Ambahan: Home

To give a sample of all the various aspects of the home life within a Mangyan settlement would be next to impossible. However, an attempt to draw a general outline will be undertaken here. Two great themes can be considered of importance in the life-cycle of a Mangyan: 1) His struggle for life in and around his house, to keep hunger and sickness away; and, 2) His unbelievable ability to relax, be happy and unconcerned, often by escaping from his immediate surroundings.

What does a Mangyan home look like? His house is not as important as a house is to his countrymen of modern culture. A Mangyan will be the first to admit that his house is of poor construction and just a temporary dwelling.

Ambahan 102
Hanunuo-Mangyan	English	Filipino
	This the forest Mangyan said: "What I have to tell you, sir, I've been thinking of for long: Your existence is not bad In the lowlands where you live. There the houses that you have Are built with beams of the best Like your floors all made of wood. But we to the mountains born Who have lived here for so long, Our houses are not like that. Our floor is of bamboo built, Our roof made of cogon grass, All of it is tied with vines. But to that I have to add. Don't forget that we can live Very near the water source Where the birds all come to drink. A cool, shady place to be."	Sabi ng isang Mangyan: Ang wika ko'y pakinggan Ito ngang kaisipan— Mabuti ang 'yong lagay Ikaw, taga-kapatagan Kaya taga-baybayan Tabla ay ilang-ilang Nagsahig nang mainam Kaming taga-burulan Kaya nasa burulan aming kabihasnan Sahig ay patpatan Kugon lang ang bubungan May taling baling-uway Datapwa't 'to'y pakinggan H'wag naman kalimutan Ibon sa may igiban Bukal itong inuman Na kay lilim kung tingnan!

After all, life is hard and a Mangyan has to spend most of his time eking out a subsistence for himself, so the house itself is of little importance.

Ambahan 103
Hanunuo-Mangyan	English	Filipino
	Your condition is quite good and your house is beautiful. The walls made of banban leaves, still enforced with bamboo poles. But we, living out-of-doors, we, the mountains dwellers up, if we did not have to search for some food to stay alive, we could also be so wise, we could also find these ways! But the only thing we find, is a sago palm for food!	Dampa mo'y kainaman Bahay n'yo pong gandahan May dingding na banban Patukurang kawayan Kaming nasa bakuran Kaming taga-burulan Di dapat paghanapan Di dapat panghinaan Wala pong karupukan Di dapat manghinayang Dahil masisilayan Yaong buling gandahan!

Even if the construction is nice and strong, the day will come that the house will be torn apart by the ripping blasts of wind.

Ambahan 105
Hanunuo-Mangyan	English	Filipino
	Climbing vine with the long leaves, leaves symmetrical and fine, how very nice looks your stem! But, they say, you'll be blown down by the tempest from the shore!	Hoy, uway na lambaan Malamba ang dahon man Ang puno'y kainaman— Kung nasa daraanan Bagyo'y galing 'patagan!

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Ambahan: Home

Mangyan culture