the dumagats
esiding in the tranquil setting of a piedmont mountain are 400 families of the Dumagat Tribe in Sitio Karahume, Brgy. San Isidro, San Jose del Monte Bulacan.
Dumagat may appear peaceful but misunderstandings and bad deeds are still prone to happen. For this reason, they have elders who serve as the "Lupon," or in Dumagat terms, "Kamaldunaan," who is in charge of the peace of their community or settlement.
Kamaldunaan is where the elders make the decisions for their tribe. Manolito "Manuling" Doroteo, one of the elders, is in charge of bringing together opposing parties and ensuring a peaceful conclusion to disagreements among the Dumagat youth despite their misunderstandings. He also imparts to the youth the knowledge of the tribe's long-lost traditions, which he is reviving for the benefit of succeeding generations.
The Dumagat Tribe has a total of 33 elders who collectively take lead for the 400 families living in Sitio Karahume.
On the other hand, Doroteo claims that while nothing has changed in their daily lives, their own school, the Indigenous People Education School (IPED), which opened its door in 2021, has helped make education accessible to them, "hindi katulad no'ng araw na galing ka sa bundok, naglalakad ibig sabihin hindi kami nakakapag aral pero ngayon heto na."
"Mahalaga po kasi po ang edukasyon ay siya po 'yong magsusulong sa amin na tribo para pumunta siya ro'n sa magandang buhay, ayon po 'yong mahalaga sa amin, 'yong mga anak namin ay matuto man lang o makatuntong sa mataas na antas ng paaralan o makatapos tapos makapagtrabaho nang maayos 'di katulad sa amin na lumaki at tumanda nang hindi nakapag aral kaya nanatiling ito lang 'yong buhay." Doroteo highligted as he explained the importance of Education in their tribe.
Furthermore, the custom of going to the river or looking for a 'pukyutan' in the summer and then gathering to express their love for one another is still a part of their culture, which hasn't changed, meaning nothing has been added.
"Mahalaga po kasi unang una ayan po ay minana namin sa aming mga ninuno. Siguro po ay kung ano 'yong ibang meron lang po kami katulad ng tahimik na pamumuhay pero 'yong mga kayamanan po wala po kami no'n, ang nananatili lang po ay matino naming pagsasama sama ng mga katutubo." Doroteo said.
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n the deviation to cradle the change that the world is bestowing upon the indigenous people in terms of culture, the Dumagats are keeping their toes stepped on where they were raised.
traditions and customs
The rich culture of the often-seen moments at the Dumagat tribe of Sitio Karahume can be shown through their vibrant traditional clothes. It was made of a flashy red fabric with a disparity in designs. There is a variation in how the Dumagats showcase their tradition through their clothing. It could be done with different proportions and symmetry as long as they express their culture of wearing their traditional clothes on special occasions. These clothes could be either a two-piece or one-piece with bahag for males and tapis for females. Upon entering their tribe, red flaglets are scattered on their fences. According to Doroteo, it is the symbol of their courage and the pledge of their honesty to the mountain they are residing.
​Apart from the red clothes they are wearing, the Dumagats also pair them up with sewn beads made from the flowers of a type of grass known as the tigbi plant. They only have limited numbers of beads to sew to turn into a wearable accessory as the tigbi only flowers during a specific time of the year.
Probably the most ethnical-sounding tradition of an indigenous tribe in the Philippines is the culture of nganga. This custom is present in most ethnic tribes in Asia. Inside a nganga is a fruit (betel nut) of the acera palm, covered in ikmo leaf with a spread of the ash of a burnt shell of a snail.
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he Dumagats also contribute a count over the hundred different spoken languages in the Philippines. In the Dumagat tribe from Bulacan, their ethnic language is called Bulos. With the eagerness to help the young Dumagats learn their native language, the tribe elderlies and teachers from the Indigenous People Education (IPED) have gathered to craft a dictionary containing Bulos words translated into English and Tagalog. It also includes storybooks that are written in the Bulos language. Sir Marcial Estanislao, an IPED teacher at the tribe, is one of the contributors to the books and dictionary as he is a part of a working body in crafting modules for the indigenous people in Region III.
language
​During their everyday and typical conversation between tribemates with the children, the Dumagats are having a talk using Tagalog. While only the elders and the leaders are conversing, they are using their native language. In addition, there are two days a week when the teachers instruct the children of Dumagat about their native language; a part of the movement to preserve their own.
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ot so different from what the urban was used to, the Dumagats have their own type of government with different terminologies and a more ethnical approach. In their tribe, there is an individual who is called the chieftain or the barangay captain. The chieftain is in charge of most of the concerns of the tribe. It is also a part of the Indigenous People Mandatory Representative (IPMR) or the tribal leaders of the ethnical groups which promote inclusivity to the indigenous people in terms of decision-making and being a part of the governing body.
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The IPMR has two levels: barangay-wide and city-wide. The issues and concerns of the tribe will be first passed on to the barangay-level IPMR, and it will eventually be forwarded to the IPMR at the city level.
In relation to the elections that the urban was used to where voters must proceed to their assigned precincts, the Dumagats are also assisted by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC). The Comelec will go to the tribe to conduct the election. The tribe has different ways of voting in a more ethnical approach: (1) using ballots, (2) raising their hands, and (3) candidates will stand on the ground, and they will gain votes based on the number of voters who queue behind them.
government type
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n a notable sense, the tribe solely relies on their environment for their livelihood as they live in the mountain. It includes farming as the main source of their income. They also have a plantation of bananas and other fruit-bearing trees. Different vegetables are present on their farm which will be sold in the lower area of the mountain and outside the tribe.
livelihood
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Taking advantage of their land, the tribe is raising a variety of livestock such as chickens and native pigs. There are also carabaos who plays an important role in the transportation of the bamboo and other wood the tribe has gathered. These bamboo will soon turn into barbeque sticks which is also a part of their livelihood. The funds and money the people of the tribe gathered in these activities will be spent on their daily expenses and a way to support their children by sending them to schools.
