JournalSubanen Ritualsof Multidisciplinary on Communal Gatherings Studies in A. M. Elmedulan Jr. Vol.SelectedJournal 6, Issue Communities of No. Multidisciplinary 2, pp. of61-75, Misamis December Occidental Studies 2017 & H. D. Villanueva ISSNandVol. Zamboanga 6 2350-7020, Issue No. del (Print)2, pp.Sur, 6 Philippines1-73, December 2017 ISSN 2362-94362350-7020 (Online)(Print) doi:ISSN http://dx.doi.org/10.7828/jmds.v6i2.1045 2362-9436 (Online) doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.7828/jmds.v6i2.1045 Subanen Rituals on Communal Gatherings in Selected Communities of Misamis Occidental and Zamboanga del Sur, Philippines Arniel M. Elmedulan Jr.1 and Haydee D. Villanueva2 1Hotel and Restaurant Management Department, College of Business and Management, Misamis University, H. T. Feliciano St., Ozamiz City, Philippines 2English Department, College of Arts & Sciences, Misamis University, H. T. Feliciano St., Ozamiz City, Philippines Corresponding author: Arniel M. Elmedulan Jr., email: [email protected] Abstract Preservation of intangible cultural heritage such as rituals provides a tribe with a sense of identity and continuity, thus promoting respect for cultural diversity. Subanen is one of the tribal groups in Mindanao, Philippines which performs different rituals. However, little is known about the rituals of Subanen living in the provinces of Misamis Occidental and Zamboanga del Sur and the challenges encountered to sustain these practices that could become a barrier in understanding the tribe's way of life and transmitting this tradition to the next generation. The purpose of this study is to describe the Subanen rituals on communal gatherings and occasions. This descriptive study utilized the qualitative research survey method through face-to-face interview with 21 Subanen key informants. The findings of the study showed that the Subanen tribe has various rituals in celebrating communal gatherings such as festivals and meetings, and occasions such as birthdays, weddings, christening, wakes, and internment. The Subanen people as a tribe are able to sustain their belief system in respecting nature and all living creatures, especially to the spirits which they also believe living among them. Although they have a strong belief and knowledge in the ritual materials to prepare and executing the rituals, they are having a hard time looking for Balians/Balyans to perform the rituals. Aside from that, they also have a problem financially since performing rituals are costly. The findings may enlighten other people about their way of life, their customary beliefs, and how they are able to preserve their culture for the next generation. Keywords: belief, christening, culture, festivals, weddings 61 Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies Vol.Subanen 6, Issue Rituals No. on2, pp.Communal 61-75, December Gatherings 2017 in A. M. Elmedulan Jr. Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies ISSNSelected 2350-7020 Communities (Print) of Misamis Occidental & H. D. Villanueva Vol. 6, Issue No. 2, pp. 61-73, December 2017 ISSNand Zamboanga 2362-9436 del (Online) Sur, Philippines ISSN 2350 -7020 (Print) doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.7828/jmds.v6i2.1045 ISSN 2362-9436 (Online) doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.7828/jmds.v6i2.1045 Introduction the souls of the dead of a fixed period are cheerfully sent to the world of the spirits with the accompaniment of song, music, and blood sacrifice Subanen tribe in the Philippines is one of the largest among the (Poyil, 2009). ethnic groups in the country (Lu, 2005). The term „Subanen‟ is derived In the Philippines, Subanen tribe has different rituals performed from the word „suba‟ meaning river, or mouth of the river, or upstream, in different gatherings and occasions. These rituals are not commonly and the Subanen people are referred to generally as the „gbansa seen by the non-Subanen community because these are usually Subanen‟, meaning the Subanen nation (Hapalla, 2002). The Subanen performed within the locality of the Subanen tribe. Previous works about group is dispersed over a wide area of the Zamboanga Peninsula Subanen in Zamboanga de Sur deal with oral and written literature, (Mabini et al., 2014) and dwells in different geographical territories rights to prior informed consent, music, costumes, linguistics, and called „banwas‟ (Villanueva & Jomuad, 2013). education (Aleo, 2002; Cariño, 2005; Santos, 2007; Lobel & Hall, 2010; Subanen are animists because they have a worldview that non- Villanueva & Jomuad, 2013; Villanueva & Baluyos, 2014; Hambre, human entities such as animals, plants, or inanimate objects or 2015). There were also studies about Subanen on knowledge and phenomena possess a spiritual essence (Mabini et al., 2014). Animism is practices on disaster, ethnofarming practices, and ethnomedicine and its particularly widely found in the religion of indigenous peoples (Bird- threat (Mabini et al., 2014; Quilo et al., 2015; Valdez & Hansel, 2015; David, 1999). Belief in the god and spirits makes the Subanens god- Valdez & Canapi, 2015; Pizon et al., 2016; Bag, 2017). Very few fearing and is depicted in their great respect for others and for nature studies were conducted with Subanen rituals and the challenges (Elgado et al., 2013). The perception of these beliefs is mediated by encountered to sustain these practices (Imbing & Viernes-Enriquez, cultural interpretations, in combination with a range of other factors 1990; Mabini et al., 2014). proper to each community and household at a specific time and place The objective of this study is to describe the Subanen rituals on which will influence how people are going to prepare themselves or not communal gatherings and occasions. It also aimed to describe how the (Dekens, 2007). Each culture has its own distinctive animistic beings Subanen tribe prepares the things needed for the ritual in celebrating and its own specific elaboration of the soul concept according to festivals and meetings, and occasions such as birthdays, weddings, and Harris (1983). Preservation of intangible cultural heritage such as christening. The data from interviews with the Subanen themselves can rituals provides the Subanen tribe with a sense of identity and continuity, be unique or different because the description comes from the thus promoting respect for cultural diversity. perspective of other groups of Subanen. The findings may enlighten The Subanens performs rituals to please their gods, the other people about their way of life, their customary beliefs, and how mechanisms through which beliefs are fulfilled (Prabhakar & they are able to preserve their culture for the next generation. Gangadhar, 2011). In South Africa, rituals are practiced in time of drought and also during activities such as wedding or traditional Materials and Methods gatherings, normally called „molato‟. An example of this ritual is the rainmaking ritual which is believed to influence the weather conditions This descriptive study utilized the qualitative research survey in order to cause rain or drought either for good or for destruction method. The study adopted the purposive sampling in the selection of (Semenya, 2013). In the south western Indian state of Kerala, the respondents. The face-to-face recorded interview was carried out in Kurumbas tribe performs a secondary burial ritual called „Cîru‟ which is gathering information from the members of the Subanen tribe who were described as an elaborate process and is the formal ceremony by which 62 Subanen Rituals on Communal Gatherings in A. M. Elmedulan Jr. SelectedJournal Communities of Multidisciplinary of Misamis Occidental Studies & H. D. Villanueva andVol. Zamboanga 6, Issue No. del 2, pp.Sur, 6 Philippines1-73, December 2017 ISSN 2350-7020 (Print) ISSN 2362-9436 (Online) doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.7828/jmds.v6i2.1045 the souls of the dead of a fixed period are cheerfully sent to the world of the spirits with the accompaniment of song, music, and blood sacrifice (Poyil, 2009). In the Philippines, Subanen tribe has different rituals performed in different gatherings and occasions. These rituals are not commonly seen by the non-Subanen community because these are usually performed within the locality of the Subanen tribe. Previous works about Subanen in Zamboanga de Sur deal with oral and written literature, rights to prior informed consent, music, costumes, linguistics, and education (Aleo, 2002; Cariño, 2005; Santos, 2007; Lobel & Hall, 2010; Villanueva & Jomuad, 2013; Villanueva & Baluyos, 2014; Hambre, 2015). There were also studies about Subanen on knowledge and practices on disaster, ethnofarming practices, and ethnomedicine and its threat (Mabini et al., 2014; Quilo et al., 2015; Valdez & Hansel, 2015; Valdez & Canapi, 2015; Pizon et al., 2016; Bag, 2017). Very few studies were conducted with Subanen rituals and the challenges encountered to sustain these practices (Imbing & Viernes-Enriquez, 1990; Mabini et al., 2014). The objective of this study is to describe the Subanen rituals on communal gatherings and occasions. It also aimed to describe how the Subanen tribe prepares the things needed for the ritual in celebrating festivals and meetings, and occasions such as birthdays, weddings, and christening. The data from interviews with the Subanen themselves can be unique or different because the description comes from the perspective of other groups of Subanen. The findings may enlighten other people about their way of life, their customary beliefs, and how they are able to preserve their culture for the next generation. Materials and Methods This descriptive