Thesis (BA Communication Arts) -- University of the Philippines Mindanao, May 2016

The Sama Dilaut or Badjao group is one of the many indigenous groups in the Philippines who have resorted to immersing into urban communities for the shelter. Very different from their nomadic lifestyle, they are challenged to adapt the urbanity. One of the ways which they have adopted in order to survive was to form into an organization with a political structure. The Badjao Association of Matina Aplaya is the first registered organization in Badjaos in Davao City. Imitating the presidential format of a governing structure, their organization explicitly presents a structure that is highly different from how the Badjao would have structured its community based on historical, cultural and traditional facts. This phenomenon gives birth to the objective of this study: to identify a developing structure that does not compromise the cultural identity of these Badjaos. Using the concept of communication as tool to identify and analyze an implicit structure, their communication dynamics during meetings were observed. Through grounded theorizing, the data from the observation were categorized into themes highlighting the developed norms and informal roles within the organization. By interplaying the identified norm and roles, a communication network was established which defined the system in the structure. It is found out that their behavior during interaction is highly influenced by their collective culture and values and individual exposure to the urban community. Many of the norms that they develop within the organization are highly influenced by their culture and values as a Badjao tribe. The informal role that each assigned officer takes in is reflected by their power relation, which is highly influenced by their culture and individual exposure to the urban community. In the analysis of the communication network, it is recognized that their power relation forfeits the formal role that they assume and allow the individual?s informal role to assume their influence over the group. In conclusion, the informal structure that Badjao Association of Matina Aplaya would develop based on their interaction is different in nature with the structure that they have adopted from the government. The result of this study are a manifestation that imposing a structure does not guarantee a solution to a long lasting development especially on the communities like the Badjao. Understanding their culture and identify is the first step in allowing them to recognize who they are as a community, organization and members in this society.