Batak people (Philippines) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Batak

Regions with significant populations
Philippines
Languages
Batak language, Filipino language, other languages of the Philippines
Religion
Christianity, Anito, folk religions
Related ethnic groups
Aeta people, Manobo, Mamanwa; other Negrito peoples, Austronesian peoples

The Batak are one of about 140 different indigenous peoples living in the Philippines. They live in the northeastern parts of Palawan, a large island in the southwest. For a very long time, the Batak have lived in river valleys along the coast of what is now Puerto Princesa City.

In 1990, there were only about 450 Batak people left. They are also called Tinitianes. Experts think the Batak are related to the Aeta of Central Luzon. The Aeta are another Negrito tribe. Batak people are usually small, with dark skin and curly, Afro-textured hair. These features led to the name "Negrito." However, some people wonder if the Batak are related to other Negrito groups in the Philippines, or to similar groups in Indonesia or even the Andaman Islands.

A Look at Batak History

For many centuries, the Batak people lived by hunting and gathering food. They also planted useful food plants. They used a farming method called kaingin, which is a type of slash and burn farming. The Batak also traded with people from the Sulu region. They exchanged things from the forest, like honey and rattan, for manufactured goods.

The Batak were mostly left alone until the Americans arrived in the late 1800s. This was because the Batak lived far from the main Filipino political and cultural areas.

After 1900, people from other parts of the Philippines started moving into the Batak's traditional lands. This caused the Batak's resources and land to shrink. In the 1930s, the government tried to create special areas for the Batak along the coast. But by the 1950s, Filipino migrants had settled in these areas. This made the Batak move deeper into the island's interior.

During the mid to late 1900s, farmers from Luzon often pushed the Batak out of their favorite gathering spots near the sea. The Batak then moved into the mountains. In these less fertile areas, they tried to earn money by collecting and selling forest products. These included rattan, tree resins, and honey. The government and commercial collectors often said the Batak had no legal right to these resources. However, people who work to protect nature are interested in the Batak's methods. Their ways of collecting are much better for the environment than commercial methods.

The Batak's way of life is now at risk. This is partly because forest resources are shrinking due to mining. Their communities also face challenges like a shrinking population.

The Batak are now working to get official land titles for their traditional lands in Puerto Princesa. These titles would help protect their ancestral homes.

Batak Culture and Way of Life

The Batak used to be a nomadic people, meaning they moved from place to place. But the government asked them to settle in small villages. Even so, they often go on trips into the forest for a few days. This activity is important for both their economy and their spiritual beliefs.

Their belief system is called animism. This means they believe that spirits live in nature. They have two main types of spirits. The "Panya'en" are spirits that can be harmful. The "Diwata" are usually kind, but they can also be unpredictable. The Batak regularly offer gifts to these spirits. Shamans, who are spiritual leaders, can become possessed by spirits to talk with them and heal sick people.

Because of outside influences and changes in their way of life, the Batak's unique culture is facing challenges. Today, fewer Batak marry other Batak people. Instead, they often marry people from nearby groups. The children from these marriages often do not follow Batak cultural ways. This means that "pure" Batak people are becoming rare. Their population is also shrinking. As a result, the Batak are becoming part of a larger group of upland indigenous peoples. These groups are slowly losing their tribal identities, along with their special spirituality and culture. Some even wonder if they still exist as a separate ethnic group.

Batak families trace their family history through both the mother's and father's sides. Their family relationships are similar to those of other Filipinos. Batak people are not supposed to use the birth names of their in-laws. Because of this, they often have many personal names. In the past, divorce and remarriage were common and accepted among the Batak. But becoming more integrated into Filipino society has changed this. Husbands and wives usually have equal freedoms. Wives tend to live in their husband's household, except for the early part of the marriage when they live in the wife's household. A nuclear family (parents and children) is the basic economic unit. However, several households can combine their resources. Still, each nuclear family is expected to be self-reliant. Batak households tend to have few children, with an average of 3.5 people per household.

How the Batak Get Their Food

Today, the Batak do many different jobs. These include gathering food, selling goods from the forest, and shifting cultivation (a type of farming). They also work for Filipino farmers or other employers.

The main foods for the Batak used to be squirrels, jungle fowls, wild pigs, honey, fruits, and yams. They also ate fish, mollusks, and crustaceans. Most of these foods came from the forests in their region. The Batak used many ways to catch animals like pigs. They used bows and arrows, spears, dogs, or homemade guns. Their hunting methods changed over time as they had more contact with outsiders.

When it came to trading, the Batak mostly sold rattan, honey, and Manila copal (a type of tree resin). In return, they received clothing materials, rice, and other goods.

Some Batak also grow crops like rice, corn, sweet potato, and cassava. Working for wages for nearby farmers is an important part of the Batak economy. Batak men are often hired for a few days to do tasks like clearing weeds, harvesting crops, or picking coconuts and coffee. Local tourism also brings money to the Batak people.

Batak Religion and Spirits

Immortal Beings

See also

In Spanish: Pueblo batac para niños

• Molbog people
• Palawan people
• Tagbanwa people