Tausug Culture

Prepared by:
Czarina Lynne S. Yecla

TAUSUG CULTURE

How does a tausug man court a
girl he likes?
• TRADITIONAL:
Woman back then can’t be seen by men. As
what the informant had quoted, “There is no
courtship in tausug”. So, there is only
parental arrangement.

• MODERN:
If the man wishes to court a woman, he
can only do so when they are at the
woman’s house, only when the
woman’s family is around. Also, they’re
not allowed to go outside alone.
However, if the man can’t go at the
woman’s house, he can send
letters, gifts or anything he wants that
may capture the woman’s heart.

How is tausug wedding being
practiced?
Accordingly, there is nothing much of a
difference between the modern and
traditional tausug wedding. Except that;
In the traditional way, the man is supposed
to give the woman a homemade native
foods in a colorful wrapper. Now a days,
they can buy biscuits and cakes instead.
Also, in the old times, only the parents of the
man can decide who he’ll marry.

Both ways requires the man to go at the
woman’s house with his parents, introduce
himself, set the dowry and plan the wedding.
It’s more known as“mamanhikan.”
The second step is to set the date of the
wedding or the engagement known as
“Pagturul taymah”. In pagturul taymah, the
man is required to give gifts to the girl and
the girl’s relatives and visitors. This serves
as the give away. Also, the man must have a
consent from either the father, brother or
uncle. Only these people can give the
consent known as “wali”. Without wali, the
man cannot marry the woman.

• After been engaged, they then will
perform “Pagkawin.” This is where the
man and woman will be married.
• There are instances, that “Pagkawin”
and the celebration is being done at the
same date. Pagkawin in the morning,
then the celebration at the afternoon
more known now as reception.
• In the old times, pagkawin and the
celebration are done on different dates.
It depends on the man’s capacity.

• The pagkawin is done, when the man will
have a deal with the “Imam” or the
officiating person of the wedding.
According to the interviewee, the thumb of
the groom and the imam must touch as
well as their right knees. Their hands are
covered with a white cloth. Then, the imam
will ask the groom if he is prepared to take
over the responsibilities as the bride’s
husband. All the responsibilities of the
girl’s parents must be taken over by his
husband.

• They can only marry when they have
the same religion. If for
instance, they’re not on the same
religion, one must convert.
Accordingly, most of the tausugs follow
Islam religion.
• After it’s been sealed, the bride and
groom then is legally married.
• In addition, “pagkawin” is only done in
the house of the woman back in the old
times.

What is dowry for and what is
the basis?
• The dowry is required in order for the
man to be able to marry the girl, and it
was stated in the Qur’an. As what the
interviewee said, the dowry is set by the
parents and once the man agrees, the
two then will be ready for engagement.
• The man can give cow as dowry. But he
may also give cash, sacks of rice, or
homemade native foods.
• In the old times, the man gives one set of
gold as dowry.

What other beliefs or practices
do tausugs practice?
• In a burial, the tausugs don’t practice
vigil or embalms. They immediately
burry the body after twenty-four hours.
• In baptism, there’s this what they call
“Paggunting” where the hair of the
infant boy is being cut. This is required
to all boy infants. Girl infants on the
other hand are not required for the
reason that girls are precious and they
must not be touched.

What are the personalities and
behaviors of the tausugs?
• In typical tausug, boys accordingly, are
born leaders. They are the symbol of
masculinity, bravery, and honor.
Thus, boys naturally are bold and
courageous.
• Girls on the other hand are precious and
feminine. They must be covered all the
time to avoid temptation. They must
always protect their chastity by covering
all their private parts. Accordingly, only
the face and hands are considered not

What are the tausug
foods/delicacies?
• Tausug foods according to the
interviewee are influenced by the indian
foods.
• Main foods of the tausug are Tiyula sug
or Tiyula itum. This is done by putting
grilled grated coconut to the recipe and
lots of spices and chili. This recipe can
be served daily or in special occasions
like wedding, paggunting, feast days,
etc.

• They also have pyanggang which is
made from chopped chicken with
coconut milk or “gata”. They serve this
on special occasions.
They also have many delicacies like
pyuto made from white
cassava, bawlu, panyam, panganam, da
ral, etc.

What is their Lifestyle?
• In the old times, typical tausugs
practice farming, fishing, gold mining or
smiting. But now a days, although some
tausug still practice farming and
fishing, most tausugs now are engaging
in businesses like trading and barter
trade. Some tausugs also work for the
government.

How is their fashion like?
• Woman, when they’re in their house,
they use “shamra” and “sablay”.
Shamra is a typical short sleeve sewn
from a simple cloth. Man on the other
hand, they use “sawal or lapi”.
• Tausugs when attending special
occasions, also have their gown as
what they said, the “batawi”. It is a tight
long sleeved gown made of silk with
hundreds of buttons made from bronze.

• Women who use batawi are referred to
as the most beautiful among the women
present. Woman use this on occasions
like wedding. Maid of honors usually
use this.
• Tausug men on the other hand, has
expensive handkerchief in their
shoulder as decoration. In traditional
times, they only use sawal and lapi. But
now, they use maong pants.

Thank you for
listening! 
Informant:
Mr. Suharito Jumurin
and Mrs. Jahisa
Jumurin

Tausug Culture

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