- Matigsalug
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The Matigsalug are the Bukidnon groups who are found in the Tigwa-Salug Valley in San Fernando in Bukidnon province, Philippines. "Matigsalug" is a term, which means "people along the Salug River (now called the Davao River)". Although often classified under the Manobo tribe, the Matigsalug is a distinct sub-group of indigenous peoples from the Manobos.
The Matigsalug of Bukidnon have an approximate population of 146,500.
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Distribution
They are presently inhabiting the ranges of Central Mindanao, Philippines.
There are 50,000 Matigsalugs in these ranges. An area of 77,134 hectares has been awarded to them as their Ancestral Domain certified by the Philippine Government, within 24,045 population.
Oral tradition has said that their original settlement was at the mouth of Salug River, which is now Davao City. They are the splinter group of the Manobo immigrants (Malayo-Polynesian origin) whose last jump off area to the mainland is the Sulu archipelago.
Pressures from inland pirates caused the Matigsalug to move further up the Salug River, and even further inland also when the Muslims and others of Indonesian origin came and harassed them in their lowland and mid-latitude habitation. At present, the Matigsalug are around 100 kilometers from their original coastal location.
Way of Life
The Matigsalug, in earlier years, practiced a hunting-and-gathering lifestyle with minimal agriculture efforts. Very recently, by the influence of migrant farmers and businessmen from northern Philippines and the island provinces, the Matigsalug shifted to sedentary land cultivation with more or less permanent villages.
What remains of their earlier lifestyle is now found in their cultural and artistic expression. This is evidenced by their costume of bright colored mid-rib blouses and short skirt, and with skillful hunting and gathering techniques. This early lifestyle is also shown in their music, songs, dances, poetry, epic, and spiritual expressions.
Clothing
The Matigsalug men wear short tight-fitting pants that are of knee length and are hem and turbans for the head decorated with beads and fringed with goat's/horse's hair.
Language
SIL International has worked in the Matigsalug community for many decades and published a grammatical description of the language.
Literacy program
Matigsalug Literacy Education Incorporated operated in the Matigsalug area for many years and won several literacy awards.
References
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