The Tagbanua tribe, one of the oldest tribes in the Philippines, can be mainly found in the central and

northern Palawan. Research has shown that the Tagbanua are possible descendants of the Tabon Man; thus, making them one of the original inhabitants of the Philippines. They are brown-skinned, slim and straighthaired ethnic group.

The tribe has two major classifications based on the geographical location where they can be found. Central Tagbanuas are found in the western and eastern coastal areas of central Palawan. They are concentrated in the municipalities of Aborlan, Quezon, and Puerto Princesa. Calamian Tagbanua, on the other hand, are found in Baras coast, Busuanga Island, Coron Island and in some parts of El Nido. These two Tagbanua sub-groups speak different languages and do not exactly have the same custom. Tagbanua live in compact villages of 45 to 500 individuals. In 1987, there are 129, 691 Tagbanuas living in Palawan at present, Tagbanua tribe has an estimated population of over 10,000. Of which, 1,800 are in the Calamianes.

HISTORY According to folk history, the Tagbanua had an early relationship with Brunei, with the first sultan of Brunyu, from the place called Burnay. Formal history of the Tagbanua tribe began in 1521 when Magellan's ships docked in Palawan for provisions. Antonio Pigafetta, Magellan's chronicler, recorded that the Tagbanua practiced the ritual of blood compact, cultivated their fields, hunted with blowpipes and thick wooden arrows, valued brass rings and chains, bells, knives, and copper wire for binding fish hooks, raised large and very tame cocks which they pitted against one another and laid bets on, and distilled rice wine. Until the latter part of the 17th century, southern Palawan was under the jurisdiction of the Sultan of Brunei, leading to friction between Spaniards and the Sultan. During this time, and for almost three hundred years, the Spaniards and the Muslims of Sulu, Mindanao, Palawan, and north Borneo were at war. In the 19th century, the Tagbanua continued to believe in their native gods. Each year, a big feast is celebrated after each harvest to honor their deities. When the Spanish regime ended and the Americans occupied the Philippines, some changes came to the island of Palawan, and to the Tagbanua. In 1904, Iwahig became the site of a penal colony, which displaced the Tagbanua as it expanded. In 1910, the Americans put up a reservation for the Tagbanua. In succeeding years, internal migration from the Visayan islands and from Luzon, the dominance of the Christian religion, and the absorption of the island into economic and political mainstream marginalized the Tagbanua people. RELIGION The Tagbanua's relationship with the spirit world is the basis for their rituals, celebration, and dances. The many ceremonial feasts punctuating Tagbanua life are based on a firm belief in a natural interaction between the world of the living the world of the dead. These ceremonies and rituals takes place on all levels, ranging from rituals perform within the family, to those which are led by the community's leader on behalf of the people. Such celebrations call for special structures to be built, such as ceremonial platforms and rafts. Rituals offering include rice, chicken and betel nut. The Tagabanua tribe has four major deities. The first, the lord of the heavens, was called Mangindusa or Nagabacaban, who sits up in the sky and lets his feet dangle below, above the earth.

The god of the sea was named Polo and was deemed a benevolent spirit. His help was invoked in times of illness. The third was the god of the earth named Sedumunadoc, whose favor was sought in order to have a good harvest. The fourth was called Tabiacoud, who lived, in the deep bowels of the earth. LANGUAGE The Tagbanua people has its own native language, however, they are also proficient in speaking the Palawano language and several other dialects like Tandulanon, Silanganon, and Baras in each locality, while a significant number of them can comprehend Tagalog, Batak, Cuyonon, and Calawian languages. FAMILY STRUCTURE The basic social unit of the Tagbanuas is their nuclear family composed of a married couple and their children. They are monogamous.[4][5] They live in houses that are made up of bamboo and wood for a strong frame, anahaw leaves for roof and walls, and bamboo slats for the flooring. Families can either be free men or nobles which in the Southern tribes is known as Usba.

WOODEN FIGURES The Tagbanua of Palawan carve wooden figures ofdifferent kinds of birds and animals. Again, their meanings are linked to religion and ritual. For birds play an important part in Tagbanua mythology as messengers that link the many levels of their heaven. The animals and other creatures that they carve, such as the pig and the wild boar, have a part in ritual as sacrificial offerings. Their carvings are of blackened wood, incised with

geometric designs that bring out the original light tone of the material.

DANCE The Pagdiwata Tribal Ritual is said top have dual purpose. This festival is thanksgiving for the many blessings that Palawan and its inhabitants receive while the other purpose is to seek the help of the gods in healing the sick. The Pagdiwata Tribal Ritual originated from the indigenous group Tagbanua and their ceremony includes traditional dances while wearing their costumes and body paint and singing in their dialect. It is held in December on a full moon because this is the time believed to be the most effective when it comes to healing and when the good spirits are strongest. MUSIC Complementing the rich Tagbanua rituals and social gatherings in the past was an assortment of musical instruments. These included the aruding or jaw harp; the babarak or nose flute; the tipanu or mouth flute; the pagang and tibuldu, two variations of the bamboo zithers; the kudlung or boat lute; the gimbal or drum, whose top was made from the skin of the bayawak or monitor lizard; and the tiring, composed of lengths of bamboo with openings of various sizes producing different notes when struck with a stick. In addition, there were two generic types of gongs obtained from the shallow babandil. The mouth flute is still in use, and the gongs and drums are still played during rituals. Modern acoustic type guitar and the ukulele, which is fashioned from a half coconut shell, supplant the other instruments.