The Lumads in Mindanao

Two Ata women weave a bamboo basket.
(photo by Edgat Arro)

The Philippines counts more than forty different ethnic groups, and each group has a distinct culture and language.

In Mindanao, there are seventeen Lumad groups. Lumad is a short expression and term for the native and indigenous people in the southern Philippines which derives from the Cebuano term Katawhang Lumad, meaning "indigenous people".

Those ethnolinguistic groups are Atta, Bagobo, Bnwaon, B'laan, Dibabawon, Higaonon, Mamanwa, Bukidnon, Mandaya, Manobo, Tagakaolo, Manguwangan, Mansaka, Maguindanaon (Hiyas sa Kadayawan 2012 winner), Teduray, T'boli, Ubo and Tasaday.

According to Wikipedia, Katawhang 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, Kagan (Hiyas sa Kadayawan 2012 Talent Night Winner), B'laan, Kaulo, Banwaon, Teduray, Lambangian, 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.

Most characteristic of these indigenous groups is that they live in a traditional way, how their ancestors used to live centuries ago.

Read more about some tribes:

• B'laan
• Bukidnon
• Manobo
• T'Boli
• Mamanwa
• Higaonon
• Mandaya