Bagobo

The most important thing in the life of the Bagobo is the care of the rice, for on this crop he depends for the greater part of his food supply, and by its condition he can ascertain with what favor he is looked upon by the spirits.

The Wild Tribes of Davao District, Mindanao The R. F. Cummings Philippine Expedition Fay-Cooper Cole 1921

The Bagobo is a keen trader and many small articles of all kinds reach, and pass from him through trade; and to make this barter possible he intentionally produces an excess of certain things.

The Wild Tribes of Davao District, Mindanao The R. F. Cummings Philippine Expedition Fay-Cooper Cole 1921

Tradition says that they were acquainted with only the rudest of Bagobo arts and industries; that they were very poor, and dressed themselves in the soft sheath torn from the cocoanut-trees.

Philippine Folk-Tales Fletcher Gardner

[147] This story came to the Bagobo from a young man of the Ata tribe, whose habitat is the mountainous country in the interior, to the northwest of the Gulf of Davao.

Philippine Folk-Tales Fletcher Gardner

Yet this was the sole case that came under my observation of a social visit made by an Ata in a Bagobo house; for the Ata live far to the northwest of the Bagobo, and are extremely timid, and "wild" in the popular sense.

Philippine Folk-Tales Fletcher Gardner

Foremost in significance for the cultural tradition of the people is the ulit, a long, romantic tale relating in highly picturesque language the adventures of the mythical Bagobo, who lived somewhere back in the hazy past, before existing conditions were established.

Philippine Folk-Tales Fletcher Gardner

In illustration of this point, one tale known to be outside of Bagobo sources is here introduced.

Philippine Folk-Tales Fletcher Gardner

It is because the monkey sometimes turns into a Buso that many Bagobo refuse to eat monkey.

Philippine Folk-Tales Fletcher Gardner

The story of "Alelu'k and Alebu'tud" was told by an Ata boy to a Bagobo at the coast, who immediately related it to me.

Philippine Folk-Tales Fletcher Gardner

When the Bagobo are eating cocoanut, they let the cat jump up and have some too, because her head once turned into a cocoanut.

Philippine Folk-Tales Fletcher Gardner