The Hanunuo Mangyan of Mindoro

 1. What are the rich traditions of the Hanunuo Mangyan?

 The call for a meeting using budyong or a large seashell and the tarok dance for a good harvest and welcoming their guests.

 The “pakudos” designs in their clothing and other products made by the people of Hanunuo. Their tribe makes their clothing by means of weaving. The weaving is very tedious and delicate work which involves many steps. Before weaving actually took place, the Hanunuo Mangyan need to gather the materials they will need. They get their materials from the Buri leaves which they will also process manually that can last for many days. After getting their materials they will engage in a process of aligning the threads in between bamboo sticks (“han-ay”) to create the “habihin” or the foundation of the textile that will be made. The weaving (or habol, as called by the locals) is the most difficult part, which is not surprising considering the sophistication of their designs; it can last up to a month depending on the size of the textile.

 “Pangawan” are the products or production of local goods such as bags and wallets for their livelihood.

 They have their own writing system called “Surat Mangyan”. They write by carving the letters in bamboos and smudging it with charcoal to see and read them. The “Surat Mangyan” is commonly used in writing poems (ambahan).

 

2. What are Budyong and Tarok?

Budyong is a large seashell used by Hanunuo Mangyan to signal a meeting. The sound from the budyong can be produced by blowing it. On the other hand, tarok is a kind of dance performed by the tribe before the planting season to ensure a good harvest afterward. These days, the tarok dance serves as a form of entertainment for the tribe and welcoming gesture for their visitors.

 

3. What is their distinct characteristic among other tribes that serves a symbol of their tribe?

The distinct characteristic of Hanunuo Mangyan from other Mangyan tribes is the “pakudos” or the intricate designs in their garments and other goods made by them. The “pakudos” came from the Spanish word “Cruz” which means cross which is the symbol of their tribe.