badjao neanderthal
TRANSCRIPT
Project in Sociology
A Comparison between the Badjao
And
Neanderthal Tribe
Submitted by:
Albert Reyes
Jenalyn Salgado
Clarisa Millar
Sarah Jane Viado
Kharisma Roy
William Montera Jr.
Rhick Jayson Videña
Nikka Detruz
Christine Delgado
Submitted to: Ms Lazo
Badjao
An indigenous ethnic group of Maritime Southeast Asia.
Due to escalated conflicts in their native Sulu
Archipelago, and discrimination suffered by Muslim
groups in the Philippines with regards to education and
employment, most of the Bajau have migrated to
neighboring Malaysia over the course of 50 years.
Currently they are the second largest ethnic group in the
state of Sabah, making up 13.4% of the total population.
Groups of Bajau have also migrated to Sulawesi and
Kalimantan in Indonesia, although figures of their exact
population are unknown.
They were sometimes referred to as the Sea Gypsies, although the
term has been used to encompass a number of non-related ethnic
groups with similar traditional lifestyles, such as the Moken of the
Burmese-Thai Mergui Archipelago and the Orang Laut of
southeastern Sumatra and the Riau Islands of Indonesia. The
modern outward spread of the Bajau from older inhabited areas
seems to have been associated with the development of sea trade
in trepang.
Filipinos who up to this time have been struggling to reclaim what was once their ancestral land,
the Badjaos are in search of another: their ancestral seas.
Since they came to settle along the coasts of Sulu, Tawi-Tawi and Zamboanga in southern
Philippines from Borneo six centuries ago, the Badjaos have tried to secure a place of their own
in a communal bond with the sea. Threatened by pirates, however, many Badjao families have
since been forced to migrate northward. They reached the shores of Manila Bay thousands of
kilometers away in the 1990s.
Almost all Bajau today claim to be Sunni Muslim. They believe
that among their people are direct descendants of the prophet
Mohammed. Yet many - predominantly the seafaring, nomadic
Bajau - retain spiritually based religious practices that pre-date
any "major" religion. In their religion designated spirit mediums
communicate with the spirit world in ritual
ceremonies of celebration, worship and
exorcism - in which, for example, spirit boats
are sailed into the open seas to cast the
offending spirit away from their community.
They also worship the God of the sea, Omboh
Dilaut.
The Bajau have been a nomadic, seafaring
people for most of their history. Many Bajau still practice that
same lifestyle to this day, which explains why they are still
commonly called "sea gypsies." They chart particularly the
waters of the Sulu Sea, off the southwestern coast of the
Philippines, and the various seas that surround the Indonesian
island of Sulawesi. These are among the most dangerous waters
in the World with sporadic policing at best and a very high
incidence of open piracy. Yet these Bajau claim never to have
wielded weapons - preferring to simply flee from potential
attack. They come ashore only to bury the deceased and to live
temporarily while making new boats.
Other Bajau began living entirely on land about 200 years ago. Many of these are to be found in
Malaysia's eastern state, Sabah, on the island of Borneo. Of course the seafaring Bajau make
their living from fishing. Those who have abandoned that lifestyle have become farmers and
cattle rearers, earning them the local nickname, "cowboys of the east." Indeed their equine skills
are well known in this part of the world, and are always to be found displayed in Bajau
ceremonial events. Still other Bajau live a lifestyle between nomadic and sedentary, housed in
villages on the water, but not far from land.
Sub-groups
Colorful non-traditional designs on the famous vinta boats of the Samal people from Samal
Island, Philippines. Traditionally, vintas feature distinctive vertical bands and triangles of bright
colors.
Commonly, many sub-groups of Bajau are named after the place or island they live-in for many
years. Even though they are called Bajau, each sub-groups has their own unique language,
cultures and tradition. However, certain sub-groups are able to understand the languages of other
sub-groups. For example, some Bajau understand the Bajau Ubian language, and the Bajau
Ubian and Simunul in Sabah are able to understand and speak the Tausug language called the
Suluk language in Sabah.
Lists of Bajau sub-groups:
1. Ubian (Malaysia) - The largest group of Bajau. They reside in sizable minorities living
around the towns of Kudat and Semporna in Sabah, Malaysia.
2. Sama (Malaysia) - Commonly known as Bajau Kota Belud, because most of them live
in or near area of Kota Belud, Sabah. This is actually a misnomer as they can be found all
over the west coast of the state, and not just in Kota Belud. They call themselves Sama,
not Bajau and their neighbours, the Dusuns also call them Sama, not Bajau. British
administrators originally defined them as Bajau.
3. Samah/Sama Sulawesi Selatan' (Malaysia)
4. Simunul (Malaysia) - Simunul people can be found at Kampung Bokara, Sandakan,
Semporna and Lahad Datu Towns. Simunuls in Sabah originate from Tawi-tawi, where
they are still mostly found and are the majority there, and the only Bajau group that
mostly has fair skin.
5. Samal (Philippines, Malaysia) - A group native to the Philippines, a large number are
now residing around the coasts of northern Sabah, though many have also migrated north
to the seas around the Visayas and southern Luzon. The Samal are sometimes considered
distinct from the other Bajau. They are the largest single group of Bajau.
6. Bajau Suluk (Malaysia) - This sub-group, live mostly in Kudat, and have origins in the
Philippines, hence, although living among Malay peoples for a substantial part of their
history, are also able to converse in the Tausug and Samal languages.
7. Tando' Bas (Malaysia) - This sub-group was rarely found in Sabah before 1970s. They
had recently migrated to Sabah from a place called Tando Bas in the Philippines.
8. Ungus Matata (Malaysia) - This sub-group was rarely found in Sabah before 1970s.
They had recently migrated to Sabah from a place called Ungus Matata in the
Philippines.
9. Tolen (Malaysia) - This sub-group was found only at Bum-bum island, in Semporna,
Sabah. No trace of them anywhere else even in the Philippines.
10. Pala'u (Malaysia) - This sub-group originally lived on boats all the time but recently in
Sabah, some have settled on land.
11. Tabawan (Philippines, Malaysia) - This sub-group was rarely found in Sabah before
1970s. They have recently migrated to Sabah from a place called Tabawan, Tawi-tawi,
Philippines.
12. Banguingui or Balangingi Samal (Philippines, Malaysia) - Native to the Philippines,
where the majority still live. This sub-group was rarely found in Sabah before 1970s.
Some have recently migrated to Sabah. The Balanguingui were once slavers and pirates
during the 16th to 19th centuries, capturing people from other nearby ethnic groups and
often integrating them into their own culture.
13. Sikubung (Malaysia) - People from this sub-group were rare in Sabah before 1970s.
They have recently migrated to Sabah.
Badjao Lifeways
Religion
Claims to religious piety and learning are an important source of individual prestige among the
coastal Bajau, and the title of salip/sarip (descendants of the Prophet Muhammad) are shown
special honor in the local community. Some of the Bajau lack mosques and must rely on the
shore-based communities such as those of the more Islamized Аrabic or Malay peoples. The
Ubian Bajau, due to their nomadic marine lifestyle, are much less adherent to orthodox Islam,
and practice more of a syncretic folk hybrid, revering local sea spirits, known in Islamic
terminology as Jinn.
Badjao are a Muslim people group scattered throughout the Philippines. They are among some
of the poorest of the poor people. The Quezon Mission Organization currently is targeting two
tribes of Badjao: one in Barra Dalahican, Quezon Province, and the other in Malitam, Bantangas
City. The work began in March of 1999, and there is a local church planted with baptized
believers in each location today.
There are two full-time missionaries working with these two new churches. Those who have
committed their lives to Christ and been baptized have pledged their allegiance to Isa Al-Masi
(Jesus Christ). This new millennium, bible studies, worship services, and cell groups are the on-
going activities to strengthen their new-found relationship with Jesus.
Praise Reports
A Mission House and Comfort Room were constructed
A Free Clinic was provided to attend to the physical needs and health care of the group
Relief Operation: free distribution of food and clothing was provided through the help of
ALCC House of Prayer Christian Church and Ministry.
The Jesus Film was shown last November 1999.
The Christmas Celebration called "Haylaya Paskuhan" was a successful one. It was an
expression of blessing to the Badjao.
Prayer Requests
Spiritual growth of the Badjao
Wisdom and strength for Pastor Rudy and Sister Lita
Five thousand peso (about $125 USD) monthly support for the two full-time missionaries
Financial help to provide livelihood projects
Visual Crafts and Arts
The traditional attire of the
Badjao consists of either everyday
wear or elaborately embroidered
costumes for special occasions.
The patadjung/tadjong has many uses. Among the Badjao it is
large enough to fit any person and is worn by both men and
women as a skirt or gown tucked at the chest level. It can serve
as putung (headcover), waistband, sash, blanket, hammock,
shoulder bag, cradle, pouch, hood, or pillow.
The women’s sablay is a loosed sleeved blouse reaching
down to the hips. A simpay (band) forms the front
opening and extends to the back from a small collar.
Woman’s accessories are jewelry and colored combs.
The gallang (bracelet) is the most popular ornament. The
most common is that made from sulau(letter cone) or
kima (tidachna gigas). Other pieces of jewelry are the
gantung-liug (pendant), aritis (earing), singsing (ring), hukut-liug (necklace), and galungsung
(anklet). Metal craft designs can be classified into three kinds: the repousse, relief hammered
from the reverse side; arabesque, incision of interlocking curves; and filigree, tracing with thin
gild, silver, or brass wires.
Badjao painting and carving are integral to the people’s life cycle. In wedding ceremonies, the
wedding beautician must be adept at applying the special makeup on the bride and groom. With
a razor blade tied with thread to a split bamboo twig, the beautician shape’s the bride’s eyebrows
into a triangle and carves tiny bangs on her forehead. Lampblack is used to outline a rectangle on
her forehead and this is emphasized by yellow ginger juice. Black dots are outlined horizontally
above the eyebrows and/or beneath the eyes with the pointed end of a coconut midrib. Another
beautician attends the groom and his face is made up the same way.
A sundok (grave marker) may also be especially fashioned from a separated piece of wood. It
may carry the same designs as those on the boat. It is carved into an animal form, such as a spirit
into the afterlife. A male marker is distinguished by a column topped with a fez, a stylized
umbrella, or a stylized human face. The female marker is marked by a flat triangle, sometimes
with scalloped edges, and incised with lavish floral designs.
Performing Arts
The Badjao have five types of song: leleng, binoa, tenes, panulkin, and lugu. Except for the last
two, the lyrics are improvised and sung to a traditional tune. The leleng is sung for any occasion,
by anyone of any age. It is also sung for special occasions like weddings, haircuts, or
circumcisions.
The binoa is similarly chanted as the leleng. The tenes-tenes is a ballad whose tune changes with
the lyrics. It may be sung for any occasion and by anyone, but especially by a young man for his
sweetheart. The melody of a known tenes may be used for a different set of lyrics. Some tenes
are love and courting songs, and songs that are addressed to sharks.
A woman sings the lugu at a wedding as the imam or panglima walks with the groom to the
bride’s side. The lugu’s lyrics are verses from the Koran; it has a traditional and melancholy
tune. The panulkin is sung only by the imam and has traditional tune and lyrics. It is sung during
the vigil of the dead, from 7 PM to 1 AM. It is a way of keeping awake and of making the
community aware that somebody has died.
The Badjao dance traditions have much in common with the other ethnic groups of Sulu,
especially the Samal. The basic traditional dance movement is the igal or pangalay performed by
the female. The costume for the igal is the allabimbang and the sawwal. The hair is preferably
pulled back in a bun, although it may also be allowed to hung loose. The dance is accompanied
by any drum or a gabbang.
The Badjao’s Dance traditions
The Badjao’s dance traditions are similar with the other ethnic groups of Sulu, particularly the
tribes in Samal. The basic traditional dance movement is the igal or pangalay performed by the
female. The dancer’s hair is preferably pulled back in a bun, although it may also be allowed to
hang loose. Either a drum or a gabbang accompanies the dance.
Neanderthals
Neanderthals are what scientists believe are relatives to humans.
The Neanderthals used tools skillfully, used fire, hunted, made
clothing, cared for their old and infirm, buried their dead, and may
have had language, art and music. They lived in western and central
Asia and Europe. People believe they are a completly different
species and others believe they are the same species as modern
humans. The name means “Valley of the Neander”. Neanderthals
are one of the two subgroups from Homo sapiens, the other is
Homo sapien sapiens.
Though evolution models once held that Neanderthal man was one of the “missing links”
between an ape-like ancestor and modern man, the repeated discoveries of Neanderthal remains
right next to those of modern humans—instead of in separate, lower, older strata—have forced
him out of the pool of “pre-human” evolutionary ancestor candidates. In contrast to ever-
evolving naturalistic interpretations, the biblical creation model has consistently maintained that
Neanderthal man was just that—man.
Neanderthal did have distinct characteristics that are apparently now either extinct or diffused,
but his family line was fully human for several hundred years after Noah’s Flood, when humans
repopulated the earth about 4,300 years ago.
Discovery
In 1856 workers in a quarry near a tributary of a Neander, found part of a skull and a few
bones. The skull was weird shaped; it was really low and almost looked like it didn’t have a
forehead. Charles Lyell stated that the fossils were really old. Thomas Huxley noted that the
skull would have been larger than a modern human’s. The brain size would have been extreme.
Neanderthal skulls were first discovered in Engis, in what is now Belgium (1829) by Philippe-
Charles Schmerling and in Forbes' Quarry, Gibraltar (1848), both prior to the type specimen
discovery in a limestone quarry of the Neander Valley in Erkrath near Düsseldorf in August
1856, three years before Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species was published.
The type specimen, dubbed Neanderthal 1, consisted of a skull cap, two femora, three bones
from the right arm, two from the left arm, part of the left ilium, fragments of a scapula, and ribs.
The workers who recovered this material originally thought it to be the remains of a bear. They
gave the material to amateur naturalist Johann Carl Fuhlrott, who turned the fossils over to
anatomist Hermann Schaaffhausen. The discovery was jointly announced in 1857.
The original Neanderthal discovery is now considered the beginning of paleoanthropology.
These and other discoveries led to the idea these remains were from ancient Europeans who had
played an important role in modern human origins. The bones of over 400 Neanderthals have
been found since.
By 130,000 years ago, complete Neanderthal characteristics had appeared. These characteristics
then disappeared in Asia by 50,000 years ago and in Europe by about 30,000 years ago, with no
further individuals having enough Neanderthal morphological traits to be considered as part of
Homo neanderthalensis.
Genetic evidence suggests interbreeding took place with Homo sapiens (anatomically modern
humans) between roughly 80,000 and 50,000 years ago in the Middle East, resulting in 1–4% of
the genome of people from Eurasia having been contributed by Neanderthals.
The youngest Neanderthal finds include Hyaena Den (UK), considered older than 30,000 years
ago, while the Vindija (Croatia) Neanderthals have been re-dated to between 33,000 and 32,000
years ago. No definite specimens younger than 30,000 years ago have been found; however,
evidence of fire by Neanderthals at Gibraltar indicate they may have survived there until 24,000
years ago. Cro-Magnon or early modern human skeletal remains with 'Neanderthal traits' were
found in Lagar Velho (Portugal), dated to 24,500 years ago and controversially interpreted as
indications of extensively admixed populations.
Neanderthal cranial capacity is thought to have been as large as that of a Homo sapiens, perhaps
larger, indicating their brain size may have been comparable, as well. In 2008, a group of
scientists created a study using three-dimensional computer-assisted reconstructions of
Neanderthal infants based on fossils found in Russia and Syria, showing that they had brains as
large as modern humans' at birth and larger than modern humans' as adults. On average, the
height of Neanderthals was comparable to contemporaneous Homo sapiens. Neanderthal males
stood about 165–168 cm (65–66 in), and were heavily built with robust bone structure. They
were much stronger than Homo sapiens, having particularly strong arms and hands. Females
stood about 152–156 cm (60–61 in) tall
What Was Everyday life like for the Neasnderthals?
Physical Characteristics
An average Neanderthal has a very large brain
compared to that of a human’s. Its skull bulged
on all sides of its head. His cheek bone slanted
backwards and his nose jutted forward. The
Neanderthals had no obvious chin. They were
more built in muscle than a human but they were
very short. About five and a half feet was an
average Neanderthal height.
Culture
Even though the earth was very warm for
them when they first appeared, they were alive during the time of the last ice age. They would
have had to have been very resourceful. They used animal skins to make clothing and houses
so they could make a controlled fire.
Tools
Neanderthals had good tools that are known as Mousterian, after Le Moustier, a cave in
France. Their tools were much better than Homo erectus. There were like axes, spears, and
knives. They fashioned their tools with hammers and antlers. We have found out that their tools
were just as complex as early Homo sapiens.
Hunting
Neanderthals hunted large animals so they could feed their whole family for a while.
They used spears, bolas, stone knives, and axes to butcher their kill.
Language
Scientist do not know if Neanderthals used language. There is a little bit of evidence that
they were capable of speech. Scientists found a hyoid bone; the hyoid bone helps with movement
of the tongue. They also found a hypoglossal canal which was no larger than Homo sapiens. The
mentalis bone helps us talk but judging that Neanderthals lacked chin; they didn’t have this bone
so it might have affected their speech.
Music/Arts
Lumps of pigment have been found near sites where
Neanderthals have been discovered.
They have also found jewelry in these sites. They used the
Divje Babe Flute for music; a little carved bone with holes in
the top and one on the bottom. This was discovered in the
Divje Babe Park where Neanderthals were discovered.
Burials
Neanderthals were the first known humans to bury their dead. Le Chapelle-aux-Saints
was the first known burial site. At Le Moustier a little teenage Neanderthal boy was found
buried. A young Neanderthal child was also found in Tashik-Tash with six pairs of ibex horns
arranged in a circle around his head.
What happened to Neanderthals?
Neanderthals became extinct about 30,000 years ago. There are several ideas about how
they disappeared; some people believe it was by inbreeding with Homo sapiens, others think that
we killed them off, and others think they just couldn’t adapt to new climate changes when the ice
age was over.
DNA
Neanderthal DNA was taken from different skeletons from numerous discoveries such as
the Feldhofer cave in Germany, Mezmaiskaya cave in Russia, and the Vindija cave in Croatia.
The DNA of humans and Neanderthals are not very similar, but some arguments have started
about the characteristics of the Neanderthal child found in the Mezmaiskaya cave; they think the
child is not Neanderthal because the genetics do not match to a Neanderthals they think it is
something else but are not sure about it. Anthropologists concluded that Neanderthals were
probably displaced by our true ancestors 30,000 years ago. People think that us (modern humans)
were formed by Neanderthals and early Homo sapiens interbreeding and forming modern
humans. Scientists are having a hard time discovering the disappearance of the neanderthals
because there is no written history or anything for this event in time.
How do we reconcile this with personal beliefs?
I think we should be able to reconcile this with others peoples beliefs in God. It makes
sense how we have figured out all this about Neanderthals and other early humans. If there were
no Neanderthals then why have we found fossils that are larger than a human’s? The idea of
evolution isn’t completely true but it can be reconciled with personal beliefs.
Comparison between the Badjao’s & the Neanderthals
Our group chose tribe of the Badjao & the Neanderthals because they are the most
influential tribe for us and in fact we can compare more things in this tribe. Let us start with
the place they are living. The Badjao’s are popularly known as “Sea Gypsies” which explains
why most of them live in their Houseboats called “sakayan”, inside their boats there lies all
the things they needed like most of us will be putting inside our house, sometimes they go to
the shore to do their living they do the Barter system and sell their freshly caught fish & other
sea products after that they buy products that they will use in the maintenance of their house.
Badjao’s are also divided according to their wealth. The physical appearance of the Badjao
varies according to their wealth mostly they possess brown skin and bronze like hair. The
Neanderthals on the other side lived in the lands of the Europe they live through “Animal
Hunting” they have lived 125,000 years ago so we are not surprise that the way they are
living are very primitive. Most of their clothing is made with animal skin while the Badjao’s
have discovered the techniques in making cloth. If we are going to compare their appearance
the Neanderthal are quite strong than the Badjao’s because they are use to hard labor while
the Badjao’s are spending their time rowing their boats & fishing. The Neanderthals are
running & climbing the trees for Hunting. The Neanderthals are also the first human beings
to move in truly cold climates end during winters & short summers they had finer tools such
as scrappers use in dressing hides as clothing meanwhile the Badjao’s are used to hot
climates because they are here in the Philippines and we are near the equator which means
that we are a tropical country. The work of a woman in the badjao tribe does not differ from
the Neanderthal their primary goal is to bear children & takes good care of them the only
difference is that the women in the Neanderthal tribe treats them bad while in the badjao they
are treated more with care.
Both Neanderthals and Badjao tribes live in a group. The difference is that the Badjao
lives in the sea with the floating boat that serve as their house unlike the Neanderthals
that lives in a cave. The most common thing between things between the two groups is
their ability to provide their food. The Neanderthals use hunting us a way of gathering
foods and the Badjao knows how to catch fish the same with the Neanderthals. Badjao
use to raise seaweeds and oyster as a source of living.