Documenting the Traditional Marriage Rituals of the Tagakaulo Tribe in Malita, Davao Occidental

Abstract

This study aimed to document and investigate the practice of the traditional marriage rituals of the Tagakaulo tribe in Malita, Davao Occidental. This utilized the ethnographic approach, using the purposive sampling procedure. Participant observation and in-depth interviews were used in gathering the data. Findings revealed that panag-tawag, bribe services, the man proving their intentions to the woman's parents, and the obligation to marry within the tribe are the traditional rituals These rituals are rigidly followed because members of the tribe believe it is the way of receiving their Gods' provisions and blessed married life. On the other hand, the practice of traditional marriage rituals itself has socio-cultural implications, two of its most alarming implications involve imposed responsibilities and obligations to children to be wed at young ages and the cultural insensitivity of other communities because of the tribe's bribe services or the giving of bugay. Nonetheless, this sheds light on the impact of traditional marriages on the relationship of Tagakaulo tribesmen with other communities. Hence, external interventions by NCIP and LGUs must be necessary to address its drawbacks, socio-cultural impact on the wellbeing of minority groups.