, Binukid) and other languages
spoken by the people (e.g. Cebuano, Ilonggo).

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 Briefly describe the language situation that has been brought about by culture contact, education,
intermarriages between and among ethnolinguistic groups and other factors.

1. Ethno-cultural Data
 Local Geography. This is the geographical description of the ancestral domain settlements of the claimants
with specific description of traditional boundaries and markers. The description should include stories,
legends and historical accounts such as peace pacts related to the traditional boundary markers as well as
other culturally significant ecological features (e.g. rivers, lakes, ponds, creeks, streams, forests, mountains,
rocks and caves).
 The local geography should also include man-made structures roads, bridges, religious
buildings/churches, educational facilities, local government buildings, water system, communication
system, market, shopping centers, etc.
 Local History relates the origin of the community—who were the first settlers and how the community
changed over the years, events that had taken place that have affected the lives of the people like epidemics,
entry of other groups like the migrant settlers, commercial industries (logging, mining, plantation, etc.)
 Where available, archaeological data may also be used as evidence of time-immemorial habitation e.g.
burial sites, midden and settlement sites as evidenced by the presence of pottery, tools, accessories,
jewelleries, beadworks, coffins, etc.
 Population. This refers to the census of the population within the ancestral domain. A census must be
conducted that would include gathering of socio-demographic data (e.g. household size, age, gender,
occupation, education, ethnicity and religion). There is also a need to capture historical demographic changes.
Based on oral history and available literature, briefly describe the demographic changes within the ancestral
domain.
 Social Organization and Kinship.
 Collection of data on the marriage patterns including marital residence and formation of the nuclear
family; gender roles; enculturation and traditional education of children.

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 Genealogical reckoning by tracing consanguineal relationship which determines the kinship system of
the different claimant families in the ancestral domain. A descriptive genealogy and a chart (like the
family tree) would be helpful.
 Technology and Economy
 Technology refers to the pattern/practices of obtaining food from their natural resources through
hunting, fishing, foraging and farming
 Economy refers to the substantive belief and practices in the way people use natural resources for
production, consumption, distribution and exchange. It describes how the people relate to each other
in producing their material needs, exchanging, distributing and consuming their products: hunting,
foraging, horticulture, fishing and intensive agriculture. It includes recently acquired economic activities
such as manufacturing, merchandising and commerce. It may also include food processing and dietary
habits along with their economic relationship with other groups as in trading or bartering and other
market exchanges.
 Many IPs continue to assert that “land is life”. Data supportive of this assertion focuses on the spiritual
and economic relationship between people, the use and management of land and natural resources.
How is this world view and belief system impact on and challenges posed by a rapidly changing global
economy. On the other hand, how does the rapidly changing global economy impact on the “land is
life” world view.

 Political Organization
 This refers to the indigenous politico-legal institution but also taking into account changes that have
taken place over the years.
 Description of the indigenous political structure (e.g. lakay and pangat system among Cordillera groups
in Northern Luzon; datu, timuay, igbuyag and hawodon among Mindanao groups), system and the
rules of succession in leadership, powers and function.

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 Customary laws on land tenure and resource use and management through IKSP, and natural resource-
based conflicts.
 Process of traditional resolution/settlement of conflicts within the community and inter-tribal
communities. Also looking into how the indigenous ways of settlement link with the Barangay justice
system.
 Relationship with the state system over the years, e.g. the introduction of new institutional
arrangements; new relationship with LGUs (Indigenous People Mandatory Representative).

 Ideology and Religion

 This refers to their indigenous religious beliefs and practices. It should also include how the new
religions that entered into their community are interpreted and reinterpreted over the years.
 For the purposes of this ethnography, the focus is on the rituals linking religious beliefs and practices
with the ecosystem, such practices often connect personal and community health, and health of the
ecosystem.

 Arts, Crafts, and Intangible Culture.

 Arts and crafts are tangible material culture produced by the people in terms of their use but depicting
artistic designs e.g. basketry, weaving (mat and textile), jewelries, musical instruments, etc.
 Intangible culture refers to their oral traditions such as oral history, epics, folklore, legends, music,
dances, etc.
 For this ethnography, the focus will be on the connection between the intangible culture and the
ecosystem.

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