Joe Torres

Joe Torres is the managing editor of GMANews.TV. A member of the Subanen tribe of Western Mindanao, he was a two-time recipient of the National Book Award for Journalism for his books Unholy Nation: Stories from a Gambling Republic (2004) and Into the Mountain: Hostaged by the Abu Sayyaf (2002). Joe was conferred the Benigno S. Aquino Jr. Fellowships for Professional Development in 2005. Joe is the national chairman of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines.

Subanen Drum Beat

Tapping a war beat of a "Subanen" tribe.

Pangasi:Subanen Sacred Drink

The 'pangasi' of the Subanen tribe in LakeWood, ZDS, Mindanao,Philippines. Video made by Filippo Davidde in 2007

Subanen Dance

PROJECT SAKSI IS AN EXTENSON PROGRAM OF PHILIPPINE ADVENT COLEGE. SAKSI IS AN ACRONYM FOR STUDENT ACTIVITIES to promote KNOWLEDGE and SKILLS for Indigenous SUBANENS.

Giovanni Lumanda: Subanen Talent

Giovanni Lumanda performs his rendition of Yoyoy Villame's "Hayop na Combo" and Max Surban's "Unang Paglantaw sa Sine" with Rona Mae's guitar. Just a background information, Giovanni is a member of one of the Philippines' indegenous ethnic groups called the Subano or Subanen. He works for my aunt and uncle back in Ozamiz City in Mindanao. And, this video was taken during my last visit on July 2006.---------------------------------------- ----I've had a friend who does not speak either Filipino dialects to explain what Giovanni is singing about. Well, my friend, here it is. The first song is about town festivities and about having town bands. The singer is telling a story about his town's band. The members are so bad that they have been replaced by an animal band hence the title of the song "Hayop na Combo." It means "Animal Band." The second song is about about an old movie goer's first experience going to a movie. Being a novelty, he says he could not ever forget his first time. He was extremely shocked at the movie 'cause the person on screen pointed his gun at the audience. He was so scared that the actor might hit him. So, he cowered in fear while other movie patrons looked at him. They were implying that he was so ignorant for doing that and that's supposed to be funny. This song alludes back in the early 1900's when movies were still new and that audiences were not used to it. During the screening of "The Great Train Robbery" in 1903, similar incidents happened to audience members. (You may check it out on Wikipedia.) They cowered in fear because the actor on screen pointed the gun on the audience and pulled the trigger. Interviewed later, they all said they were afraid they would get hit. --Murasaki
Giovanni Lumanda's rendition of Yoyoy Villame's "Manangguite."

To those who do not speak or understand the dialect, he's basically singing about the life of a coconut harvester aka coconut pilot. The latter's just a joke of course.