I belong to the Iranun , one of the Moro ethnic tribe in the Southern Philippines.
I advocates: Peace & Justice
Teduray (Tirurai) is one of the major Indigenous Peoples of Southern Philippines. The tribe is composed of two distinct tribal groups — the Teduray and the Lambangian tribe. The word Teduray comes from the word Tew meaning man and Duray referring to a small bamboo with a hook and a line fishing instrument. The tribe are known for their distinct and unique culture, beliefs, customs and traditions. These people exhibits strong family ties but are too dependent on other members who are more influential and affluent in the community. The Teduray are honest, soft-spoken, shy, sensitive and soft-hearted people. They are also hospitable and peace-loving. A klakafan or a traveler who is still on the road by night fall, in a fenuwo where he does not know anybody, can knock at the nearest Teduray dwelling where he will be readily accepted and given the respect and hospitality extended to strangers and guests alike.
Teduray are scattered in different provinces in Mindanao like Agusan, Bukidnon, Davao, Lanao and in the cities of Davao, Zamboanga and Manila, Cotabato Province is the main place of origin of the Teduray and Lambangian peoples with the estimated population 350, 925. In Central Mindanao-Region XII, Teduray used to have the highest number of population among the 21 ethnolinguistic groups with total population of 239,475, but due to the devolvement of Maguindanao Province to the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) the population was reduced to 67,745. The Teduray in Central Mindanao-Region XII are found in Cotabato City, Municipalities of Columbio, Isulan, Tacurong, Bagumbayan, Esperanza, Kalamansig and Lebak, Sultan Kudarat Province; Alamada, Carmen, Kabacan, Midsayap, Pikit, Antipas, Arakan, Kidapawan City, President Roxas and Tulunan, Cotabato Province. In the later part of 1889, Teduray are scattered all over the undivided Cotabato and concentrated in the Southwestern mountain of the province. Some Teduray leaders have classified and further named themselves after the place where they come from — the Tew Dage, Tew Dawa, Tew Dogot, and Tew Tudok. Although the Teduray belong to one tribal group, they differ in some ways like their dialect intonation, rituals, dress and color identities.
The economy of the Teduray is basically agriculture. Their primary means of livelihood is farming. Their other sources of income are fishing, hunting and mini handicraft production. Majority of the farmers still practice slash-and-burn methods of farming. Thus, most of the farmers get marginal production which is very insufficient to serve the needs of their families. Teduray still observe and practice the following traditional ways of life:
1. The planting star is observed during the months of December to January — the period for upland farming. Farmers will only start to farm if the planting star is visible. To a fenuwo where the first rice field to be planted, the spiritual leader performs the ritual planting prayers assisted by four Fintailans at the bagong/tuda or center of the farm. After the rituals, the palay seeds are distributed to the women planters with a spokesman giving the signal to start planting.
2. In the courtship and marriage among the Teduray, the parental wish is obeyed. The mother of the man leads the search for the kenogon. Even the maternal grandparents help in this endeavor by calling on relatives to find a suitable wife. With a careful study of the woman’s background, the man’s party then sends out a spokesman to meet with the former’s parents and relatives and duly offers the tising, a contract for marriage. If the woman’s parents accepts the tising, within a week, they will then send their own spokesman with the bantingan over to the future groom’s house. The go-between will then state the amount of flasa for the marriage of the woman.
3. Tudon/sumbaken — (baptismal) — this is officiated by the Tribal Chieftain as assisted by two pairs of kefeduwans and Fintailans spokesmen for both grandparents. If the child is a boy, the maternal grandparents prepare the food. The paternal grandparents give a pair of dilek, sundang, and P100.00 pesos with other assorted valuables tamok items to the officiating chieftain through the spokesman for the child to sit on. If the child is a girl, the paternal grandparents give a pair of kemagi, gold necklace, dress, sutra muot, P100.00 place on a sinuratan and sukob ulew plates. The maternal grandparents give the food to the assisting fintailans to be eaten by the child first, and later, to be shared by everyone. After the rituals, the officiating chieftain turns over all the items to the maternal grandparents through the spokesman. This tamok is called ensaran which serve as the point of reference to the amount of flasa or bantingan being asked for the marriage of the child.
4. Burial — (Temlogon) — The Tedurays observe the seven days of prayers and offering before and until the internment. On the burial day before the cadaver is finally brought to the cemetery, the wife/husband and children pay the last respect to the dead by going around the coffin seven times. Then the wife/husband sits on one end of the coffin with the children gathered around it. The chieftain spokesman gives the fituwa and Togodon as part of the final parting ceremony for the dead.
The political system among the Teduray is still the old type with the family as the basic unit of government and the father as the head. In the Fenuwo, composed of 10 to 30 families, the Kefeduwan is the leader of the council of elders and spokesman of the village. A kefeduwan is the person who is well-versed in Teduray customs and traditional laws. The kefeduwan is the model person in the community — honest, brave, and has the ability to influence the people witth the force of his personality and logic. Timuay is the highest rank and honor given to the leader or the tribal Chieftain. Today, it is, observed that the future and promising strong and powerful leader of the Teduray are the educated and spiritual leaders. The mobile lifestyle, poverty, and poor education limited the socio-economic and political stability of the Teduray people. Although the Tedurays have long recognized the Philippine government, such beliefs remain with them.
Generally, Tedurays are honest people, they respect the right of ownership, of occupancy, and abide by the first claim rule. If a person puts up a mark on a forest patch for a prospective kaingin farm and to signify an intent to claim the area, no one would dare encroach and trespass the boundaries in keeping with the Teduray laws.
Teduray Common Terms
| Teduray | - an organized and developed association of families preserving their common culture, beliefs, customs, and traditions, way of life |
| Bagong/tuda | - the enclosed area at the center of the field mark with rangga |
| Bantingan | - the sum total of the major flasa required and to be given prior to the wedding of a couple |
| Chieftain | - the highest rank and honor given to the kefeduwan through election and endorsement by the members of the tribal council of elder in respective villages |
| Dilek | - the set of spears |
| Duray | - a small length of bamboo pole with a hook and line used for fishing |
| Ensaran Tamok | - the sum total of flasa given to a married couple |
| Flasa | - the total amount of dowries given as exchange price with respect to women in marriage |
| Fenuwo | - a village occupied by a group of people composed of 10 to 30 families under a kefeduwan or chieftain leader |
| Fituwa | - the final parting word of advise to the family and relatives of the departed loved one |
| Fintailan | - the honor and rank given to women leaders like the wife, daughter of kefeduwans, Chieftain and Timuay |
| Kefeduwan | - the leader who is well-versed in the Teduray customary and traditional laws; spokesman of the peoples in the fenuwo |
| Kemagi | - the gold necklaces for women |
| Kenogon | - a young virgin lady |
| Klakafan | - a traveler who is still on the road by night fall |
| Mobile life style | - people who come and go from one place to another |
| Rangga | - a bamboo mark with a crown-like nest where offerings are placed |
| Sundang | - the double-edged kris |
| Subok ulew | - a big soup bowl |
| Sinuratan | - the big rice bowl |
| Sutra muot | - the costly muslim blanket with printed color decoration |
| Tew | - people or man |
| Tew Dage | - the people from the upper stream |
| Tew Dawa | - the people from the lower stream |
| Tew Dogot | - the people from the coastal area |
| Tew Tudok | - the people from the mountain |
| Tegodon | - the final parting words to the good work and soul of the departed loved one, asking him not to interfere with the work and life of the family and relatives |
| Tising | - the token gift given to the parents as exchange price in the courtship contract for the marriage of the son and daughter |
| Timuay | - the highest honor/rank given to the leader or Chieftain
(source: http://www.ncca.gov.ph/) |
Dueque,
My Brother Peace Be Unto You,
All Praised Be to God, you know my Brother, the meaning of Muslim is a person who submitted to God, one who surrender to the Creator, A Believer. But maybe my understanding what you are like to explain is, you are not a “R’nawon” (the term used to call by your tribe T’duray, to our brother, Iranun, Maguindanaon, Meranaw, or now generally called as Bangsamoro).
I supposed they called you as Muslim because you are from our place Mindanao. Right?
So are obliged to inform them that their is difference of Muslim, Christian, T’duray, R’nawon and Bangsamoro (please refer to my different articles in our blogs).
I am proud I have a Brother from Mamalo descendant having it missionary works, for the sake of God.
Sukran.
Posted by kaka alih at July 29, 2009, 6:17 pmread this mamalu brother, if you want to know past-
concentrate on History of Mindanao & tri people article
http://www.daga.org/daga/dd/d2001/d109ph.htm
and pls keep your Indigenous name, dont change it to a more ‘modern’
be proud
mamalu & tabunaway brothers were never conquered by colonizers
Posted by tmj at August 5, 2009, 7:05 pmI want to[ communicate to DUQUE TAGUEY, NOW ROQUE JAMES TAGAY, a missionary in Baguio, please send me how can we communicate each other..
kaka_alih@yahoo.comph
ang ganda naman ng upi talo kayo nito mongot to sabaan fila alam nyo yon x katol.
Posted by peter paul at September 27, 2009, 9:35 pmFio klunon beh kluhanan towan beh Ufi taman beh de samong tom brab tewarer Tabunaway, Peace be with you Kaka Alih. I’m deeply touched with your comment to our brother Duque of Baguio City. Being a Muslim is a righteous men (regardless of sex). I hope our brothers from other parts of the country know this.
dick, davao city (03 Dec 09)
Posted by dick at December 3, 2009, 1:12 amlam mo,depende n yan sau doque,kc kw din gumgwa ng paraan upang mkalimutan u ang tribe u…
Posted by jeanie at December 10, 2009, 4:35 pmhelo sa tga salumping esperanza sultan kudarat,sa mga teduray jan jejeje…doque parang kamag anak kta.
Posted by jeanie mariano serra at December 10, 2009, 4:40 pmAssalamo alaykom W.W to all Moro brothers and sisters, magandang umaga para sa mga non-moro tribes, at fiyo g’fuw’n db kluhanan begom bleeweni para sa mga kapatid nating Teduray. Ang masabi ko lang po ay hindi basta-basta ang pagiging isang Musim. Natatawa lang ako kapag naririnig kong may gumawa ng isang krimen na ang pangalan ay pangalan ng isang Moro, at sinasabi ng mga media men na isang Muslim. Wala pong Muslim na makakagawa ng kahit anong klaseng kalokohan lalo pa kung isa na itong krimen. Ako mismo na isang pure Maguindanaon o R’nawn sa term pa ng mga kapatid nating Teduray ay hindi ko pa masasabing pure talaga akong Muslim pero sinisikap ko lang na magiging Muslim Insha Allah (If Allah permit me). By the way, speaking of Teduray Tribe… Malapit ang puso ko sa kanila. Kung ano ang dahilan ay alam iyon ng mga taong malapit sa aking buhay. Sukran and wassalam…
Posted by Mansuri A. Usop at December 30, 2009, 2:52 amMansuri A. Usop,
Sukran for the comments, please continue reading of our blog..
Kaka Alih….
Assalamo alaykom W.W once again to all Moro brothers and sisters, fiyo g’fuw’n so db kluhanan begom para sa lahat ng mga kapatid nating descendants of Mamalo, at sa pangkalahatan ay magandang umaga po sa inyong lahat at happy new year 2010 to each and everyone of us. By the way, I want to take this opportunity to say thank you very much Kaka Ali (sukran a b’nal) for acknowledging and appreciating my simple comments na unga no paido ‘ndo madido a ilmo given to me by Allah. May the blessings of Almighty Allah (S.W.T) always with all of us. Sukran and wassalam…
Posted by Mansuri A. Usop at January 4, 2010, 3:28 amfiyo klungonon bede samung gu dob salamping spicialy dob boyriend guwe jejeje
Posted by thata inted at January 25, 2010, 5:57 pmhi…im looking a txtmate teduray only..this my number 09087900610 anytime is online jejeje
Posted by thata inted at January 25, 2010, 6:00 pmSalam and Peace may with you guys,
fyo fyo fyo guto begum kluhanan beni do samong go teduray. the button line, we all concerns is might be conduits to peace regardles with what instinct we have. the vital aspect are we dont forget what we are, we need to know our self adentity, we need to appreaciate our culture and promote our rights and being good leadership in our clan. Muslim and teduray ancestors are brother and sister base in the mamalu tabunaway history.
advocate any peace process that suitable to our bansang sinilangan.
dondon s. pigcaulan_peace advocate
Posted by dondon s. pigcaulan at January 26, 2010, 9:24 pmhi kumusta ka dondon?pwede ba makipag friend?my name is thata,i live in baragay tomicor ampatuan maguindanao,but now im hear in lebanon abroad.pwede bang mag tanong?ano bang tribu mo?sana mabasa mo ito,thanks.
Posted by thata inted at January 31, 2010, 3:19 amfiyo gefuen do samung go dob tomicor ampatuan maguindanao.brab dob kimadagan,[langit2]dob pastor edmon biad.pastor antonio dilagen,reverent paquito guiaman,dob manirub, kluhanay de pastor,pastora,members,be [atbci]spicially dob rev:biad.
Posted by thata inted at January 31, 2010, 3:58 amhellow tata inted c noralyn laguey bilual 2,msta k n jan???teduray yu,diyou gemalbek dob dxup weni,cge basane kuy de greetings sem nan non falan gilolo guy danan non pastoray A.T.B.C.I. YESO BEGEN…guiday TULUSE BEEM ENDAN…
Posted by NORALYN at January 31, 2010, 8:58 pmhi also,noralyn cncxa na ha,paki great naman ang mga family ko sa tomicor.kanakan family,and inted family.siminaryan ako dati,naka stop lang ako kasi umalis ako dyn sa philipines dito ako now sa lebanon,work 3 years ang kontrack ko 1 year nalang uwi na ako dyn,ongote ko dob tuluse gesegito tom.
Posted by thata inted at January 31, 2010, 11:03 pmpasensyanan,nu pastora nor,minsan lang kasi ako gamit cumputer,kya tagal ko mabasa ang respance mo sa akin,pray u nalang ako,oo nga pala,kilala ko c pastora nancy lawan,nakita ko cxa one time sa bitogen,pero hindi sgru nya ako kilala,msta u nlang me
Posted by thata inted at February 1, 2010, 2:05 amhi hello…..pastora nor..msta kana?kilala na kita ngaun,jejeje nakita q,ang picture mo sa cumputer,nice 2 met you.
Posted by thata inted at February 1, 2010, 3:57 pmhellow din,pastor u rin ba???wt wrk u pla jan??ay malpit na pla u mag-uwi d2..nice 2 meet u dn…ingat u lage jan…k ikmsta n lang kita ke nancy…k basahin me n lang greetings u….KEGEDAWAY TULUSE BEEM!!
Posted by noralyn at February 2, 2010, 8:54 pmhi pas…hmm hindi man me pastor,2 times lng ako nk simnar,young people me sa umfungan bitobekesan,at langit2,nxyr uwi na me dyn ky din igats
Posted by thata inted at February 3, 2010, 4:51 pmganun ba????wt wrk u jan s lebanon??y.p. pala u???ah c galing pla u ng bitobekesan???always take care jan….w8 n lng me sa pag-uwi u…pasalubong ha???joke!!!!wt no.u???
Posted by noralyn laguey bilual at February 4, 2010, 7:31 amsure!no probs…..o.f.w,aq,dito..hirap eh.sarige ko sen dob tuluse kluhanane.you din ingats
Posted by thata inted at February 4, 2010, 9:00 pmhi…msta na?paki greet naman ang friend ko dyn sa,timanan SHELLA MAE UMAL, BELLO thanks.
Posted by thata inted at February 6, 2010, 8:18 pmHi Tata Inted, good morning… Pero diko lang alam kung umaga rin ba diyan sa Lebanon na kinaroroonan mo ngayon. Pwede rin bang makipagkaibigan sa’yo kahit hindi na tayo parehas ng tribo kase Maguindanaon po ako? Ilang taong gulang ka na ba? Thanks…
Posted by Mansuri A. Usop at February 7, 2010, 4:28 amGood morning din po sa’yo Mam Noralyn at sa inyong mga kasamahan sa DXUP… Pakigreet mo lang po sa akin ng maligayang pakikinig ang lahat ng Alfonso, Olubalang at Baladjang Family. Sana’y ok rin kayo palagi diyan. Siya nga pala, advance happy birthday kay Mr. Valentin Alfonso this coming February 14, 2010. Sana’y magkakaroon ka pa ng maraming kaarawan sa hinaharap at God bless always… Thank you Mam Noralyn at sa buong staff ng DXUP, Upi for peace.
Posted by Mansuri A. Usop at February 7, 2010, 4:46 amK sure babasahin me greetings u…msta u jan???wer ang place u nw???
Posted by noralyn laguey bilual at February 8, 2010, 8:05 amhello…msta MANSURI? cncxa kana now lang ako gm8 cmpter,oo nga pala..late kami dito ng 5 hours,,sure!friend na tayo jejeje,19,years old pala ako,you??
Posted by thata inted at February 8, 2010, 3:09 pmokey lang ako,u msta na?
Posted by thata inted at February 8, 2010, 3:13 pmHi, good afternoon sa iyo diyan friend Tata… Thanks sa pagtanggap mo sa akin as your friend. Ok lang if now ka lang nakareply, i understand you… Kahit nga ako di rin madalas nakakagamit ng computer. siya nga pala, ok lang naman ako dito sa Pinas. Gaano ka na pala katagal diyan sa abroad?
Posted by Mansuri A. Usop at February 8, 2010, 6:18 pmhmmmm,,,3 years ang contrack ko d2,nx year uwi na ako dyn sa pinas.msta pla ang pilipinas ngaun ok,lang b?ilang taon knb friend??
Posted by thata inted at February 8, 2010, 6:58 pmGood evening Mam Noralyn at sa buong staff ng station DXUP… Thank you very much for giving my greetings to be aired sa inyong radio station. Siya nga pala mam, dioto lang po ako sa Cotabato City asa mga panahon ngayon. Ikaw mam, saan banda partikular sa Upi ang lugar niyo? Minsan kase nakakapunta rin ako diyan…
Posted by Mansuri A. Usop at February 8, 2010, 7:36 pmPasinsiya ka na friend Thata if putul-putol ang reply ko sa iyo kase nakikisingit lang ako now sa mga friend ko dito sa iternet cafe. Mamaya pa ako makakagamit ng computer nang medyo malaya. Kaya kung ok lang sa iyo ay ibigay mo na lang sa akin ang E-mail address mo sa YM para makachat tayo mamaya mga 2am dito at mga 9pm diyan sa inyo. Pero… Iyon ay kung maaari lamang sa iyo. Siya nga pala, medyo matanda na rin ako kase sobra na ako 20. Ikaw na lang ang bahala kung anong tantiya mo sa sobra niya, hehehe…
Posted by Mansuri A. Usop at February 8, 2010, 7:45 pmjejeje!grvi k naman,pareho din tyo di din ako madlas gam8 cmpter,kasi dami work,at hindi ako makagm8 cmpter if evnig,kasi busy eh,ito EMAIL ADDRESS ko.WWW.TAYSIR.SLEIMAN@HOTMAIL.COM 2morow..11
AMdito gam8 ako cmpter.hindi ksi sa akin ang cmptr,prho din tyo SHARE..lang ako bili nlang ako pag uwi na ako dyn.pasencxa kana sa tagalog ko ha..kc hindi ako snay sa tglog.jejeje
Hi, good evening once again friend Thata… Kahit dika man nakaonline this time, ang importante ay mababasa mo rin ang mesage kong ito pagkagamit mo na ng computer at pagbukas sa blog na ito. Ahmmm, bakit naman kaya nasabi mong dika sanay managalog??? Hehe… Sige lang iaad na lang kita sa YM ko para makachat tayo kong kapwa na tayo may vacant time if God wills… Take care lagi diyan, keep up the good work and God bless always…
Posted by Mansuri A. Usop at February 10, 2010, 12:53 amjejeje hi kmsta na friend MANSURI? cnsya na offline kc ako d2 kgabi,,sa saturday online ako. online ako araw2x,,11 AM dito ng morning,,,hangang 1 PM,,pwede txt u me sa CP pag gm8 you cmpter..e2 # ko,09087900610 or +96171779421 para e open ko ang cmpter.
Posted by thata inted at February 10, 2010, 4:43 pmjejeje natatawa na ako dito,kasi pag online ako ikaw ang offline…pag offline ako ikaw ang onlinejejeje
Posted by thata inted at February 10, 2010, 6:19 pmhmmm….friend MABSURI nakita na kita sa facebook..jejeje nabasa ko LAHAT NG MGA NASULAT DUN JEJEJE sa cotabato ka pala…?
Posted by thata inted at February 10, 2010, 6:58 pmhellow,msta n,happy valentines day sau jan…hope n happy u jan….
Posted by noralyn at February 13, 2010, 7:40 pmGood early morning once again Mam Noralyn. Gusto ko ring samantalahin ang pagkakataong ito par batiin ka rin ng Happy Valentine’s Day at sa lahat ng lovers… Siya nga pala, ngayon na rin ang birth day ni Mr. Valentin Alfonso kaya inuulit ko ang aking pagbati sa kanya ng happy, happy birth day at happy Valentine’s Day sa kanilang dalawa ng kanyang pinakamamahal na asawa na si Mrs. Loreta Olubalang. Sana’y magiging masaya silang lahat bukas at sa mga darating pang panahon. Pakitugtog niyo lang po ang awiting ONCE THERE WAS A LOVE by Jose Feliciano. Thanks at more power sa DXUP, Upi for peace…
Posted by Mansuri A. Usop at February 14, 2010, 2:33 amhello… im,,, jie from timanan,, sana naman magkaroon ng smart site sa timanan,, sana naman di na ako lagi mag laod ng aking broadband tatoo… sayang nga lang ung aking canopy sa borongotan di ko ma relocate ng timanan dahil sa wlang smart site ng smartbro.. dito….
Posted by gie at March 1, 2010, 11:06 amhi friend manrex..panu na 2.ge search kta sa fbk..hindi na ma desplay.kc kanina ge block daw ni ate,d2 sa cmpter na 2.pwede send u ulit.
Posted by belinda at March 24, 2010, 8:46 pmelow tha,
its nice to hear you. yes im glad na magiging magkaibigan tayo now kulang den na visit and wedsite nato. marami den akong kakilalang inted somewhere in upi. kung my facebook ka tha just invite me dpigcaulan@yahoo.com nang sa ganun makapagkwentuhan tayo. isa akong muslim na taga pikit at isa lang ako sa nakikibahagi at sumusulong sa kapakanan ng usaping kapayapaan at kaunlaran ng ating bayan dito sa mindanao.
ingat kadyan.
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Posted by lv at July 26, 2010, 9:36 am
I am a teduray pure blooded now living in Baguio as a Missionary. I was so touch with the way our tribe was being studied. I admit am almost Losing my identity.please help me.
my name is DUQUE TAGUEY, NOW ROQUE JAMES TAGAY, PEOPLE SAW ME AS A MUSLIM BUT IM NOT
Posted by Duque tagay at July 29, 2009, 10:41 am