Thesis, Undergraduate (BA Social Science) -- U. P. in Mindanao

The Kagan of Barangay Leling have lost most of its traditional culture. Regardless of being assimilated and acculturated, they perceived their ethnic identity based on the interplay of the different ethnic markers. Language is one of the markers that the Kagan perceived to be vital to be considered as part of the Kagan community. However, langauge is not the sole ethnic marker in distinguishing the Kagan identity. The concept of Kagan lineage (ancestry) is also one of the ethnic markers of identifying the Kagan identity that is supplemented by place of origin and history ethnic markers. And what is mor important is that the Kagan strongly believed that they belong to the Kagan indigenous people regardless of the shortcomings of religion, shared customs and material cultures as ethnic markers. Also the Kagan recognized the Bagobo, Tagakaolo, Manobo and B'laan to be the lumad occupying the region of Davao del Sur. Specifically, the Kagan came largely in contact with the Manobo were some of the Manobo intermarried with the Kagan. The Kagan also acknowledged the Bagobo where they had wage war in the past. Furthermore, they recognized the Bisaya migrants who brought changes in the culture of the Kagan. It is important to note that the Kagan is asserting that they are distinct indigenious group and not a subtribe of the Tagakaolo. The Bisaya migrants gave the name ?Kalagan? to the Kagan, which is widely used even among other indigenous groups. The perception of the Bisaya migrants were that the Kagan were the original inhabitants of Barangay Leling. They were one of the first lumads in Davao del Sur together with the Bagobo, Tagakaolo, Manobo and B'laan. For the Bagobo, Tagakaolo, Manobo and B'laan, they perceived and recognized the Kagan in Barangay Leling as Kagan and a distinct indigenous group who occupied the vast plain areas near the coasts of Davao gulf with their own sets of shared language, territory, history, customs, beliefs and practices.