BADJAOS

Bajau Laut belongs to the Sama-Bajau

group. They are known under

different names like bajau or badjao w/c

means “man of the seas”.

ORIGIN

The origin of the Badjao is

not clear.

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CLOTHING

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The traditional attire of a

Badjao is the “patadjong.”

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It has many uses; they are

made large enough to fit

any person and is worn by both

men and women as a

skirt or gown tucked at the chest level.

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HOUSES

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stilt houses on the coast

Houses of the semisedentary badjaos, who spend periods alternately between theirhouseboats and their village homes.

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ordinary land houses

clustered along protected shorelines

Houses of the sedentary badjaos, withcommercial pursuits and permanent homes

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houseboats

Houses of the the badjaos (sea gypsies), who live in houseboats as itinerant fisherfolk in search of rich fishing grounds.

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POLITIC

AL

SYSTEM

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A Badjao settlement or community consists of a kawman (moorage), the equivalent of the land-based purok. The head is the panglima, whose main functions are to settle disputes, collect fines, and officiate at weddings. The position is usually inherited, butthe title is conferred by the sultan.

clothECONOMIC

ACTIVITIES

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The staple food of the Badjao is panggi (cassava) and fish. Rice is served only for dessert or on special occasions. They have no regular meals; hence, there are no Badjao words for breakfast, lunch, and supper. They eat whenever they are hungry and there is food.

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For subsistence and commerce, the men engage in fishing, pearl diving, boat building, fish-trap

making, and fishnet weaving. Their fishing methods require group or

communal participation.

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The women engage in mat weaving and, together with their children, gather clam,

snail, seaweed, and so forth, at low tide.

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BELIEFS

clothIslam 95.26%

Christianity 0.52%

Folk Religion/ Other Religions 0.08%

No Religion/ Unknown 4.14%

Religion

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Marriage

A Badjao wedding is a

three day affair with

dancing, food and festivities.

The whole town is invited.

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Marriage arrangements are

made after the girl’s third menstrual

period .The boy is about a year older. Early marriage has

evolved as a solution to the cramped living

conditions in the houseboat.

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In times of epidemics, the panday (the medicine man or

woman) are acalled upon to remove illness

causing spirits from the community. They

do this by setting a "spirit boat" adrift in the open sea beyond

the village or anchorage. Medical

Practices

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Some Muslim practices have been adopted by some Badjao, such as

male and female circumcision and

female ear piercing. The panday is called to

assist in childbirth, to heal women who have

miscarried, to prescribe herbs for abortion, and

to perform the pagsunnat (female

circumcision).

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The END