TAUSUG CULTURE: 1.

Religious Beliefs & Practices: - The Tausug are Sunni Muslims who observe the Muslims Five Pillars. The elder Tausug, on the other hand, are those who continue to do daily prayers. Even if they believe that illnesses, diseases and other misfortunes are part of their gods will, they still also hang on to the belief of having spirits in the environment that are capable of administering good and bad fortunes. Due to this, they continue to have a mangungubat or folk curers that supposedly treat the ill. They get their powers through dreams or from the instructions of the elder mangungubats. They cure the sick using herbal medicine and prayer. 2. Art - The Tausug mats show exemplary work done by their weavers. They have great weaving skills that can be seen in their silk sashes, shoulder cloth or in their male head dresses called pis siyabit. Their designs are mostly linear and geometric. - Tausug art also include the embroidery that they do. Since they are known for their prized silk threads, the embroidery found in their pillow cases, table cloths etc are of value. - Due to the Tausugs religion which is mostly Islamic, their arent allowed to create artworks that show human or animal forms which is why they go for more abstract motifs. This decision didnt come out as bad at all because they have been creating abstract and different motifs that arent commonly seen. - Another form of art that they have are their weapons. Weapons have become more of value to them. Weapons that had intricate or elaborate patterns in their blades have either a floral or geometric incision. 3. Literature - Just like any other group in the Philippines, the Tausug are rich in their literary works that are passed on from generation to generation through word of mouth (oral tradition.) The Tausug call their tales: katakata. The most common subject of their tales are tales that revolve around the lives of their sultan. But due to their different geographic locations, the Tausug have variations to their tales. An example would be their folktale entitled: Manukmanuk Bulawan. It is called by that name by the Tausugs living in Indanan while it is called Agta, Datu or Dakula in other places. Another example of the Tausugs folktale are trickster tales called Posong/Pusung. Tales like these are meant to entertain its audience. For the Tausugs, the story of Posong is on how he tricks the sultan and how he gets away with it. However, for certain local analysts, this type of folktale is a way of society to get back to their leader by showing how a commoner can outwit their head. - The Tausug call their legends as usulan. Usulans are usually taken from or sourced from the different landmarks in their area like the mountains highest peaks, lakes and their own provinces. One of their known and favorite legends is called the Kawwn of Bud Tumatangis which is Mount Tumatangis, the highest peak in their province. Bud means mountain and tangis means to cry. It is believed that sailors cry when they lose sight of the peak or when they see it upon arriving.

The Tausugs epic is called: Parang Sabil hi Abdulla iban hi Isara. Although there are others who do not consider this as an epic (and more of a ballad), it is best to understand how in certain areas a ballad and epic mean the same thing. This epic is sung and is in verse. Ballads are called kissa in the Tausug society and contemporary ballads are about recent and famous Tausugs that has made history in their political and ideological struggles. Tarasul is the term that the Tausugs use for poems. Riddles, on the other hand, are called igum. An example of a Tausugs proverb is as follows: Duwa magtaymanghud There are two siblings Di mag-kita-I They do not see each other

4. Government and Societal Structure: - The head of their society is called a sultan and sultans are also related with religious authority. The Sultans are believed to be of the same line of their Prophet. An imam is also an important figure in a Tausug society because they are those who officiates at life-crisis rites, offers religious counseling and leads the community in prayer. - Basically their government structure is a by a sultanate. It is head by a Sultan then followed by a datu, just like the sultans, datus are believed to be descendants of the very first sultan. 5. Traditions and Beliefs: - In building houses, the Tausug believe that this activity equates to the development of a fetus. Because of this belief, the first post to be erected upon building a house must be the main post within the houses interior. This is to be in parallel with how the first thing that appears in a womans womb is the navel. 6. Attitude