HISTORY OF CORON TAGBANUA TRIBE

According to folk history, the Tagbanwa had a relationship with Brunei a long time ago with the first masikampu (sultan) of Brunyu, from a place called Burnay. Their formal history, however, begins with the Spanish colonization of the Philippines. In 1521, Magellan’s ships docked in Palawan for provisions, and Antonio Pigafetta recorded that the Tagbanwa 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.

The Tagbanwa are one of the oldest ethnic groups in the Philippines, and can be mainly found in the central and northern Palawan. Research has shown that the Tagbanwa are possible descendants of the Tabon Man, thus making them one of the original inhabitants of the Philippines. The basic social unit of the Tagbanua is their nuclear family composed of a married couple and their children. The Tagbanua are kind hearted people. The Tagbanua men shows respect and politeness to all Tagbanua women. They are known to practice the shifting cultivation of upland rice and are known for a rice wine ritual called Pagdiwata. The Tagbanua tribes also believe in a lot of deities that they believe can be found in their surroundings. Basically, the Tagbanua relied on gathering forest products to produce income while the swidden fields and other agricultural activities provided their subsistence. The Tagbanua practice slash-and-burn agriculture, growing dry maize, rice, millet, taro, sweet potato and cassava. Fishing is the second main economic activity. They usually practice wild boar hunting armed with spears and accompanied by dog. Only a few of the Tagbanwa woodcarvings are intented to use in rituals. Tagbanua are the most dominant indigenous group in Palawan known for their ritual, Pagdidiwata. The ritual includes the drinking of rice wine using bamboo straws from stoneware jars traded in from China. Pagdiwata ("imploring the aid of the supernatural") is a Tagbanua dance to mend warring factions. Gongs, cymbals and drums are commonly seen and used. Bamboo flutes, local version of banjo and other percussion instruments are getting rare nowadays, but still around and kept by older members of the tribe.