Subanen Social Organization and Customs
The Subanen people have traditionally embraced equality, with no division of labor based on gender. Men and women alike could work in the fields, engage in carpentry, cook, and care for children. This egalitarian way of life remains prevalent in remote Subanen communities, particularly in the hinterlands, where their culture is most faithfully preserved.
However, the ongoing migration of Cebuanos and Muslim groups into Subanen territory has significantly influenced gender roles among the younger generation. Those living in more developed areas are increasingly adopting the gender norms of these incoming groups.
As a result, girls now tend to avoid fieldwork and prolonged exposure to sunlight, instead focusing on household chores. Conversely, boys are expected to take on more physically demanding tasks in the fields. This marks a notable shift from traditional Subanen customs, which upheld the belief that men and women were equal and could both contribute to agricultural and domestic work.
The influence of Cebuano and Muslim migrants has also introduced new perspectives on gender roles, many of which align with more conventional, hierarchical views. As a consequence, these beliefs are reshaping the outlook of younger Subanen generations, leading them away from their community's original principles of gender equality.
It is important to note that these changes are not occurring uniformly across all Subanen communities. In some areas, traditional views on gender roles remain firmly in place, while in others, the younger generation is increasingly adopting the gender norms of Cebuanos and Muslim groups.
The long-term impact of these shifts on Subanen culture is still uncertain. However, one thing remains clear—the Subanen people are resilient, capable of adapting to change while preserving their core values.
Historically, Subanen families preferred to have more daughters than sons, as fathers could recover the dowry they had paid for their wives. However, in recent times, dowry is no longer widely practiced, except in remote Subanen communities. Among younger generations living in more developed areas, the tradition has all but disappeared.
Marriage was once arranged through parental agreements known as bou'ia or bu'ya, often before the individuals reached puberty. The couple would only be introduced to each other upon reaching adulthood or legal age. However, this customary practice has largely faded among new generations, especially those residing in urbanized regions.
In traditional Subanen customs, newlyweds would initially live with the bride’s family after the wedding. During this period, the husband was expected to provide service to his in-laws, performing household chores, cooking, gathering firewood, and contributing to food production or farming. After fulfilling this period of matrilocal residence, the couple would eventually choose their own home, typically located near swidden fields to facilitate agricultural work.
The younger, educated generation of Subanen no longer adheres to traditional practices. They have the freedom to choose where to live, often settling near their businesses, workplaces, or offices. While Subanen communities in the hinterlands continue to uphold their customs, the majority of the new generation prefers to focus on work or entrepreneurship rather than maintaining a traditional lifestyle.
The Subanen people adhere to the principle of "commonwealth," meaning that land and territory are collectively shared rather than individually owned. As a result, they do not hold land titles, considering only movable assets—such as Chinese jars, gongs, jewelry, and, in later times, currency—as personal property.
However, modern influences have led many Subanen, particularly those integrating with migrant Cebuanos, to abandon this practice. Migrants have claimed ownership of Subanen land by securing formal titles. To protect their territory, Subanen communities have begun titling their land as well. Recognizing their ancestral rights, the Philippine government has allowed them to designate specific areas as ancestral domains—lands considered sacred and inherently belonging to the Subanen people.
In Subanen tradition, marital ties could end through divorce, abduction of the wife, or the death of a spouse. However, remarriage often occurred immediately. A surviving widow could marry a brother of her late husband, whether he was already married or not. Similarly, the parents of a deceased wife might promptly arrange a marriage between the widower and one of their unmarried daughters or nieces.
In the hinterlands, traditional practice allows a Subanen man to take multiple wives without limit, provided they can live together harmoniously under one roof. However, Subanen people who have embraced Christianity no longer follow this custom, as polygamy is not permitted within Christian doctrine.
Traditionally, education among the Subanen was limited to guidance from the Tim'uay (tribal head), who instructed future husbands and wives on love, respect, and proper treatment of each other, their parents, and their in-laws. However, modernization has significantly impacted the community, leading to increased access to formal education. Many younger Subanen have earned bachelor's, master's, and even doctoral degrees from prestigious universities, both locally and abroad. Some have secured positions in Philippine government offices.
In marriage, a man's parents traditionally selected his future wife, and both families set the wedding date. Polygamy and polyandry were practiced, but separation was not permitted, nor was marriage between close relatives. Family planning was also observed among those who wished to limit the number of children. A forest herb called benayan was used for this purpose—taking two herbs allowed for birth spacing, while consuming more prevented further pregnancies.
Another form of birth control was carried out by midwives, who performed post-delivery "manipulations" on women. Various methods were also used to influence the sex of the unborn child. Pregnant women followed numerous customs, such as placing a piece of wood across their path before entering a doorway.
Having more daughters than sons was considered a blessing, as it allowed fathers to recover the dowry they had paid for their wives. An ancient belief held that all people should marry and reproduce to populate the land. However, modern Subanen individuals, facing economic and financial challenges, sometimes choose not to have children—or, in some cases, not to marry at all.
The traditional Subanen people believe in a supreme being called Diwata Migbebaya and once possessed a holy book. However, following the Spanish invasion, the book could no longer be found—believed to have been either burned or taken as loot. Subanen individuals who continue practicing their ancestral beliefs communicate with Diwata Migbebaya through incantations and rituals led by a shaman known as Balian. While Balian are typically men, women may also serve in this role.
In modern times, many Subanen have embraced Christianity, joining various denominations. Most Subanen leaders prefer the strict Christian sect known as the Church of God, which adheres solely to Bible-based teachings, citing passages such as Isaiah 43:7 to support their belief that anything belonging to God should bear His name. Other Subanen have joined Catholicism or Evangelical Protestantism, while communities in Basilan Island and some in Siocon have adopted Islam.
The majority of Subanen have chosen Christianity over Islam largely due to food restrictions. Islam prohibits the consumption of pork and alcohol, which poses a challenge for Subanen people who are accustomed to eating pork and drinking alcoholic beverages. The Subanen have mastered the production of their own traditional liquors, such as Pangase—a rice-based alcoholic drink—and Tuba, an organic alcoholic juice extracted from coconut flower sap. Tuba ferments rapidly, becoming a potent alcoholic drink within five hours.
The Subanen people believe that Christianity predates Islam, tracing its origins back to Moses, who they believe practiced and taught its principles as early as 1500 BCE. In contrast, Islam was founded by Muhammad in 610 CE, more than 500 years after the death of Jesus Christ. Because of this, the Subanen view Christianity as a more authentic and ancient faith.
Modern Subanen people hold Jesus Christ in high regard as the Son of God. They believe that He was the fulfillment of a prophecy made by Moses, who declared that a leader would rise from Israel and that people should listen to and follow Him (Deuteronomy 18:15-19). In line with this belief, the Subanen people revere Jesus Christ as their savior.
"The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you shall listen to him. This is what you requested of the Lord your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said, “Let us not hear the voice of the Lord our God anymore or see this great fire, lest we die.” And the Lord said to me, “What they have said is good. I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their own people; I will put my words in his mouth, and he will speak to them everything I command him. If anyone does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name, I myself will call him to account.”
“For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.”
