Tausug, also spelled Tau Sug or Tausog, also called Joloano, Sulu, or Suluk, one of

the largest of the Muslim (sometimes called Moro) ethnic groups of the southwestern
Philippines. They live primarily in the Sulu Archipelago, southwest of the island of
Mindanao, mainly in the Jolo island cluster. There are, however, significant migrant (or
immigrant) communities of Tausug in Malaysia and Indonesia, particularly on the
northeastern coast of the island of Borneo. In the early 21st century the Tausug in the
Philippines numbered roughly 900,000; in Malaysia they totalled about 200,000, and in
Indonesia they amounted to nearly 20,000.

Traditionally the Tausug are sailors, pearl divers and traders, their ancestral homelands
in the Sulu Archipelago have vigorous tidal currents that flow from the Sulu and China
Seas to the Celebes Sea. This translates literally into the name people of the current.

This native tribe, the first group in the archipelago to be converted to Islam, possess a
courage that is beyond doubt, their bravery is supposed to be unquestionable, therefore
the Tausug are often named Tau Maisug or brave people. They are proud Muslims
renowned for their fierce resistance in the face of Spanish Conquerors, for 300 years
the Tausug and the Spanish were engaged in almost continuous warfare, which ended
when the Spaniards left the Philippines. The Tausug regards themselves superior to
other Philippine Muslims and still live a combative way of life, running away from a fight
is considered shameful. One old Tausug proverb says: Hanggang maybuhay, may pag
asa, meaning; Never admit defeat as long as you live.

MARRIAGE

The Tausogs still practice age-old marriage customs. Marriages were arranged by the
parents so that the young couple would be married even if they did not have much
opportunity to get acquainted. A dowry is go to the bride's family by the groom's family.
This dowry may be in the form of crops, work animals, land, money or pieces of jewelry.

Loyalty is an important trait among the Tausugs. They practice the ritual of
BLOOD COMPACT to signify the depth of their loyalty to one another. They are
fierce and dangerous but the moment one befriends one of them, the bond will be
enduring.

Certain burial customs are observed among these people. For example, when someone
in the family dies, religious officials are called upon to perform the rituals. The dead
man's body is washed to prepare it for the ceremony. The sacred text of the Koran is
read over the body. ft is believed that the chants from the Koran will lighten the dead
man's spirit from its physical pain. The reading of the Koran Is continued, this time over
the grave, for several days. Tausugs means treacherous waters They are given this
name because their land floats atop the treacherous waters.

ABOUT THE ART AND MUSIC.....

Most of the Tausog art Is evident in the implements they use. The ukkil design an
artistic and colorful combination of shapes, is seen in almost anything of value to the
Tausug's. Tausug implements such as fishing boats, weapons, household articles,
utensils and musical instruments can be easily identified through this design.

ABOUT THEIR ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES.....

Tausugs are good farmers. They cultivate corn, sweet potatoes, and vegetables for their
daily subsistence. Coconuts, cassava and abaca are grown for commercial purposes.
However, they have to import all their rice.

Those who live by the lakeshore, rivers and seacoasts are good fishermen. They catch
many varieties of fish, sharks, sea cucumbers and pearls.

ABOUT THEIR HOUSES

The ancient dwelling of the Tausugs are built mostly with indigenous materials. Joti is a
plant they use for posts while sent leaves are utilized for walls. Digpi, the bark of a
specific tree, is used to fasten walls and posts. The digpi 6-8 feet long which is pre-
soaked in salt water for sometime then dried before it is used.

Most of the Tausug homes have spacious unpartitioned rooms. There is a verandah or
balcony in front of the house. The kitchen is built separately from the rest of the house
to prevent smoke from entering the main room. Most of the Tausugs build their
stairways facing the rising sun. They believe that fortune will come early in the morning
if one's stairway faces the east.

ABOUT THEIR MANNER OF DRESSING

The Tausug men wears tight fitting pants and shirt, a sash around the waist and a
matching turban. Their clothes are made of cotton which they weave locally. Oftentimes,
men shave their heads or cut their hair short of signify their social status. The women
wear matching sarong of the Malay type. They wear brass accessories to their blouses
or use as necklace or bracelets.

THE MAGUINDANAOS CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS.....

Another important Muslim group are the Maguindanaos. They live by the Rio Grande
lake. The Maguindanaos observe a code of conduct called LUWARAN. Among the
provisions of this code is one on borrowing and losses. A Maguindanao is expected to
return promptly any time borrowed from another person. Failure to do is considered as
stealing. Anything who fails to return an object has to replace it completely or else, one
Suffers punishment.

A Maguindanao considers an oath or a promise as very important. Anyone who

makes a promise or an oath must fulfill it. Non-fulfillment could mean danger to
him! Pre-arranged marriages are also common among this group. They believe
that this type of marriage leads to a happy, successful and enduring
relationships.

ABOUT THEIR MATERIAL CULTURE THE HOUSES

Maguindanao houses are made of bamboo and nipa palms. Their floors are made out of
available tree trunks. They can beautifully convert any material into a useful part of the
house. Modernization has come to the community and many hot now use galvanized
iron instead of nipa palms for roofing.

Their manner of dressing is similar to that of other Muslims. They wear bright cotton
materials for their malong. However, many of the women have adapted the western
style of clothing worn by women in the urban area.

Tausug or Suluk is the name of an Islamized tribal group in the Sulu archipelago, and is
taken from the words tau meaning man and sug meaning current.

Traditionally the Tausug are sailors, pearl divers and traders, their ancestral homelands
in the Sulu Archipelago have vigorous tidal currents that flow from the Sulu and China
Seas to the Celebes Sea. This translates literally into the name people of the current.

This native tribe, the first group in the archipelago to be converted to Islam, possess a
courage that is beyond doubt, their bravery is supposed to be unquestionable, therefore
the Tausug are often named Tau Maisug or brave people. They are proud Muslims
renowned for their fierce resistance in the face of Spanish Conquerors, for 300 years
the Tausug and the Spanish were engaged in almost continuous warfare, which ended
when the Spaniards left the Philippines. The Tausug regards themselves superior to
other Philippine Muslims and still live a combative way of life, running away from a fight
is considered shameful. One old Tausug proverb says: Hanggang maybuhay, may pag
asa, meaning; Never admit defeat as long as you live.

This homogeneous tribe is a blend of Malay and Indonesian races; they are widespread
in the Philippines and can be found mainly in coastal area communities. They are
distinctive from the Badjao Tribe by the aspects of their own culture and because they
speak their own language. In the past the Tausug were boisterous pirates who infested
the waters from the Sulu seas but nowadays make a living from agriculture, raising
water buffaloes and fishing. Aside from being known as the best, gallant and ferocious
freedom fighters of the world the Tausug are famous for being the best pearl divers in
the world. Fishing is done in off-shore waters from motorized boats using bamboo traps,
hook and line and fishing nets.

The strong-willed Tausug follow the Sunni Islamic beliefs and practices, Sunni Islam is
the largest branch of Islam, the word Sunni comes from the word Sunnah meaning
tradition. But indigenous beliefs endure, apart from Allah or Tuhan, the Tausug also
believe in spirits that inhabit nature, especially rocks and trees, like the evil spirits
named saytan and unseen creatures called jinn. According to the Tausug the human
soul has four souls which leave the body when he dies, the life-soul related with blood,
the spirit-soul connected with dreams, the soul of breath, associated with life and the
transcendental soul. The body of the deceased will go to hell, to receive punishment for
the sins committed while he was living. Various charms and belief in spirits, in order to
gain success and good fortune, are still a great part of their daily life.

Tausug folk stories tell of great ancestors and legends, a favourite legend is the
Kaawn of Bud Tumantangis, Mount Tumantangis, the highest peak in the province is
called as such because, when sailing away, sailors cry when they lose sight of this
landmarks and when they return, upon seeing again its silhouette from far away. The
name Tumantangis comes from the word tangis, which means to cry, and bud meaning
mountain, known to locals as the weeping mountain. The beautiful tomb of Sharif Abu
Bakr, the founder of the Sulu Sultanate still exists on one of the slopes of Mount
Tumantangis. The believes of the Tausug can be seen in their rituals and dances, many
of them reflecting nature, such as the ebb and flow of the waves of the ocean, referring
to their travels at sea.

The Pangalay, a traditional Tausug wedding dance and popularly known as the
fingernail dance is one of the most well known dances, accompanied by a kulintang
ensemble. This dance is distinctive because dancers use metal or golden nail extenders
or janggay, which make the fingers stiff and set them apart from the thumbs. The
Pangalay imitates the mythical Sarimanok bird, a reincarnation of a goddess who loved
a mortal man, after the dance, she removes her nails and drops them to the ground,
hoping that a man will gather them and will claim her for his bride. A Tausug marriage is
usually arranged by parents, with the exception of the children of brothers, first and
second cousins are favoured spouses. Marriageable women are kept in relative
seclusion to protect their value to their family.

The Tausug tribe is one of the Muslim minorities in the Southern Philippines; they still
retain many of the ancient practices and strong, dynamic traditions of their particular
tribal heritages but are experiencing a great deal of change. The traditional Tausug
culture is diminishing because of the influences of the modern Philippine society. Many
of the Tausug are living below poverty level and have been displaced from their homes
and livelihoods by the wars and armed conflicts between rebel groups and the
Philippine government.

The Tausug, a rough tribe that roamed the Southern Seas and resisted foreign
intruders at land  is at present caught, in the middle of nowhere.

2. How does a tausug man court agirl he likes?

• TRADITIONAL: Woman back then can’t be seen by men. As what the informant had
quoted, “There is no courtship in tausug”. So, there is only parental arrangement.

4. How is tausug wedding beingpracticed? Accordingly,

the man is supposed to give the woman a homemade native foods in a colorful wrapper.
.Also, in the old times, only the parents of the man can decide who he’ll marry.
5. Both ways requires the man to go at the woman’s house with his parents,
introduce himself, set the dowry and plan the wedding. It’s more known
as“mamanhikan.”The second step is to set the date of the wedding or the engagement
known as “Pagturul taymah”. In pagturul taymah, the man is required to give gifts to the
girl and the girl’s relatives and visitors. This serves as the give away. Also, the man
must have a consent from either the father, brother or uncle. Only these people can give
the consent known as “wali”. Without wali, the man cannot marry the woman.
6. • After been engaged, they then will perform “Pagkawin.” This is where the man
and woman will be married.• There are instances, that “Pagkawin” and the celebration is
being done at the same date. Pagkawin in the morning, then the celebration at the
afternoon more known now as reception.• In the old times, pagkawin and the
celebration are done on different dates. It depends on the man’s capacity.
7. • The pagkawin is done, when the man will have a deal with the “Imam” or the
officiating person of the wedding. According to the interviewee, the thumb of the groom
and the imam must touch as well as their right knees. Their hands are covered with a
white cloth. Then, the imam will ask the groom if he is prepared to take over the
responsibilities as the bride’s husband. All the responsibilities of the girl’s parents must
be taken over by his husband.
8. • They can only marry when they have the same religion. If for instance, they’re not
on the same religion, one must convert. Accordingly, most of the tausugs follow Islam
religion.• After it’s been sealed, the bride and groom then is legally married.• In addition,
“pagkawin” is only done in the house of the woman back in the old times.
What is dowry for and what isthe basis?• The dowry is required in order for the man
to be able to marry the girl, and it was stated in the Qur’an. As what the interviewee
said, the dowry is set by the parents and once the man agrees, the two then will be
ready for engagement.• The man can give cow as dowry. But he may also give cash,
sacks of rice, or homemade native foods.• In the old times, the man gives one set of
gold as dowry.
What other beliefs or practicesdo tausugs practice?• In a burial, the tausugs don’t
practice vigil or embalms. They immediately burry the body after twenty-four hours.• In
baptism, there’s this what they call “Paggunting” where the hair of the infant boy is being
cut. This is required to all boy infants. Girl infants on the other hand are not required for
the reason that girls are precious and they must not be touched.
What are the personalities and behaviors of the tausugs?
In typical tausug, boys accordingly, are born leaders. They are the symbol of
masculinity, bravery, and honor. Thus, boys naturally are bold and courageous.• Girls
on the other hand are precious and feminine. They must be covered all the time to avoid
temptation. They must always protect their chastity by covering all their private parts.
Accordingly, only the face and hands are considered not
What are the tausugfoods/delicacies?
• Tausug foods according to the interviewee are influenced by the indian foods.• Main
foods of the tausug are Tiyula sug or Tiyula itum. This is done by putting grilled grated
coconut to the recipe and lots of spices and chili. This recipe can be served daily or in
special occasions like wedding, paggunting, feast days, etc.
• They also have pyanggang which is made from chopped chicken with coconut milk or
“gata”. They serve this on special occasions. They also have many delicacies like pyuto
made from white cassava, bawlu, panyam, panganam, daral, etc.
Lifestyle
In the old times, typical tausugs practice farming, fishing, gold mining or smiting. But
now a days, although some tausug still practice farming and fishing, most tausugs now
are engaging in businesses like trading and barter trade. Some tausugs also work for
the government.
15. How is their fashion like?• Woman, when they’re in their house, they use
“shamra” and “sablay”. Shamra is a typical short sleeve sewn from a simple cloth. Man
on the other hand, they use “sawal or lapi”.• Tausugs when attending special occasions,
also have their gown as what they said, the “batawi”. It is a tight long sleeved gown
made of silk with hundreds of buttons made from bronze.
16. • Women who use batawi are referred to as the most beautiful among the women
present. Woman use this on occasions like wedding. Maid of honors usually use this.•
Tausug men on the other hand, has expensive handkerchief in their shoulder as
decoration. In traditional times, they only use sawal and lapi. But now, they use maong
pants.

 TAUSUG BELIEFSAND PRACTICES

2 TAUSUG  Jolo is the home of the Tausugs  Tausug comes from the word “tau”
which means “man” and “sug” which means “land”  Tausugs are muslims and practice
the tenets of Islam
3.  One characteristic of the Tausug is preservation of the family reputation and will
never commit an act of cowardice that will blemish on the family’s name “You can
never expect a Tausug to run from a good fight” They believe that running away is
shameful especially when other members of the family are involved
4. PAGGUNTING  Tausug baptism  The child clad in best garment is brought to the
group of Imams standing in circle  A few strands of hair are dipped in a container of
the water of butong  The child’s mouth is smeared with sugar  Candle is lit at the
beginning of the rite and is then blown off after

THE BURIAL PRACTICE

When the warmth is gone, the corpse is sponged in cold water  The bathing is done
by religious persons  The bathing is done in silence  The water used is fresh and
perfumed with betel nut flowers, kamanyan or insence, and sandalwood  The corpse
is wiped and then perfumed and placed in a shroud
The shroud is made of three pieces of white cloth in accordance with the length of the
corpse It is wrapped in a lying position with hands placed on its chest, the right over
the left The coffin is made of wood and has no lid Grave is dug in proportion to the
length of the corpse It follows a north-south direction and is 6-9 feet deep and it is
closed with slabs of board about 2-inch thick, 1 foot wide and 3-4 feet long Grave
markers for males are rounded and flat for females

Burial is followed by a seven-day vigil. Depending on a familys economic

circumstances, commemorative feasts may be held on the 7th, 20th, 40th, and 100th
day, and on the first, second, and third anniversaries of death.
RELIGIOUS BELIEFS

They are Sunni Muslims, followers of the Shaft school.  the Five Pillars are observed,
although only the elderly practice daily prayers regularly. All illness, accidents, and other
misfortunes are ultimately Gods will.  The Five Pillars of Islam are declaration of
beheb in the oneness of God and the prophet hood of Muhammad and the four
obligations of praying, almsgiving, fasting, an d pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in
ones lifetime. .

However, the Tausug retain elements of pre-Islamic belief and, additionally, see the
world as inhabited by local spirits capable of causing good or ill fortune. Females do
not participate in daily prayer until after they are married and males may pray only after
they are circumcised. Touching an unmarried female (kublit-kublit), however, is in
theory a finable offense with the actual amount determined by the datu according to
time of day and part of body. Such rules are made to be challenged particularly since
the legal censure does not carry over into the moral sphere. Thus, a young man may be
motivated to touch a particular girl for no other reason than to see if he can get away
with it.

SUPERSTITIOUS BELIEFS
Aside from Allah or Tuhan, the Tausug are also concerned with spirits inhabit nature,
especially rocks and trees, and who are believed to be the cause of human suffering. 
The saytan (evil spirits) and jinn (unseen creatures).  believe in the four composites of
the human soul: the transcendental soul, the life-soul associated with the blood, the
breath or life essence, and the spirit-soul who travels during dreams and who causes
the -shadow
HEALING PRACTICES The mangugubat (curer) who have direct access to the spirit
world.  Traditional medical specialists, who obtain their powers through dreams or by
the instruction of older curers, heal mainly by herbal remedies and prayers