INDIGENOUS RELIGIONS
Indigenous beliefs or folk religions are often associated with specific groups of people typically based on ethnicity. These are indigenous people whose identities have been kept preserved against foreigners. They are persons and their descendants who lived on their lands before settlers came.
In the Philippine context, there are four major indigenous groups:
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IGOROT. Based in Cordillera, the Igorot refers to various ethnic groups such as the Kankanaey, Bontoc, and Ifugao. Igorot means “people from mountains.”
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LUMAD. Lumas means “born from the earth.” They are ethnic group who settled in Mindanao before contact with Spaniards. They are the B’laan, T’boli, and Manobo, among others.
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MANGYAN. These are indigenous people in Mindoro, Sibuyan, and some in the islands of Palawan. Some ethnic groups include the Tadyawan, Tabanua, and Palaw-an.
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NEGRITO. They are distinguishable because of their dark skin and curly hair. Some Negrito groups include the Agta in Cagayan, the Dumagat in the Sierra Madre, and the Aeta in Zambales.
These are common beliefs among indigenous religions in the Philippines:
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Nature is a sacred entity, which the Creator has entrusted to people. Stewardship of nature is therefore a religious duty.
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The indigenous worldview is kinship-based. This means that the spirits of ancestors figure in religious practices and worship. They are believed to be active in the life of the community.
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Rituals occupy a prominent role among indigenous religions.
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Followers of indigenous religions receive divine revelation through direct communication in the form of visions, dreams, and spirit possession.
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SOME CONTEXT ON IFUGAO BELIEFS:
ANITO. Refers to the essence of the individual, typically understood as the soul.
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MAPATAL. The sun deity in charge of the weather.
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NAMADJANG. He is believed to be the creator of the physical world.
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BUNBUNI. These are deities of the eath, which can affect natural geological catastrophes such as landslides.
Igorot means "people from mountains."
Lumad means "born from the earth."
Mangyans are indigenous people in Mindoro, Sibuyan, and Palawan.
Negrito groups are very distinct in their physical features such as dark skin and curly hair.
Most indigenous people fill their skin with tattoos that are related to nature and spirits.
Folk religions are perceived to be simple, primitive, and less complex.