Tagbanwa

The Tagbanwa are one of the oldest indigenous peoples of the Philippines, native to central and northern Palawan and the Calamian Islands. They are counted among the possible descendants of the Tabon Man, whose remains were found in Palawan's Tabon Caves. Split into central and Calamian groups, they speak Palawanic languages and once wrote in their own syllabic script.

In 1521 Magellan's expedition stopped at Palawan for provisions, and its chronicler Pigafetta recorded their blood-compact rites, blowpipe hunting and distilled rice wine. Southern Palawan remained under Brunei's jurisdiction until the late seventeenth century, leaving the Tagbanwa caught in the wars between Spain and the Muslim sultanates of Sulu and Mindanao.

They kept their animist beliefs, with babaylan priestesses leading the pagdiwata spirit rituals, and are known for their tingkop bamboo baskets and blackened woodcarvings of animals.