Music of Mindoro

Min

doro

Mindoro

Mindoro is the seventh-largest island in the Philippines. It is located off the coast of Luzon, and northeast of Palawan. The southern coast of Mindoro forms the northeastern extremum of the Sulu Sea.

In past times, it has been called Mai or Mait by Chinese traders and, by Spaniards, as Mina de Oro (meaning “mine of gold") from where the island got its current name.

Mindoro is also home to the Tamaraw or Mindoro dwarf buffalo (Bubalus mindorensis), which is endemic to the island. The Tamaraw is a bovine related to the water buffalo and is an endangered species.

The principal language in Mindoro is Tagalog, although in some parts it has been greatly influenced by the native Visayan and Mangyan languages.

Hanunó'o language is a language spoken by Mangyans in the province of Mindoro in the Philippines

DivisionThe island was once a single province from 1920 to 1950.On June 13, 1950, by virtue of Republic Act no. 505, Mindoro was divided into Oriental Mindoro and Occidental Mindoro.

"Home of the Indigenous Mangyans". Its capital is Mamburao and occupies the western half of the island of Mindoro

Occidental Mindoro

• Rice Granary and Fruit Basket of Southern Tagalog

• Banana King and Calamansi King of the region.

Oriental Mindoro• Calapan City- the

only city in the island and the provincial capital.

CULTURAL PRESERVATION AND MARGINALIZATION OF CULTURE

Mangyan culture

Mangyan cultural practices are in danger of vanishing because of the influence of modern lowland culture. The literature and traditions of the different Mangyan groups are short of documentation; thus, mainstream society lacks awareness of the beauty of Mangyan culture and its relevance to Filipino culture as a whole.

TerminologiesDamuong- the non-Mangyan groupsHanunuo- they considered themselves

as real, true or genuine Mangyan.Urukoy- words of wisdom chanted on

festive occasion by elders of the tribe.

Luka- bamboo tube wherein the ambahan is carved out.

Tau-buid Mangyan traditional

house

The Mangyan People

Mangyan groups

There are around 300 million indigenous peoples in the world. In the Philippines, of the projected population of 94 million in 2010, about 15% belong to indigenous groups. [AusAID]

Mangyan is the collective name for the eight indigenous groups living in Mindoro, each with its own name, language, and set of customs:

Iraya Alangan Tadyawan Tau-buid Bangon Buhid Hanunuo Ratagnon

Mangyan Syllabic Script or Surat Mangyan

The Mangyans of SOuthern Mindoro, Philippines, (also referred to as Hanunuo Mangyans),are still practising a pre-Spanish syllabic writing system that was in general use all over the Philippines at the arrival of the Spaniards in the 16th century.

The Mangyan script, together with the Northern-Buhid in Mindoro and the Palawan scripts,have been declared by the National Museum as National Cultural Treasures on December 9, 1997.

The AmbahanAmbahan

The ambahan is the traditional poetry of the Hanunuo Mangyans of Oriental Mindoro. It is usually written on bamboo in the Surat Mangyan, a centuries-old pre-Spanish script. The syllabic script and the ambahan poetry have complemented each other, contributing to their continued existence today.

Characteristics of Ambahan It is a rhythmic poetic expression with a meter of seven

syllable lines Each line rhymed at the end. It is most often presented as a chant without a

determined musical pitch or accompaniment by musical instruments.

An expression in a riddle-like form or in allegorical manner.

Varied in length and complexity.For children it is short and simpleFor adult, it is lengthier and complicated

Preserved by way of inscribing them on bamboo tubes. Song content were wide range based on daily life events

The ambahan is a chanted verse, but it is changed plainly or almost recited. The rendering of the ambahan with musical pitch might differ from person to person. Some might intone the words like in common conversation; others might use it a monotone recitation; or still others might sing it with a distinct melody.

Hanunuo-Mangyan English Filipino

My dear baby, do not cry'cause the wild cat might hear us!The big one from over there,with his awful long-stretched howl!Helpless are we if he comes.Our spear is broken stilland our bolo bent and blunt!

Huwag ka ngang umiyakHala ka at mapukawPusang-ligaw sa gubatNgumiyaw, maghihiyawWala kitang pambugawSibat nati'y nawasakGulok nati'y nabingaw!

Conversational language

Ambahan language English

amang bansay fatherinang suyong motherdanom kagnan waterbalay labag houseniyog bu-anay coconutbagaw duyan talkmata pamidkan eye

Vocal Music

Iyaya- lullabyeAyung or Ngayung – ritual chantIgway- Mangyan province musicMarayaw- spirit songPamuybuyen- (legend)- it means fear of water

Instrumental Music

Bangsi-is an external duct flute, which has chip glued on to the tube of the flute

Gitgit – a three-stringed indigenous violin with human hair for strings.

Lantoy - is a nose flute

Batiwtiw = a bamboo instrument from Mindoro about 40 cm long, played by striking the split end of a bamboo against the left palm

Kinaban or Subing - a bamboo jaw’s harp or jew’s harp.The jaw harp is a slim bamboo instrument approximately of ball-pen size, of different shapes and lengths varying from 10 cm. to 40 cm.

kudlong or kutiyapi - is a two-stringed lute shaped like a boat. It has wooden tightening rods and frets made of beeswax.

kudlung- a parallel two-stringed bamboo tube zither where the bamboo strings were stretched out of the tube itself.

Musical Ensemble

Buray-Dipay -a bean-pod rattle used with the kalutang instrument.

Kalutang-consists of two pieces of wood, graduated in sizes, to produce different note ranges.

Agung- ensemble consisting of two light gongs played by two men squatting on the floor. One plays the gong’s rim with padded sticks.

ag

Agung

Musical Context

Marayaw is a genre of Iraya-Mangyan songs used to communicate with spirits in rituals for healing the sick or protecting the community.

The "marayaw" was once seen by the Iraya as a symbol of power - or one's ability to cope with hazards of everyday life as well as a way where one gains control over events for his own advantage.

Music for the Hanunuo is a part of celebrating ordinary and festive occasions. Accompnying themselveswith their instruments as they recite their love poems.During the wedding rituals, song are sung,musical instruments are played, food is eaten and wine is drunk. The songs of Mangyan are lullabies, recollection of war explouits in distant past, lamentations, lovelyrics and stories based on persona.

Hi! I’m ElmerThank you for

listening