Subanen

Subanen, also spelled Subanon, are an indigenous people of the Zamboanga Peninsula in western Mindanao, Philippines. They inhabit the coastal and riverine areas of Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, and Zamboanga Sibugay, with communities also in nearby provinces. The Subanen speak the Subanen languages, a group of related Austronesian languages within the Philippine language family; most are bilingual in Filipino/Tagalog and Cebuano.

Traditionally, Subanen communities were organized around kinship groups and villages. They are forest- and river-oriented, practicing swidden agriculture, fishing, and root-crop cultivation. Religion historically centered on animist belief systems with a pantheon of spirits and a supreme being, and on traditional healers; today many Subanen are Roman Catholic or Protestant, while a portion maintain indigenous practices.

Cultural expression includes weaving, beadwork, and woodcarving, and a material culture adapted to both upland and coastal environments. Traditional houses on stilts and water-access routes are common in some communities, with music and oral literature featuring in rites and celebrations.

In contemporary times, the Subanen are one of the recognized indigenous peoples of the Philippines under the Indigenous Peoples' Rights Act of 1997. They face ongoing issues related to land and resource rights, ancestral domain claims, and cultural preservation, while maintaining a diverse blend of modern living and indigenous heritage.