Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: barclay martin, CFCA, christian foundation for children and aging, documentary film, indigenous culture, music, philippines, Subanen, zamboanga
The following post is from the October 2010 Zamboanga eNews. To receive the monthly eNews automatically, please sign up on the homepage at www.zamboangathemovie.com.
 A Subanen man performs a welcome ritual while Barclay Martin and Subanen community members watch. |
The Subanen people have been part of the cultural fabric of the Philippines for thousands of years.
While making our documentary, the Zamboanga team visited a Subanen community near Zamboanga City so that music director/composer Barclay Martin could learn from their rich, percussive music traditions.
We found a vibrant population — in their colorful clothes and cordial demeanor. We had heard from the local CFCA staff that ceremony and ritual play a big part in their lives. We saw that firsthand.
To welcome Barclay and the team, a small table was placed in the center of a hut, set with a plate of rice and a bowl for incense.
A man sat at the table gently waving the lit stick of incense over the setting, and then he stood and began to dance. Musicians played various indigenous instruments including the agong, a large bell-shaped gong that is hung or held vertically.
Barclay was asked to introduce himself to the group. Then the municipal tribal chieftain stood and began his introduction by stating, “I was born in this place, and I think I will die in this place.”
“Subanen” means “people of the river.” The website subanen.org states: “The original people of Zamboanga were the Subanen of Indonesian origin who came at about 2,000 to 6,000 years ago. They were coastal people who believed in the spirit of their ancestors and the forces of nature.”
Through our research we also learned that Subanens regard the status of men and women as equal. They work together — women also work in the fields; men also cook and care for the children.
In terms of musical traditions, Barclay learned a lot, incorporating the agong in songs for the Zamboanga concert. We also learned about a generous and thoughtful, fair-minded way of life.
We are grateful to the Subanen people for sharing their home, their spirit and their traditions with us.
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