A RESEARCH

ABOUT THE TRIBE

CALLED
“BADJAO”

JAYVEE SENAPILO
DYAN ALBORES
ANALIZA OYONG
RICCO CYRUS CARRASCO

12 - BRO. JULIO FERMIN

 CHAPTER I

The exact or scientific origin of the Badjaos are uncertain. According to a legend,
they came from the shores of Johore, Indonesia, where they had already been living in
clusters of houseboats.

There are other theories that claim the Badjaos were originally from the land-based
Samal group but branched off into boat dwellers as a result of their occupation. Another
theory claims the Badjaos were originally boat dwellers that eventually built stilt houses
near fertile fishing grounds.

Widely known as the “Sea Gypsies” of the Sulu and Celebes Seas, the Badjao are
scattered along the coastal areas of Tawi Tawi, Sulu, Basilan, and some coastal
municipalities of Zamboanga del Sur in the ARMM. Amongst themselves, they're known
as Sama Laus (Sea Sama) and are found living on houseboats where they make their
livelihood solely on the sea as expert fishermen, deep sea divers, and navigators. They
come to shore to barter their harvests for farmed produce such as fruits and cassava, as
well as, replenish their supplies and/or make repairs to their houseboats.

We chose this tribe because we always see them everywhere especially around
here in Cotabato City that is why we get curious about their culture. We want to know why
they beg for money instead of finding a descent job. We get curious on the way they lived
and how their culture started. We also wanted to know where they came from and how
they have been spread out all around the country.
 CHAPTER II

The traditional attire of a Badjao is the “patadjong.” It has many uses. They are
made large enough to fit any person and is worn by both men and women as a skirt or
gown tucked at the chest level. It can serve as head cover, waistband, sash, blanket,
hammock, shoulder bag, cradle, pouch, hood, or pillow.

The women’s “sablay” is a loosed sleeved blouse reaching down to the hips. A
“simpay” (band) forms the front opening and extends to the back from a small collar. A
woman’s typical accessories are jewelry and colored combs. The bracelet is the most
popular ornament. Other pieces of jewelry are the pendant, earring, ring, necklace, and
anklet. Metal craft designs can be classified into three kinds: the repousse, relief
hammered from the reverse side; arabesque, incision of interlocking curves; and filigree,
tracing with thin gild, silver, or brass wires.

The Badjaos have five types of songs: the leleng, binoa, tenes, panulkin, and lugu.
Except for the last two, the lyrics are improvised and sung to a traditional tune. The
“leleng” is sung in most occasions. Anyone can sing the leleng. The Badjao’s dance
traditions are similar with the other ethnic groups of Sulu, particularly the tribes in Samal.
The basic traditional dance movement is the igal or pangalay performed by the female.
The dancer’s hair is preferably pulled back in a bun, although it may also be allowed to
hang loose. Either a drum or a gabbang accompanies the dance.

Unique to their cultural rituals is the concept of life and their relationship to the sea:
For example, as a childbirth ritual, a newly born infant is thrown into the sea and members
of the clan dive to save the newborn. Other traditions such as marriages are prearranged
by the parents for their sons and daughters; the process similar to other ethnic groups, in
that, a dowry is often presented to the parents of the woman a man wishes to marry. And,
only the Badjao leader can consecrate a marriage. Therefore, a leader is chosen based
on individual inherent virtues, wisdom, and “charisma”- an innate ability to attract
followers.