Buhid Mangyan Kids
We ate our packed lunch there at the Tamaraw Gene Pool Center after visiting the captive Tamaraws Kali and Mimi. It was a simple packed lunch which we ate kamotan style (with our barehands) there at the outdoors but it was fun as if we’re just having a picnic. Had a little rest at one of the huts then made our way back towards the city but not without stopping for a visit at a couple of the Buhid Mangyan villages in San Jose.
Buhid Mangyan Village Signage
The Mangyans is an indigenous ethnic group found in the island of Mindoro. They are said to be the original settlers of the island and currently there are 7 Mangyan groups across the regions of the island. Each of them have different qualities. I was able to interact with one of the tribes, the Iraya Mangyans at Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro. This time we were able to visit the Buhid Mangyans found here the the Southern Part of Mindoro.
Garlic is one of the root crops they harvest
The word Buhid literally means “mountain dwellers”. Most Buhid Mangyans live along mountain slopes and are known for planting and growing rice as well as certain root crops like garlic. They are also a creative group of Mangyans known for their colorful weaving and embroidered attires. And among the Mangyan groups, the Buhid along with the Hanunuo Mangyans have retained their ancient script dating as far back to the Brahmi scripts of Indonesia in the 3rd century BC. The Buhids and the Hanunuos still teach their young these ancient scripts even until this day which I’m grateful to learn since this is keeping this important heritage alive. These ancient scripts are so important that it was declared as a National Cultural Treasures in 1997, and were inscribed in the Unesco (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) Memory of the World Register in 1999.
Drying Rice Grains in front of their Mangyan houses
At this times, the Mangyans no longer wear their traditional garbs, but despite this they still live the way they have lived during the ancient times. Christianity may have influenced their modern beliefs but they still retain their some of their animism practices. Their sociological model still retains. The Buhid groups still has the main elders whom they follow.
Elevated storage huts
On one of the the villages we visited, they were still living on their ancient type of houses. They have this elevated storage huts in which no one is allowed to pass under the house as it it somewhat a sacred space. They were not able to explain why but it seems that doing so might spoil their food stocks.
Buhid Mangyan Houses
Visiting these villages were really worth the while. Even at this modern age, they can still adapt through the times yet still retain their ancient cultural heritage. Their old nipa style huts, free roaming cattle and poultry, large farm areas, smiling young ones and gentle elders makes up for an interesting cultural experience. The Mangyans, which are most of times denigrated are really an important part of our Filipino culture and should be respected because of their rich cultural heritage.
i never met a native mangyan yet maybe because ive never been to mindoro but it seems that they too has the great trait of being hospitable ferdz.
similar yata sa mga B’laans of Mindanao ang mga Mangyan
do we need a special permit if we want to visit the place, gatekeepers or something like that?
thanks, btw… we love your site
ron & monette
another very interesting post amigo. it’s always good to hear of people writing about the minorities because there’s really a lot of things we can learn about ourselves in reading about them.
The kids look friendly and cooperative. Ah the slow pace of living we once knew.
Hi Dom! In truth Mangyans are not only hospitable. But it is easy to hurt or offend them if you don’t seem to appreciate their hospitality as well.
I guess in some ways they are similar Allan.
True Photo Cache! They really leave a slow paced life and they are quite used to it even until now.
cute Mangyans. all along i thought that the Mangyans are not living such a slow paced life. being educated and all. i haven’t read anything about them for a long time.
i always wanted to go here!
i agree ferdz, most people look down at Mangyans as if they are second class citizens but as with other tribes, our history will not be as rich if not for them. great post.
Kamotan pala ang tawag sa pagkain ng naka-kamay?? hehe
Once again..ganda talaga ng mga pics
i’ve met a few mangyans once and told them i treat them as equals unlike some (if not most pinoys)…haven’t been to mindoro except puerto…
The pictures looks very good that it makes me want to go there. The people there seems very friendly and the places are very accommodating. Filipinos are really good and friendly.
hi ferdz…. kumusta ka? tagal ko na hindi navisit etong site mo….meron ako fren na taga san jose. ganda ng mga picture mo na naman
pink panther007
I’ve been to Mindoro several times but I never thought that Mindoro is more than just Puerto Galera. Nice informative post! Let us all support Philippine Tourism!
[...] last stop for the day after visiting some Buhid Mangyan Villages was the historical town of Mangarin. Just close to the sea and cut through by a river, the town of [...]
grabe nkkmangha tlga culture ng mga filipinos!!!
Hi, I’m a Biology major from UP Manila, and I’m doing a report for my NatSci 8 (Ethnobotany) subject on Mangyans. I was kind of hoping that you’d let me borrow of your photos for my PPT presentation – I’ll most certainly credit the source. Please and thank you!
Hi. I’m from San Jose and I appreciate your photo blogs for my hometown. I never knew and never been to almost all of your features, it gives me the push to visit these places when I get back. I appreciate your effort to make San Jose known to the world. Continue what you are doing and let’s hope the local government will notice your works and support you! Cheers!
Thank you very much Kim! I do hope I get more financial support at what I am doing