CULTURE AWARENESS AND ACCEPTABILITY OF MANGYAN STUDENTS AT

OMSC - MAMBURAO CAMPUS; BASIS FOR PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT

Mary Brooke D. Pacifico

*Omega P. Aguirre
Ailyn M. Consigo
Karen Amy P. De Guito
Lorien Ericka C. Enriquez
Veronica S. Borre
Sunshine P. Aquino
Elbie G. Balacuit
Stephanie E. Dela Virgin
Bachelor of Science in Office Administration

MELANIE V. MARQUEZ
Temporary Instructor
Adviser

ABSTRACT

This study determined the level of culture awareness and acceptability of

Mangyan Students at Occidental Mindoro State College - Mamburao Campus and
answered question such as, what is the profile of the respondents, and what are the level
of culture awareness and acceptability of the respondent, etc. using the descriptive
research method and percentage distribution. To test the hypothesis Pearson Product
Moment Correlation Coefficient and all findings are converted verbally using the Four
point scale. At the end of the research, such findings are found. For culture awareness,
Modes of Living showed the highest level at 3.46 % or moderately aware while
Folkways showed the lowest level at only 2.03 % or aware. For culture acceptability,
Modes oliving also showed having the highest level at 3.40 % or moderately aware while
Beliefs showed the lowest level at 2.31 % or aware.

The researchers argue that this is so alarming, Mangyan culture is slowly

deteriorating. Even though the researchers found highest percentage of awareness and
acceptance, none of the areas roughly hit 4.0 %. The researchers then interpreted this as
the culture is deteriorated by the ways of living in the 21st century. The researchers
therefore conclude that the level of culture awareness and acceptability should be high
and balance so that other program different from culture concerns should be given
attention and for the culture to continue to be pass to newer and newer generations.

INTRODUCTION
The Philippines homes 175 known Indigenous Peoples (IP’s) groups which are
bearing different from each other by means of their culture, learned or shared that is
identifiable within their respective society. Throughout the years, their culture that is

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learned or shared have undergone changes as it is passed down from one generation up to
this generation, the 21st century. Many have foreseen 21st century as the century of
cultural diversity and integration. With the impressive continuous advancement of
technology to higher levels of innovation and creativity and with globalization, all beliefs
and the practices of Indigenous Peoples will be globally shared, changed and improved.
Their culture, in return, will be like a paper boat that will either sink or sail amidst these
transformations. Mindoro is not an exemption to this scenario. Mindoro holds one of the
most distinctive group of IP’s in the Philippines, the Mangyans. The group consist of
eight tribes all bearing differences, five of these can be found alone in Occidental
Mindoro and four of these tribes are attending in Occidental Mindoro State College
Mamburao Campus; namely: the Iraya, Alangan, Tao-buid and Hanunoo. In light with
their long existence in Mindoro, their rich culture has also been ostracized. Formidable
signs of these changes are the use of modern dresses in lieu of their traditional dress and
the massive use of Tagalog language as means of communication.However, none of these
are threatening. Nothing is improved so it is given and it will undergo changes. The
question is how today’s new generation of Mangyans will respond to these changes.
Whether they are aware and still accepting who they really are as Mangyans, is the threat.
This study seeks to determine what will be the reaction be to help them cope up with this
fast changing world.

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

This study is pursued to know the level of culture awareness and acceptability of
Mangyan students at OMSC Mamburao Campus. Specifically, this study aims to:

1. To determine the profile of the respondents in terms of age, gender, course and year
level, civil status, and tribes.

2. To determine the level of culture awareness in terms of elements of culture of the

respondents.

3. To determine the level of culture acceptability in terms of culture of the respondents.

4. To know the significant relationship between the awareness and acceptability of

Mangyan student at OMSC – Mamburao Campus.

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

Independent Variable Dependent Variable

Culture Awareness Culture Acceptability

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METHODOLOGY

Descriptive using Quantitative method was used in this study it was conducted at
Mamburao Campus . It is located at Sitio Mabuhay, Brgy. Tayamaan, Mamburao,
Occidental Mindoro. The respondents are theMangyan Students of OMSC-Mamburao
Campus. The researchers employed the descriptive method in analyzing the data in
assessing the level of evidence wherein it seeks to describe the current level of culture
awareness and acceptability of the Mangyan students in Mamburao Campus. With a total
of 40 respondents remain active in academic performance. The instrument used to collect
data was well-designed and prepared questionnaire. The researcher chose the
questionnaire as the research instrument because the researcher found it as the easiest
way for them, and also for the respondents. The researcher used questionnaire as survey
instrument with a 42 questions at awareness and 42 questions at acceptability.

This study was undertaken in order to provide enough information regarding the
research entitled “Culture Awareness And Acceptability Of Mangyan Students At OMSC
- Mamburao Campus; Basis For Program Development”. With the hope that the result
will be significant to all who are concerned with the program for the Mangyan students.

This study analyzed the culture awareness and acceptability of the Mangyan
student of OMSC-Mamburao Campus, it sought toanswer the question like; the profile of
the respondents, the level of their culture awareness and acceptability, and the
recommended programs to help the Mangyan students attain their highest potential.

However, when the research distributed the 40 questionaires. 40 were retrieved

thus the retrieval rate is 100%. Similar to the corresponding characteristic such as age,
gender, civil status. Grand mean is the sum of the weighted means (SWM) divided by the
number of items (n) this is measure of central tendency or the point where most score
cluster. The five point scale was utilized to describe the nominal data. Information on
how well describe as follow: 3.50-4.0 (Completely Aware), 2.50-3. (Moderately aware),
1.50-2. (Aware), 1.0-1. (Unaware).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

This chapter concerned with the presentation, analysis and interpretation of data
gathering from the respondents. The presentation includes a narrative discussion of the
results and implication of the data gathered which are illustrated in tabular presentation.
This study seeks to determine the culture awareness and acceptability of Mangyan
students at Occidental Mindoro State College-Mamburao campus

Part I. Profile of the respondents according to their age

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 Table 3 presents the tabulation of the frequency and percentage distribution of the
age of the respondents. From the total number of 40 respondents, from 16-20 years old,
16-20 years old got 57.5 %, then 21-25 years old got a 32.5 % and last 26-30 years old
got 10 % with the total of 100 %. This shows that the 16-20 years old is the most age of
the Mangyan student.

Profile of the respondents according to their course/grade/level.

Table 4. presents the different courses offered in Occidental Mindoro State
College- Mamburao Campus and appears that the BEEd III- A course has the
highest number of Mangyan student with the total of 15, in HUMSS II-A there will 9
Mangyan students, BEEd IV A there will 5 Mangyan students then BSBA FM I-A and
BSBA OM II A course there will 2 Mangyan Students, then ABM II-A, HUMSS
XII, ICT 12-B, BSBA FM II-A, BSBA OM II-B, BSBA OM IV-A, and BSIT II,
was one Mangayan Students with the total of 40 Mangyan student who enrolled in the
institution.

Profile of the respondents according to their gender.

Table 5 presents the profile of the respondents according to gender, study found
that out of 40 respondents, 19 were male, which comprised 47.5% and 21 or 52.5% were
female with the total of 100 percent.

Profile of the respondents according to their civil status

Table 6 presents the profile of the respondents according to their civil
status. From the total of 40 respondents, 39 were single which comprised 97.5 %
and 1 were married which comprised 2.5 with the total of 100 %.

Profile of the respondents according to their tribes

Table 7 presents the profile of the respondents according to their tribes. From the
total of 40 respondents, 34 were Iraya which comprised 85%, 4 were Alangan which
comprised 1% and 1 were Tao-buid and also 1 were Hanunoo which comprised
2.5%, with the total of 100%.

Part II. Response of the respondents according to their level of culture awareness.
Table 8 shows in values that the Mangyan students were completely aware
that the Mangyans promote peaceful community, and that the Christmas is the
season of giving. Also, the Mangyan students are aware that the Mangyan ask for alms
in the day of Christmas. Making one of the outstanding aspects of Mangyan society is its
peacefulness. The Mangyan has high regard for peaceful and gentle behavior and strongly
disapprove of aggressive and boastful conduct. However, this does not mean that their
life is free of conflicts. (Helbling 2004)

Modes of Living
Table 9 shows the Modes of Living, the Mangyan students were both
completely aware in using uway for making baskets and that the paragos were used for
transportation. They are also moderately aware that the Mangyans put priority in the
moon for setting a date in harvesting.

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Beliefs
Table 10 shows that in Beliefs, Mangyan students are aware that their ancestors
are Pagan, they don’t believe in any kind of amulet, and they believe that Amay and
Aplaki Lakoy can heal any deceases. A majority of the Badjaos practice Islam,
while a few of them have animalistic beliefs. They still believe in a medium, a person
mediating them and the gods (Dicumos, 2009). Like any other ethnic groups, Alangan
and Iraya Mangyans only believe in Apo Iraya and Mamang Lakoy as their supreme
Deity.

Language
Table 11 shows the weighted mean in language, the Mangyan students were
moderately aware that before the Spaniards came, Mangyans have their own system of
writing. They are also aware that the ambahan is a poetry about love. Lastly, they
are moderately aware that the 8 tribes of Mangyan have different languages.
According to Panopio (2004), language is an integral part of culture and human
culture cannot exist without it. All societies have language as for the case of the
Mangyans, “they all have different language though they are all considered as on ethnic
group are only 40% of their vocabulary shared by them”, as stated (by Helbling and
Schult in their book Mangyan Survival Strategies, 2005).

Folkways
Table 12 shows the weighted mean in Folkways, the respondents were
completely aware that the man must serve in the family of a woman. They were also both
moderately aware that if the woman accepts the services it means she accepted her suitor
and of the Mangyan culture prioritizing the moon for setting the date of the
wedding.

Law
Table 13 shows the weighted mean in Law of the Mangyans, the students were
completely aware both that if a woman committed a sin to her husband she
deserves a punishment and also when they will know the sinner if they dip the hand in
the boiling oil, and they are aware that the hardest punishment is eating a sand and salt. In
the Mangyan culture, the punishment is the pangaw in the public place, and the extreme
punishment is the soil and salt with a curse (Sumeg-Ang, 2005)

Material Culture
Table 14 shows the weighted mean in Material Culture, they are completely aware
that they use the tigbi for making of accessories. They are moderately aware that the
clothing of Mangyan is called bahag. The Mangyan students are aware that the suwang
was made from the grass. According to Agoncillo, (2004) Material culture is what
other culture does identify first. Material culture covers a large portion of the
society’s culture such as member’s appearance and clothing.
Most of the tribes keep their culture through art.

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Part II. Response of the respondents according to their level of Culture Acceptance.

Values
Table 15 shows in Values that the Mangyan Students Completely Accepted both
that the Mangyan Promotes a peaceful community, and the Christmas is the season
of giving. And the Mangyan students accept that the Mangyan ask for alms in the day
of Christmas. According to Helbling (2004), making one of the outstanding aspects of
Mangyan society is its peacefulness. The Mangyan has high regard for peaceful and
gentle behavior and strongly disapprove of aggressive and boastful conduct. However,
this does not mean that their life is free of conflicts.

Modes of Living
Table 16 shows in Modes of Living, the Mangyan students completely
accepted that the Mangyans are using uway for making baskets and that the paragos
were used for transportation. And they are moderately aware that the Mangyan put
a priority in the moon for setting a date in harvesting.

Beliefs
This table 17 also shows that in Beliefs, Mangyan students accepted that
their ancestors are Pagan, they don’t believe in any kind of amulet, and they believe that
Amay and Aplaki Lakoy can heal any deceases. A majority of the Badjaos practice
Islam, while a few of them have animalistic beliefs. They still believe in a medium, a
person mediating them and the gods. Like any other ethnic groups, Alangan and Iraya
Mangyans only believe in Apo Iraya and Mamang Lakoy as their supreme Deity
(Dicumos, 2009).

Language
This table 18 also shows that in Language, the Mangyan students
completely accepted that the 8 tribes of Mangyan have different languages. They also
moderately accepted that before the Spaniards came the Mangyan have their own system
of writing, and that the Ambahan is poetry about love. Each ethnic group has its own
distinguished language. However some of them are related and easily understood by the
respective tribal people. The Mangyan are still proud to have their own language and
thus being able to discuss certain issues among their people group without being
understood by the outsider. The Iraya are the only ones who are in the process of losing
their own tribal language much to their own tribal language much to their disappointment
and disadvantage in hindsight (Panopio, 2004).

Folkways
This table 19 shows that in Folkways, the Mangyan students completely
accepted that the man must serve in the family of a woman and that if the woman
accepts the services it means that she accepted her suitor. They moderately accepted.
And they moderately accepted that the Mangyan culture prioritize the moon for setting
a date of the wedding.

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Laws
This table 20 shows that in Laws of the Mangyans, the respondents completely
accepted that if a woman committed a sin to her husband she deserves a
punishment, moderately aware that they will know the sinner if they dip the hand in the
boiling oil and accepted that the hardest punishment is eating a sand and salt. In the
Mangyan culture, the punishment is the pangaw in the public place, and the extreme
punishment is the soil and salt with a curse (Sumeg-Ang, 2005).

Material Culture
This table 21 shows that in Material Culture, they moderately accepted that
they use tigbi for making accessories and also moderately accepted that the clothing of
Mangyan is called bahag, and that the suwang was made from the grass. Material culture
is what other culture does identify first. Material culture covers a large portion of
the society’s culture such as member’s appearance and clothing. Most of the tribes
keep their culture through art (Agoncillo, 2004).

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

This chapter includes significant results or findings of the study, statements

that offer solutions to the issues, conclusions, and changes that the researchers
want to suggest for the development of the respondents.

Summary of Findings
1. There are four courses and three strands for Senior High School offered in the
OMSC-Mamburao Campus namely: Bachelor of Elementary Education(BEED),
Bachelor of Science in Information Technology (BSIT), Bachelor of Science in Office
Administration (BSOA), Bachelor of Science in Business Administration Major in
Operations Management and Financial Management courses, Accounting Business
Management (ABM), Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMMS), and
Information and Communications Technology (ICT).In terms of population and
gender, there are 40 Mangyan students enrolled in the institution, 21 females and 19
males. In terms of their course and section, ABM 11-A has one, in HUMSS 11-A,
eight; HUMMS 11-A, one; ICT 12-B, also one; BSBA FM II-A, two; BSBA FM
I-A, one; BSBA OM II-A, two; BSBA OM I-B, one; BSOA III-A, one; BSBA OM
IV-A, one; BEED III-A, 15; BEED IV-A, five; and BSIT II-A, one. In terms of the age
of the respondents, 23 or 57.5% are 16-20 years old, 13 or 32.5% are 21-25 years old,
and 26-30 years old covers 4 or 1%. In terms of their tribe, there are 34 or 85%
Iraya, 4 or 1% Alangan, and one Taubuid or 2.5% and also one Hanunoo or 2.5. In
terms of their gender, there are 21 or 52.5% female and the Male were 19 or 47.5%. In
terms of their civil status, 39 or 97.5% says they are single and only one or 2.5% are
married. 39
2. There are seven are areas of culture in which the researchers used to determinethe
level of their culture awareness namely; Values, Modes of Living, Beliefs, Language,
Folkways, Laws and Material Culture. As the result of the study, using the frequency

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 and percentage distribution, Modes of Living shows the highest level of culture
awareness at 3.46% or that the respondents are Moderately Aware while Folkways
shows the lowest level of culture awareness at only 2.03% or they are Aware.
3. For the level of culture acceptability, Modes of living also shows the highest
level at 3.40% or Moderately Aware while Beliefs shows the lowest level at 2.31% or
Aware. Other areas shows result of 3.24 or Moderately for Values, Language at 3.10%
or Moderately Aware, Folkways at also 3.10% or Moderately Aware, Laws at
3.05% or Moderately Aware and Material Culture at 3.02% or also Moderately
Aware. For these findings, frequency and percentage distribution is used.

Conclusions
1. In all courses offered by the institution, most of Mangyan students is enrolled in
Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. And most of the Mangyan students who
are enrolled comes from the Iraya Tribe. The researcher made this study for the
program development for the benefits of the Mangyan students for the revival of their
culture.
2. The researchers therefore conclude that most of today’s Mangyan students are still
aware that modes of living such as the paragos as mode of transportation and the use of
uway for making baskets and balanan as tools for catching fish. The respondents are
lack in awareness in terms of their Beliefs.
3. The researchers therefore conclude that most of today’s generation of Mangyan
are still accepting that the modes of living such as the paragos as mode of
transportation 40 and the use of uway for making baskets and balanan as tools for
catching fish. And they are lack in acceptability in terms of their Folkways. This is
alarming because one or two areas of culture are slowly forgotten.
4. The researchers therefore conclude that the level of culture awareness and
acceptability should be high and balance so that other program different from
culture concerns should be given by the government and for the culture to continue to
be pass to newer and newer generations.

Recommendations
1. After a careful study about the level of culture awareness and acceptability of
Mangyan students, it is recommended that the school provide a program suitable for the
profile of the Mangyan student such as age, tribe, civil status, and etc. to emphasize
their identity. The OMSC system and the government should also develop
programs concerning the majority of the Mangyans in the OMSC.
2. It is recommended that the government and their agencies and OMCS system
should provide programs that will strengthen and enhance their knowledge in folkways.
It is important to strengthen because folkways is commonly the mark of most
indigenous groups and the aspect that will help one’s culture to be distinguished from
other culture. Example of this is holding an Annual Theatre Plays that will showcase
the folkways of Mangyans such as courtship.
3. It is further recommended that Belief should also be attention because even
though Christian belief is widespread even in the mangyans, it is also a part of the
culture that the Mangyan ancestor once believed in and passed to today’s generations. It

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 is also 41 important to be given emphasize since most of the Mangyans still believe in
treating of disease without consulting the hospital.
4. The researchers suggest that all students in OMSC must appreciate one’s
culture to avoid the inferiority and hindrance to grow individually of much
discriminated cultural group such as the Mangyans. This will surely help for the revival
of the forgotten part of Mangyan’s culture and to produce a new breed of Mangyan
youth who are proud and who will stand and wave their banner to the whole world.

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