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.