1. Katawhan Lumad:
Katawhan Lumad are the un-Islamized and un-Christianized Austronesian peoples of Mindanao, namely
Erumanen ne Menuvu`, Matidsalug Manobo, Agusanon Manobo, Dulangan Manobo, Dabaw
Manobo,Ata Manobo, B'laan, Kaulo, Banwaon, Teduray, Lambangian, Subanen, Higaunon, Dibabawon,
Mangguwangan, Mansaka, Mandaya, K'lagan, T'boli, Mamanuwa, Talaandig, Tagabawa, and Ubu`,
Tinenanen, Kuwemanen, K'lata and Diyangan. There are about twenty general hilltribes of Mindanao, all
of which are Austronesian.
The term Lumad excludes the Butuanons and Surigaonons--even the said two ethnic groups are native
to Mindanao and the word tells it so—because those two are Visayans and Lumad are not ethnically
related to them, which creates a contradiction because the word lumad literally means "native" in
Visayan.
B'laan:
The B'laan is an indigenous group that is concentrated in Davao del Sur and South Cotabato. They
practices indigenous rituals while adaptating to the way of life of modern Filipinos.[2]
Kaulo:
Kaulo are also called kaolo/kaulu, tagakaulo/tagakaolo/tagakaulu, is one of the tribe exist in Mindanao.
KA- means people, ULO- means top. Therefore, KAULO are people living in the top of mountain. Their
habitat is found in the province of Davao Del Sur and Sarangani Province particularly in Malalag, Lais,
Talaguton Rivers, Sta. Maria Malita Davao del Sur and Malungon Sarangani Province. But long time ago,
the KAULO tribe is originally come from western shores of the gulf of Davao and south of Mt. Apo [3]
Manobo:
Cotabato Manobo is a language spoken by the Manobo people of Mindanao in the Philippines.
Subanon:
The Subanuns are the first settlers of the Zamboanga peninsula. Because they live near the river
("suba"), they are called river dwellers or Suba-nuns. The family is patriarchal while the village is led by a
chief called Timuay. He acts as the village judge and is concerned with all communal matters.
Higaonon:
The Higaonon is located on the provinces of Bukidnon, Agusan del Sur, Misamis Oriental, Rogongon,
Iligan City, and Lanao del Norte. Their name means "people of the wilderness". Most Higaonons still
have a rather traditional way of living. Farming is the most important economic activity.
Kalagan:
Cultural groups Majority of the inhabitants of the region are of Visayan lineage. The ethnic residents
include the Manobo, the Mamanwa and other tribes.
Kamayo are related linguistically to the Tausug and Butuanon, and belong to the Meso and central
Philippine family of languages. The group are concentrated in the provinces of Agusan del Norte (6,500)
and Surigao del Sur (115,850). The population estimate at present is placed at 122,350 (NM 1994).
Like most of the groups in the eastern coast of Mindanao, the Kamayo cultivate wet rice in the flat land
along the coast and nearby valleys while upland fields are planted to a variety of crops including cash
crops of abaca.
Mamanwa:
The Mamanwa is a Negrito tribe often grouped together with the Lumad. They believe in a collection of
spirits, which are governed by the supreme deity Magbabaya. The tribe produce excellent winnowing
baskets, rattan hammocks, and other household containers. If the Manobos are considered as the first
Cantilan gnons, the Mamanwas could also lay claim to the same title. The big difference, however,
between the two cultural minorities is that the Mamanwas are lesser in number and more scattered and
nomadic than the Manobos. The Mamanwas are a different breed of people in their looks and physical
features compared to the lowlanders and the upland living Manobos. Presently, there are still few
Mamanwas who, on fiesta days, roam Cantilan streets and its barangays. In modern Cantilan, they are a

2. vanishing tribe who could be traced only in the deep and distant mountains like the Mandajas who
inter-marry with the Manobos.
Unlike the Manobos, the Mamanwas did not adopt the lowlanders’ way of living even if they were
already Christianized. They had been rooted for centuries in the indigenous culture which is very difficult
to understand. The speak their own dialect which noticeably has some phonetic similarities with that of
Cantilan’s lowlanders. Unlike the Manobos and Mandayas, they do not go to schools to learn either
Pilipino or English. Some old Mamanwas of today tell of their ancestors’ early habitats along river
mouths, seashores, islets and islands. They cannot, however, pinpoint particular areas as their
permanent settlements for they did not have any. They transfer from place to place and travel as far as
their minds could imagine and their feet could carry them. The transfers usually happen in case of
deaths for it was the old customs to pack up and leave the place when death occurs even if their plants
are ready for harvest.
Mandaya:
"Mandaya" derives from "man" meaning "first," and "daya" meaning "upstream" or "upper portion of a
river," and therefore means "the first people upstream". It refers to a number of groups found along the
mountain ranges of Davao Oriental, as well as to their customs, language, and beliefs. The Mandaya are
also found in Compostela and New Bataan in Compostela Valley Province (formerly a part of Davao del
Norte Province).
Mansaka:
The term "Mansaka" derives from "man" meaning "men" and "saka" meaning "climb," and means "the
first people to ascend the mountains or go upstream." The term most likely describes the origin of these
people who are found today in Davao del Norte, specifically in the Batoto River, the Manat Valley, the
Marasugan Valley, the Hijo River Valley, and the seacoasts of Kingking, Maco, Kwambog, Hijo, Tagum,
Libuganon, Tuganay, Ising, and Panabo.
Sangil:
The Sangir or Sangil is located in the islands of Balut, Sarangani, and the coastal areas of South Cotabato
and Davao del Sur. Their name comes from Sangihe, an archipelago located between Sulawesi and
Mindanao. This was their original home but they migrated northwards.
Subanon:
History has better words to speak for Misamis Occidental. Its principal city was originally populated by
the Subanon, a cultural group that once roamed the seas in great number, the province was an easy
prey to the marauding sea pirates of Lanao whose habit was to stage lightning forays along the coastal
areas in search of slaves. As the Subanon retreated deeper and deeper into the interior, the coastal
areas became home to inhabitants from Bukidnon who were steadily followed by settlers from nearby
Cebu and Bohol. The name Subanon, "which is derived from the word suba, "river," means a river
people. c danevie kay subanon!!! taga suba
Tasaday:
The Tasadays were purportedly a group of about two dozen people living within the deep and
mountainous rainforests of Mindanao
Tboli:
The Tbolis are one of the indigenous peoples of South Mindanao. From the body of ethnographic and
linguistic literature on Mindanao they are variously known as Toboli, T'boli, Tböli, Tiboli, Tibole, Tagabili,
Tagabeli, and Tagabulu. They term themselves Tboli or T'boli. Their whereabouts and identity is to some
extend confused in the literature; some publications present the Toboli and the Tagabili as distinct
peoples; some locate the Tbolis to the vicinity of the Buluan Lake in the Cotabato Basin or in Agusan del
Norte. The Tbolis, then, reside on the mountain slopes on either side of the upper Alah Valley and the
coastal area of Maitum, Maasim and Kiamba. In former times, the Tbolis also inhabited the upper Alah
Valley floor.