ETHNIC DISTINCTIONS
SUBANONS BADJAOS SAMALS TAUSUGS
The Yakans
Lamitan, the biggest district in Basilan province, is the home base of the Yakans. They are peace-loving people who were originally pagans until the spread of Islam in the island.
Yakan men and women are distinguished from other ethnic tribes by the skin-tight trousers they wear and the bulky waist sashes which serve as protection from bladed weapons or as hummocks in the hills at night.
These days, Yakans are engaged in both dry and wet agriculture. They grow upland rice, corn, coconut and root crops. Hunting continues but is mainly carried on for amusement.
They boast of their intricately designed hand-woven cloth which no other tribe in the country can imitate. The loom that they use, being the type normally used in Indonesia, has one end fastened to the wall and the other, ending in a cord, is worn around the waist of the weaver.