Manobo

The Manobo are a collection of related indigenous peoples of the Philippines, primarily in Mindanao. The name covers several autonomous linguistic and cultural groups speaking various Manobo languages, belonging to the Austronesian language family. They are among the largest indigenous communities in the Philippines.

They are found in many provinces on Mindanao, including Caraga, Davao, Bukidnon, and Agusan del Norte and Sur; subgroups include Agusan Manobo, Matigsalug, Dibabawon, Ata-Manobo, and Banwaon, among others. They commonly identify by their local subgroup rather than a single overarching tribe.

They speak multiple languages within the Manobo language subgroup; many are bilingual, using Filipino and Cebuano in urban or intergroup contexts. Some languages are endangered and lack robust intergenerational transmission.

Traditional livelihoods center on swidden agriculture, hunting, and fishing. Community life emphasizes kinship, adat or customary law, and local leadership by elders. Craft traditions include weaving, beadwork, woodcarving, and metalwork; oral literature and epics are important in ceremonies.

Religious life includes traditional animist beliefs and ancestor worship; many Manobo have adopted Christianity or Islam, often in syncretic forms. Education and modernization have influenced religious practice, with varying degrees of church or mosque affiliation alongside customary rites.

In recent decades, land rights, resource extraction, and displacement related to mining and logging have affected many Manobo communities. Advocacy for ancestral domain recognition, cultural preservation, and language documentation continues alongside efforts to improve health and education.