As pointed out in the recent study of
the batak society, they, like all the other Philippine Aeta groups have been
critically influenced and affected by contact with the out world. The effect
has been noted in their subsistence economy, socio-territorial organization,
and ritual life. As a consequence, the tribe failed to reproduce successfully.
Their tribal distinctiveness is slowly crumbling, because of urban influences.
The batak tribe, together with their unique traditional costume is simple. It
consists mainly of bark cloth that they derive for a mulberry tree.
0ne of the batak folk loves claim
that woman did not come from man but man comes from woman. The story is about
an old man with two sons. He sent them out to the fields to watch over his
trees, warning them not to eat the fruits of those trees. But younger son
disobeyed. He ate some of the fruits, and after a while, his breasts became
bigger.
Some Palawan words
are:
*bagay-friend *manglan-
purchase/ buy
*maman-uncle *sorong-go
*ina-mother *tabon-
mountain
*misi-get *mangan-
eat
*kadot-sack
*ugtoysagit-
midday
*amuysorongmobagay?
Is your friend away of asking “where are you going my friend”? As a from of
greeting
*dot tabon, misaikokadot- means” there, to the mountain, I
will get a sack”
*kasbamagbangat-
this is usually referring to the dog, as a way to say “don’t bite me; please
don’t bite or the dog will not bite you.
The Batak marriage
system
The tradition marriage system of the
Batak, before person can be married, the boy with his father or elder relatives
will attend a “ SURRIGIDEN” for consultation of the prospective marriage
partner with her elder of family of the groom.
The boy accompanied by a ginoo
(chieftain) or tribal leader well make arrangement with the brides parents. The
brides’ parents will ask a certain amount from the groom called “BANDI” as
guarantee. The groom also will provide the elders who witnessed in the
surugiden as certain amount as gratitude and thanks to their presence. And also
they drinking rice wine, “TABAD” will follow to celebrate and facilitate good
luck for the good future of the newly wed, according to the chieftain of Batak
tribe at Barangay Langogan Puerto Princesa City.
Ritual Conducted by
the Batak’s
LAMBAY is the Batak honey festival marking
the onset of seasonal honey gathering, usually done in the month of March. The
purpose is to make bee colonies to produce plenty of honey. This ritual is
traditionally done by their Baylan.
They will aiso effect “Lambay” ceremony to ask for rain if there is long
dry-season and to ask for sunlight if there is long rainy season and also offer
live chicken for the spirits.
SAGKAT is a ritual performed by the BAYLAN
for the KAINGERO, prior to field clearing, to give respect to the goddess
spirit within the forest, considering that the Batak believe that big trees are
homes of forest spirits. According to them they will talk to the said spirits
to ask permission to clear the area. If, within three days and nights they
could not dream of any signs of disagreement, then clearing will be done, if
there is, then they will not pursue the clearing.
History of Batak
tribe
Batak is one indigenous people of
Palawan. They are considered to be of Negrito stock. Their physical attribute
shows short structure, dark skin, and curly hair, that earned there distinctive
looking people their name. Their economic activities revolves mostly on swidden
farming kaingin, hunting, and natural resources products gathering, primarily
almaciga resin tapping, rattan pole collecting, and honey gathering. Their
foods come exclusively some times from the sea. The traditionally they only
plant cassava, banana, sweet potato, ube, gabe, and coconut. This is primary
reason they are not motivated to permanent land areas for crops productions.
The Batak’s religious faith continues
to be based or the spirit of nature how they believe to reside in big rocks and
trees. The spirits posses the power to cure serve sickness when called upon by
their Baylan, Baylan it also means GOD.
