Tausug Familiarization Course

1
Who are the Tausugs?

Tausug is one of the 170 dialects spoken on the Philippine Islands. The word Tausug
comes from the word tau, which means “man,” and sug, which means “current.” So,
Tausug means “people of the current.” Some say the name comes from "Tau Ma Isug,"
which means “the brave people.” In Sabah, Malasia, the Tausugs are known as the Suluk
people. The Tausugs are part of the larger Moro ethnic group that constitutes the sixth
largest ethnic group in the Philippines.

Tausug is a Visayan language of the Austronesian (Bisaya or Bahasa sug) family.

However, the Tausugs do not consider themselves Bisaya (Christian connotations)
because of their strong Muslim heritage.

Where do the Tausugs live?

The Tausug native speakers are predominately located in the Philippine Islands, which is
in the western Pacific Ocean between Indonesia and Malaysia and off the southeastern
coast of Asia. Taiwan is north of the Philippines, and Borneo lies to the south.
Specifically, the Tausugs represent the majority of the population in the province of Sulu
(Jolo) and are a minority in the provinces of Zamboanga del Sur, Basilan, and Tawi-
Tawi. There is also a large population of Tausugs in all parts of Sabah, Malaysia.

The province of Sulu is comprised of 2,600 islands and islets and is at the southern most
tip of the Philippines.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_peso

2
The Currency

The island monetary system was established on May 1, 1852. The Filipino monetary
units are in pesos. These are in increments of 100 sentimos (centavos). Paper notes are
in denominations of 2,000 (commemorative), 1,000, 500, 50, 20, 10, 5 and 2 pesos.
Coins are in denominations of 1, 5, 10, and 25 sentimos and in 1, 5, and 10 pesos. There
are also Mexican coins (pesos) in circulation, but coins minted in Manila are worth more
than the Mexican coins. The exchange rate is approximately 50 Filipino pesos per U.S.
dollar.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/philippine_peso

The Climate

The climate of Sulu is warm and humid throughout the year, with temperatures hovering
around 80 degrees Fahrenheit, or 26.5 degrees Celsius. Precipitation is constant
throughout the year. The wet monsoon season is typically from June to October, and the
dry season starts in November and ends sometime around May, although it is not a
pronounced dry season. Sulu is located outside the typhoon belt

3
The Population and the Economy

The population of the Philippines is over 48 million people, and of this number, 953,000
are Tausugs. In addition, there are approximately 300,000 Tausugs living in Malaysia.
Most of the Pilipino population is Roman Catholic; however, most of the Tausugs are
Muslims, and they represent 7 percent of the population.

Tausugs make a living through agriculture or by fishing, trading, or raising livestock.

They grow rice on fields and use cattle or water buffalo as their draft animals. They also
grow corn, cassava, millet, sorghum, sesame, peanuts, yams, eggplants, beans, tomatoes,
and onions. The principal cash crops are coconuts, coffee, abaca, and fruit. The fruit
includes mangoes, mangosteens, bananas, jackfruits, durians, lanzones, and oranges. The
Tausugs who do not own land find other ways to make a living. Some fish using nets and
traps. Others are involved in handcrafts, and there are also the traders.

Some of the handcrafts that Tausugs are known for include household items that are
made from bamboo and bladed weapons. The women also make mats and woven head
cloths to sell at local markets.

Other Tausugs are involved in trade. The Tausugs have always conducted trade with the
Chinese. However, there are some who make a living through the economic activity of
smuggling between Sulu and the ports of Malaysia.

Both sexes share in farm work. Men tend to do the heavier work while women tend to
the gardens. And, both males and females engage in trade; however, it is the males who
are involved in fishing, metalwork, and smuggling, although women will sometimes be
responsible for the books of these operations.

4
History and Culture

The Tausug people have traditionally been tied to their social, political, and religious
organizational stratifications based on a rank hierarchy. Today, they are still very status
conscious and have respect for rank that leads to social upward mobility. In the past,
there were three rankings: nobles, commoners, and slaves.

The men of nobility could hold the title of a datu. These titles were passed along through
the fathers and had regional power as either royal or ordinary datus, depending on their
relationship to the ruling sultan. Those who could claim a lineage from the Prophet Sulu
Sultanate with two recognized linage heirs to the Sulu Sultanate Kingdom were called
salip and were highly respected.

Commoners made up 80 percent of the local population. They lacked title as well as
rank. However, common men could move up and be fully recognized in a position of
rank, wealth, and power.

Slavery was a part of the Tausug culture until it was abolished when the Americans
occupied Sulu in 1899.

Foreign traders knew of Sulu long before the Spaniards colonized Cebu. Jolo was a
striving city when Cebu and Manila were mere settlements. The ethnic groups in Sulu,
which included the Tausugs, were united under the Sulu sultanate. During the fourteenth
century, Islam was introduced to the people living on Sulu Island, including the Tausugs.
When the Spaniards came, they waged successive battles against the Muslims in the
south. These battles were known as the Moro Wars (1578 to 1898). Spain attempted to
colonize the area; however, Spanish sovereignty over Jolo (Sulu) was never recognized
by the Tausugs. Eventually, in 1646, the Spaniards left.

During the nineteenth century, the Spaniards returned to occupy Sulu. The Tausugs lost
the city of Jolo when Governor General Malcampo was able to destroy the fort at Jolo as
a means to prevent the smuggling of ammunition to interior forces.

Spain remained in control until the Spanish-American War. In 1899, the Bates Treaty
transferred Spanish control of the Philippines (including the land belonging to the
Tausugs) to the Americans.

The Tausug Sulu sultanate would not accept American sovereignty even though the
Americans recognized the sultan and chief government and adopted a policy of non-
interference in the Muslim areas. However, conflicts continued to become a problem for
the Americans.

These conflicts led to the Philippine-American War. After three years of war, the
Americans had control over the Philippines, and consequently, they introduced religious,
political, and social changes.

5
From 1913 to 1969, several governmental reforms were administered to help integrate the
Muslims into the mainstream society. Since Muslim law is deeply rooted in Islamic
beliefs, anything that counters their ideology was considered to be pervasive and evil
against their way of life. Therefore, integration was difficult to administer because the
Tausug considered these policies a threat to their beliefs and values.

Then in 1946, when the U.S. was preparing to give the Philippines commonwealth its
independence, the people of Mindanao and Sulu argued that they should not be
incorporated in the new nation because of their different cultures and religions. They felt
that their land should not be given to people other than the Moros.

On August 1, 1989, the Organic Act for Mindanao (Republic Act 673) gave the
Mindanao region more autonomy. However, these resettlement programs have
intensified the competition for the region’s natural resources and land and have intruded
upon the Muslim’s ancestral lands. These conflicts can become violent and continue to
this day.

http://www.answers.com/topic/sulu

6
Customs

Tausugs are proud, adventurous, independent, and brave. They passionately embrace a
traditional religious and political ideology. They are known for their zest for life and for
their savvy business and seaworthy enterprises. In addition, their Islamic and Indonesian
cultural ties are reflected in their beautiful handicrafts, such as brass artifacts and jewelry,
and in their dress, music, and dance.

Beautiful Muslim mosques are found throughout this region as a result of Islam being
introduced here in the fourteenth century by Makdum, a Muslim missionary. Tausugs
follow the Islamic beliefs and practices of the Quran, which is considered the word of
God and is the source of their laws, values, beliefs, and behavior. In addition, Tausugs
have transcended some of their indigenous beliefs into their religious practices from the
supernatural world.

Tausugs celebrate numerous holidays and feasts throughout the year. The biggest
celebration is Hari Raya Puasa, which marks the end of a long 30-day fast called
Ramadan.

Marriage

Traditionally, marriages are arranged to first or second cousins; however, most young
adults are now starting to choose their own spouses.

In the Tausug society, there is no generally approved method for courting. While there
are opportunities for young marriageable people to meet in the community, a young man
cannot publicly confront an unmarried girl. His knowledge of her must be indirect and
based on her reputation, parental background, appearance, and demeanor. Mere touching
the opposite sex is regarded as a prelude to sexual relations.

Marriage by negotiation between the parents is ideal as it is legally proper and least likely
to lead to violent conflict. Usually, the boy will privately suggest the name of a girl to his
parents. If they dislike his choice, he can threaten to abduct her. If they insist that he
marry an undesirable girl, he can threaten to run away from home.

Abduction is a quick, relatively inexpensive way for a young man to get the girl he
desires who might otherwise not be available. It is also exciting since it is an expression
of his masculinity in a culture which puts a very high value on bravery. About one
quarter of marriages is abductions.

There is also a symbolic form of elopement, which is called “going home to obtain a
husband” (muuy magbana). In this case, the woman presents herself to the man or his
parents and announces her desire to marry him. If he accepts (and he usually does), then
the marriage proceeds as if it were a regular elopement. In Tausug, abduction is due to
the desire of the boy, while elopement implies desire on the part of the girl. Most girls
would rather be abducted than admit to elopement.

7
The bride wealth, which is payment made by the groom to the bride’s kin, is given from
the savings of the young man and his parents. Although bride wealth for abduction is
fixed as a legal minimum, the young man or his parent may offer more as a gesture of
appeasement.

The formal marriage ceremony takes place at the house of the woman and is, according to
Islamic law, a sacred contract between the young man and the girl’s father. On the day
prior to the wedding, the groom’s side delivers the entire bride wealth.

The marriage ceremony, consisting of prayers and rituals in both Arabic and Tausug,
takes place later in the afternoon. Following the ceremony, there is a feast and
entertainment.

The initial residence of the couple is almost always with the parents of the girl. After the
birth of a child, the couple may build their own independent house.

Death

The Tausugs believe that a person has four souls, and at the time of death, all four souls
leave the body. The body descends to hell, and depending on how the individual lived
his or her life will determine how long the body stays in hell. However, eventually
everyone goes to heaven.

Luck and Fortune

Most Tausugs are Sunni Muslims of the Shafite branch. However, even though they do
study the Koran, they are predisposed to beliefs of pre-Islamic customs. One’s good
fortune or misfortune as well as health are dependent upon “environmental spirits.”
These fluctuate according to how morally one lives his or her life. High moral values are
indicative and reflective of a healthy and wealthy lifestyle.

Cuisine

The Philippine cuisine includes three meals a day plus a snack. Dishes are a combination
of influences from Malay, Spain, Mexico, China, American, and Indonesian cooking.
Their trademark flavor is a combination of sweet, sour, salty, and spicy taste.

The main stay of their diet is boiled rice. Other staples are coconut, carrots, banana, taro,
cassava, purple and sweet yams, chicken, beef and a wide variety of fish which is served
salted and deep fried. Because the Tausugs are Muslims, they do not eat pork.

8
Music

Tausugs have many forms of music to mark special events, such as weddings, end of
Ramadan, travels to Mecca, and other festive occasions. The percussion or gong music
has indigenous roots that predate Islam and Christianity. It typically consists of drums
(gandang), horizontal gongs (kulintangan), and suspended gongs (tunggalan).

The kulintang is a set of five to nine smaller knobbed gongs that are laid horizontally in
order of pitch. These gongs are hit with two 12” wooden or bamboo poles. In the past, it
was considered a feminine instrument, but today many accomplished artists are men as
well as women.

9
Kulintang

The suspended gong is called agung. This instrument provides the rhythm and bass
sounds of the music. It is struck by a balu (mallet).

The agung is considered a masculine instrument. A young man might play the agung to
serenade a young and unmarried woman.

Agung

In addition, the agung is used to signal times for eating, praying, and fasting, or the
sunrises and sunsets of the day. It was believed that the vibrations from the agung would
lessen or curtail earthquakes.

Literary Arts

Tausug literature includes poetry and prose. The content of their literature is generally
either folk, which is closely related to the indigenous culture, or Islamic. Folk literature
includes poetry, riddles, proverbs, and love spells.

10
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c3/Phillanguages.jpg

11
The Language

The language of the Tausugs often includes riddles (tigum-tigum). These are either asked
in casual conversation or sung during celebrations; but in either case, the answer is
volunteered as soon as the audience has given up guessing. Riddles, in the Tausug
society, function mainly as a form of entertainment, especially during weddings and
wakes, and in the month of Ramadan, when it becomes a duel of wit and wisdom. It also
serves a pedagogical value by training children to think and be aware of nature and the
objects around them.

Tausug proverbs often reveal dominant ethnic characteristics of the people. The
following are some common proverbs:

Gam muti in bukug, ayaw in tikud-tikud

(It is better to die rather than run away from trouble.)

In usug ha way akkal way guna.

(Courage without discretion is useless.)

In halli’ subay wajib mangadjang ha di’ patuma’ in ulan.

(One must always be prepared to have a roof ready before the rainfalls.)

Tuhan in paunahun, ha unu unu hinangun, minsan kaw malaung, maluhay kaw maapun.
(God must be first before you do anything else; even if you make a mistake, you will be
forgiven.)

In manussiya magparuparu, sawa in Tuhan in magbaya.

(Man plans but God decides.)

Kitbita in pais mu, ban masakit kaymu, masakit da isab ha kaibanan mu.
(Pinch your own skin; if it is painful to you, it is also painful when done to your fellows.)

Tausug is spoken principally on the Island of Jolo (Sulu) by approximately more than
764,000 speakers. The following is the Tausug alphabet, which contains 21 letters:

There are there vowels:

A – Apu’ Usug – A-pu’ U-sug – meaning grandfather

I – Iru’ – I-ru’ – meaning dog
U – Ulan -U-lan – meaning rain

12
There are eighteen consonants:

B – Babai – Ba-ba-i – meaning girl

Ch – Bitchara –Bit-cha-ra meaning talk
D – Dagan – Da-gan – meaning run
G – Gaddung – Gaddung meaning green
H – Hayup – Ha-yup meaning animal
J – Jambatan – Jam-batan meaning wharf
K – Kaha’ – Ka-ha’ –meaning frying pan
L – Lansa – Lan-sa –meaning boat
M – Malaggu’ – Ma-lag-gu’- meaning big
N – Nanam – Na-nam –meaning flavor
Ng – Ngan – Ngan- meaning name / Banga’- Ba-nga’ meaning pot
NY – Bunyug – Bun-yug meaning companion
P – Panyu’ – Pan-yu’ meaning handkerchief
R – Ruku’ – Ru-ku’- meaning bent
S – Sudlay –Sud-lay meaning comb
T – Talam – Ta-lam meaning tray
W – Waktu – Wak-tu meaning time
Y – Yattu – Yat-tu meaning there

13