Subanen People

 Subanen People and History

Subanen people settled Mindanao Islands since more than 4,200 B.C. as it is proven by the archeologist through artifacts unearthed within the Ancient Subanen territory as shown in the map. 

Subanen people are among the now 20 lumads (Indegenous people IPs) that first settled of the islands in Mindanao and were the majority of all the lumads in the Island. According to the generation to generation narrated history, Subanen was the mother tribe of the Higaonon, Bukidnon, kamiging, Manobo, Matigsalug, Talaandig, Tigwahanon, and Umayamnon tribes but were separated into different tribal group specially the tribes that settled in the areas near the Odiongan and Gahub rivers in Gingoog and the people that lives near the Pulangi river of Bukidnon to North Cotabato where the Pulangi river flows.

As the Subanen people encountered with the other exploring group of tribes that outnumbered them even inside their vast areas of control, they would easily blend with the other friendly tribes and intermarriages often occurred and forming a new community of tribe resulting to the evolution of the other tribal group in the surrounding and neighboring  areas. 

The people would always prefer to live near the water (river) for easy access of the basic necessity of living and originally lived in the low lying areas. However, due to disturbances from other aggressive migrant groups such as the Tausug, Yakan tribes and and migrations of Cebuanos to the coastal areas in the Subanen territory it caused further pushed the Subanen people into the interior.

Subanen are peaceful people but characterized by two flexible natures; if their number is in the majority position then they will dominate and control the areas but if they are outnumbered then they would either move or migrate to the other places to avoid any conflict or tend to blend and even acclimatized with the majority settlers. Subanen people are willing to share their land or territory and allow migrants to settled in because of the belief that "Land is owned by all not by just only one" which should be shared to all.  Having visitors or having new migrants to settled the territory does not constitute as "invasion" in Subanen law but forcibly coercing the belief and culture are equivalent to war.  

The continuous migration of different tribes and different migrants from different directions to the Subanen territory had severely destroyed the Subanen culture as people’s nature to either migrate to other places to avoid the new incoming migrants or assimilate that even tried to hide their identity to merge and blend with the majority that following generations would not be familiar anymore with the culture and could no longer speak the Subanen language.

War and weapons 

Like the other tribes, Subanen are sometimes aggressive and skilled warriors who are willing to fight in any battles or wars when they saw the high chances of winning or otherwise they would avoid fighting face to face and leave the enemies around but slowly infiltrating them using the soft weapon. 

There are two types of weapons which are mastered by the Subanen people; the hard and soft weapons. The hard weapons refers to the weapons often used by men in fighting with their enemies such as the steel spears and bamboo spears, single edge swords or kampilan, scythe, and bolos while soft weapons are mostly mastered by women fighters but sometimes warriors would use hard and soft weapons altogether in fighting. 

Soft weapons are often referred to the called magical poison. It is called magical because it work like a magic which could not be seen by the naked eyes because it is done with full of concealment. The called magical weapon or magical poison are extracted from the very toxic plants that could only be found in the forest of southeast Asian region particularly in Mindanao Island. The poison of those plants are proven by the experts that it could really weaken or even kill the enemies when inhaled, eaten, or even if it touches the skin or if it entered in the very tiny pores of the skin. The soft weapon are very tiny or pulverized skimmed toxins extracted from the very poisonous plants that could be transmitted and be carried by just light and wind and attacks is done in a very concealed or hidden way that the enemy could not even notice it. It is done through just seeing them in the eyes, touching them, through wind direction or directly added to the food or drinks of any enemy. However, Subanen people are generally peaceful in nature and would always value peace and talks over war and battles.

Ancient times Subanen territory 

The names of the ancient places in the ancient Subanen territory.

History of Mindanao and the Subanen Rulers

Subanen people settled Zamboanga Peninsula during 4,200 B.C. The couple Datu M'ndanao and Bai M'lindang was the rich and powerful ruler that settled Zamboanga Peninsula during 4,000 B.C. They  have 7 children; 5 sons and 2 daughters that ruled with them. Along with Datu M'ndanao, his younger brother Datu M'guindanao was also living with him during his younger aged but later left  heading to Southeast to find his wife and settled in the now called Maguindanao then establish his rule in the area. 

Datu M'ndanao and Bai M'lindang was blessed with successful sons that ruled several areas of the Island now called Mindanao Island.

Datu Labangan the 3rd son of Datu M'ndanao and Bai M'lindang ruled the Southern part of Samboangan the now called Zamboanga Peninsula. He ruled the Areas of Zamboanga Del Sur and married to Bai S'bugay then ruled the entire areas now called Zamboanga Del Sur and Zamboanga Sibugay. Datu Labangan was  the ancestor of  Gomotan San'gira and Bai Sibugay which later were blessed with three sons and a daughter; the twin Palaga'nding, Ra'inding, Gomeed and a daughter Binukot (Princess) Bulaw that ruled the territory during pre-spanish colonialization. 

Datu N'wang (Nawang) was the fourth son who was described as skinny and slender brilliant minded  Datu and a trading minded person. He ruled Samboangan now called Zamboanga. He developed the area into a trading and barter capital of the Island. During his rule, his youngest brother Basilan was with him in his rule then later also grown to be a Datu that ruled Basilan Island.

Datu T'ngkilan (Tangkilan) was the second son of Datu M'ndanao and Bai M'lindang. He ruled the Northeastern part of Samboangan now called Zamboanga del Norte and married to Bai Indangan then he settled and grow the territory of his wife now called Sindangan.

The eldest and the most brave and powerful in the family was Datu Mis'samis. He ruled the areas in Malindang, Lanao, Iligan,  Cagayan de Oro (Himologan) Camiguin and Gingoog (Gingoyon). According to the history, Bai M'lindang the mother of Datu Mis'samis was buried in the feet of the mountain now called Mount Malindang.

Since the ancient times, Subanen people are occupying the following 7 territories that symbolizes the 7 rays of sun;

1. Basilan Island
2. Camiguin Island
3. Lanao del Norte
4. Misamis Occidental
5. Misamis Oriental
6. Zamboanga del Norte
7. Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga Sibugay (del Sur and Sibugay united as 1 governorate)

Around 4,000 BC Subanen people in Zamboanga further expanded its occupancy to the uninhabited  Basilan and were the first inhabitant in the island. Due to its proximity to the ancient barter trading center in Zamboanga, and the fertile land of the island, they doubled their effort in their farming production to produce more agricultural products as their main goods for trading but was suddenly stopped when the Yakan tribe from south Borneo arrived to the island in a very huge number then overturned their rule.  

One of the most notable incidents of migration in Basilan occurred in 300 to 200 BCE, when the Yakan people from South Borneo migrated to the island in large groups. They outnumbered the Subanen people, who had settled in the island for 4,000 years, and eventually overturned their control. This infamous incident severely damaged Subanen culture and their peaceful occupation of Basilan, forcing many of them to migrate to Zamboanga or to marry the migrants and adopt their new culture.

Livelihood, Seasons and Meteorology 

The Subanen people are into trading business as influenced by the Chinese traders who often visited the territory for trading, most particularly in O'samis, Indangan, and Samboangan, which were barter and trading centers of the territory since ancient times. However, the majority of the people produce their own goods for trading from farming activities.. 

The people have mastered the relationship between natural phenomena and the agricultural cycle. This is well established in the folk knowledge of the Subanen Sindangan group. They study wind patterns, looking out for tell-tale signs of imminent weather changes. Based on their native methods of meteorology, the Subanen identify three distinct seasons within the agricultural cycle:

• Pendupi (June to September): This is the wet season when the winds blow from the southwest. The Subanen plant their upland rice during this time.
• Miyan (December to January): This is the season of the northeast monsoon rains. The Subanen plant their lowland rice during this time.
• Pemeres (March to April): This is the dry season. The Subanen harvest their crops during this time.

The Subanen also use the stars to guide their agricultural practices. They believe that the constellation Orion signals the time for the clearing of a new swidden. The monthly rotation of the stars is a guide for the swidden cycle during the first months of the year.

In addition to trading and farming, the Subanen also engage in fishing, hunting, and gathering of forest products. They are self-sufficient people who live in harmony with nature. 

People also studied the relationship between the pet cat's eyes and the movement of the moon to determine the tide. For people who live inland, they use their pet cat as an indicator of when to go fishing during low tide. The color of the cat's eyes is also used to determine the best time to plant crops. Leafy vegetables are planted during high tide, while root crops such as cassava, sweet potato (camote), gabi, ubi, bisol, and taro are planted during low tide. When the cat's eyes are larger and darker, it indicates low tide and it is time to plant root crops. When the cat's eyes are smaller and lighter, it means high tide and it is time to plant leafy vegetables.

The ancestors practiced dry agriculture and knew how to make pottery. The Subanen are mainly agriculturists who cultivate crops for trade and consumption. They practice three types of cultivation: wet agriculture, dry agriculture, and swidden farming. Along the coast, they practice wet agriculture with plow and carabao to produce their staple rice. Beyond the coast, both wet and dry agriculture are practiced. Swidden farming is the norm in the interior, particularly the uplands. Along the coast, coconuts are raised in addition to rice. Further inland, corn is grown in addition to the first two crops. Apart from the main crops of mountain rice and corn, root crops such as camote, cassava, pastilan, bisol, gabi (taro), and ubi (yam) are also grown. These are roasted, boiled, or made into preserves and sweets. In some places, tobacco is planted. The people supplement their income and food supply by fishing, hunting, and gathering forest products. The extra rice they produce, as well as the wax, resin, and rattan they gather from the forest, are brought to coastal stores and traded for cloth, blades, axes, betel boxes, ornaments, Chinese jars, porcelain, and gongs.

Political System

Adapting the ruling National Government; the Subanen Political Structure headed by Datu as the highest ruler, also in accordance to RA 8371

The Subanen people practice a peaceful, non-contesting monarchy system. The ruler is not appointed or voted into power but is chosen based on their willingness to rule, wisdom, education and experience, leadership and ability to govern, finance, and manage their people. The Datu is the highest ruler of the Subanen tribe. They are responsible for organizing and uniting the Datu's and Tim'uays in the entire territory.

Subanen society is patriarchal, with the family as the basic governmental unit. A village is headed by a Tim'uay, while a larger area is headed by a Datu. The "Datu" rules over several Tim'uays and is recognized as the territory leader or supreme ruler. They are the center of leadership that unites the people.

An elder Tim'uay who has grown and trained many new young Tim'uays to be new leaders and successors to rule their respective villages can be rank elevated to the rank of "Datu" through a process of enthronement by their followers and the Tim'uays they rule. However, their rank elevation to "Datu" is also dependent on their willingness to accept the higher title, as it would also depend on their status in life and their ability to manage their financial needs and govern their ruled Tim'uays and villages. Otherwise, they can retain their rank as an elder Tim'uay, which holds the same authority as a Datu. They would then rule as the highest council of elders in their ruled villages. Young and trained Tim'uays would also become members of the council as Gukom members.

The title Datu is the highest ruler of the ancient Subanen People's Kingdom (SPK). However, due to the influence of the Indian empire, some Datu rulers adopted the title Rajah or Raja, which became the highest leader that ruled the Subanen people. In later times, when the Indian influence faded, most Subanen rulers who had adopted the Indian title restored the old title of Datu.

There were several Datu who were also called Rajahs of the Subanen people who rose to power from different areas during the pre-colonial era, particularly in the following notable places:

• Gomotan Labangan, the Ruler of Zamboanga Del Sur and Sibugay 
• Datu  N'wang (Nawang) ruled Samboangan, now called or Zamboanga
• Datu  of Mis'samis, the warrior and skilled Rajah that ruled the people in the area of M'lanao, Iligan to Cagayan de Oro, Gingoog and Camiguin.
• Datu T'ngkilan(Tangkilan) of Sindangan ruled of Dip'ag now called Dipolog
• Datu Basilan the ruler of Basilan Island

Despite having several ruling Datu and Rajahs in different areas of Subanen territory, they did not have a history of severe conflict. This is because the Subanen believes in equality, mutual respect, non-interference, and no contesting of power. They believe that all Subanen are relatives and family who should live with equality. The Subanen also believe in a "commonwealth", which means that no one should own the land or territory, but rather that it belongs to all the people within. This allowed people to roam anywhere within the controlled land of the Subanen people and farm or earn a living, and establish or build their own communities to rule.

All of these ruling Datu eventually perished due to the invasion of the Spaniards. The Spaniards tried to kill the Subanen language, culture, and beliefs, which forced the people to move to the middle of the jungle to survive for many centuries. Some Subanen merged and blended with the Spaniards, while others continued to practice their culture discretely, handing down their history to generations-to-generations. One of the successors from the Datu Tangkilan of Sindangan, whose ancestors were able to blend with the Spaniards' foreign culture, was able to slowly re-establish the untold history of the rule of the Subanen People in its land.

The descendant of the Datu Tangkilan in Sindangan who carried the history of their rule slowly re-established the Subanen People's Kingdom (SPK) and rose to rule from his family as Datu G'ndao (Gendao) that aimed to re-organized, re-structure and re-uniting all the people of the Subanen Territory.