....."THE B'LAAN TRIBE"......

......B'laan of Fulo Bato......


     The B'laan who are one of the minority ethnic groups, currently comprise the third largest cultural minority living within the Island of Mindanao.  The group of indigenous people who occupy territory in the Island of Mindanao, in the Republic of the Philippines.
     The word B'laan means the counterpart to the T'bolis.  In a particular period in history, there area with the former settling at the east side of the Sarangani Bay and at the west side.  The T'boli's were said to have derived their name from the B'laan word to bali which means dwellers or people in the other side.  Thus, the B'laan  and  T'bolis are counterpart.
     The B'laan are geographically located approximately between longitude 124 degrees and 126 degrees east and about latitude 5 degrees and 8 degrees north.
      The B'laan now number approximately 450,000 scattered all over Mindanao.  In Municipality of Tampakan, the B'laan comprises 15% of the population estimated at 3,800 individuals.  The majority live in the rugged highlands northeast of Tampakan.
      The B'laan, the other indigenous and non indigenous groups, seek a secure future and wish to raise their standard of living which can only be achieved by increasing income/improving housing, educations and providing the means to insure a stable subsistence base through sustainable agriculture  practices.  The B'laan are proudly independent people, who values their cultural and traditions.  Their unique heritage, gives the B'laan a firm foundation upon which to build a prosperous future.  A severe economic base, will enable the B'laan to achieve their current and future goals and aspirations.
      Fulo Bato, derives its name from Fulo Bato or Red Stone.  It is identified with one of the oldest mythico-religious tradition among the B'laan, namely the story of creation.  It is said, that one day,  washed her red skirt (langanay folu) at the river and the water turned red leaving the reddish color or the stones.
     The B'laan are further classified into two subgroups.  To Lagad or highlanders and To Baba or lowlanders.  The highlanders are based along the boundaries of Davao del Sur, South COtabato, and Sultan Kudarat provinces.  While the lowlanders are primarily located in coastal areas of Sarangani.  General Santos City, and parts of Davao del Sur in the municipality of Jose Abad Santos, Balut and Sarangani Islands.  Almost all other B'laan major classifications are considered To Lagad.
     The B'laans generally communicate through the B'laan dialect which is uniform among the To Lagad tribes and varies considerably from those of their counterparts along the coast.  The dialect is classified three types by geographical setting of differing intonation and word usage.  In contrast, the letter f is seldom found in the other Philippine dialects.  Interestingly, a more solemn means of communication is the custom of chanting.  Answer chants are natural to the B'laans.
     Like most ethnic communities, the B'laans possess an ancient culture that distinguishes them  from other groups.  In view of the colonization process in the country, their uniqueness has been lost with their assimilation to Christian moros.  Having been subjected to differing aspects of outside cultures, including tutelage under the Catholic Church and various Protestant denominations, the B'laans have been exacted to forge new identities and to evolve a system of values other than their own conservative tradition.  When waves of settlers from Visayas and Luzon came to claim and clear the virgin lands of the B'laans, change was forced upon existing customs.  The Kristianos, a word used by B'laans to refer to Christians and non-ethnic groups, brought new ways, new dialects, and new forms of living.  There are, however, surviving time-honored beliefs that govern their day-to-day lives.  Special characteristics predominate social structure, law and morality, trade and industries, science and art.
     The B'laans are exceedingly timid and are of peaceable disposition and are the most industrious of all the interior they occupy.  Their language is characterized by the possession of the letter"F".  They are very intelligent and  some who have been baptized, give food proof of the themselves.  Their indigenous religion is a sort of demon (guardian spirit) worship and they are superstitious.  Each family live in houses at least one-half mile from any other home.  It was noted that the B'laans were the superior tribe because they were more cleanly, industrious and wealthy. 

      The B'laan groups, revealing their basic beliefs, customs, indigenous values, traditional socio-political structures and practices, the realities of present day situation, their struggle for existence, the elaborately designed clothes they wear, the simple food they eat, and how they care themselves of illness, and how they worship, and how they are gradually displaced from their Ancestral ethnic lands by the Kristianos, inspite of the constitutional guaranties protecting the rights of ethnic minorities. 
       The information about B'laan heritage, culture and tradition within Bong Banwu, the evidence presented is not complete records of the B'laan, in a manner to provide an insight into the B'laan world, which has not previously been made public.
       Thanks to the B'laan people of Tampakan for their cooperation, the information have been undoubtedly difficult if not impossible.