I-Witness airs Batak

MANILA, Philippines - In the outskirts of Puerto Princesa City in Palawan lives a tribe called Batak, an ancient group of people believed to be the oldest inhabitants of the Philippines. But today, the Batak people are fading fast. They are now the smallest tribe in Palawan with a population estimated at around 300.

Inside one of the Batak villages, bare-breasted women in colorful costumes greet foreign and local visitors. Eager to play their music, they happily beat sticks on hollowed-out tree trunks, still dancing to the rhythm that has entertained them for centuries. Their happy faces belie their long battle against extinction.

The Batak tribe is a nomadic group of people, relying on hunting and gathering for food. But with environmental resources slowly depleting, the Batak people are being pushed farther into the jungle, often suffering from malnutrition and lack of access to medical facilities. Christian pastor Ricky dela Cruz recounts that children tie their stomachs with rope to deaden their hunger pangs. The average Batak woman bears eight children, but only two would survive. 

In another Batak village, a cemented basketball court welcomes visitors. Basketball is a favorite pastime for Batak boys. Although no one dons their traditional costumes anymore, the men still go on hunting trips for wild boar and flying squirrels. They say this diet has fed their ancestors for centuries, and they believe it could sustain them too.

Tonight on GMA 7’s Batak: Ang Naglalahong Tribo after Saksi, Mariz Umali gets up close and personal with the vanishing tribe of Palawan.