Mythologies of the Masbateño Tribe

The Masbateño tribe refers to the people who lived in the Masbate province of the Philippines, which is part of the Bicol Region. They are part of the wider Visayan ethnolinguistic group, who constitute the largest Filipino ethnolinguistic group. The Masbateño 677,942 in 2010. They are the descendants of the Austronesian-immigrants who came from South China during the Iron Age who probably came to Masbate after reaching the more southern Visayan islands. Masbateños may be considered Visayans by language but are Bicolanos by region. They speak the Masbateño language, a Visayan language and almost all practice Roman Catholicism. Most of the people of Masbate speak Masbateño a language that is closely related to Hiligaynon and Capiznon. However, in various municipalities of the island, various other languages are spoken. In the vicinity of the towns of Cataingan, Palanas and Dimasalang, most residents speak Waray-Waray. In Pio Corpuz the people speak Cebuano while in Placer and in the west coast along coast of Mandaon, Hiligaynon (Ilonggo) and Capiznon are spoken. Bicolano is also spoken by the residents. The province of Masbate is known as cattle country. The cattle breed found on the island was taken from herds in India that have flourished in the benign climate of the island. The province is the second largest supplier of cattle that is brought to Manila for slaughter. This industry has inspired the establishment of a 'Rodeo Filipino' on the third week of June. This festival features a week-long tournament of bull riding, cattle wrestling, lassoing, calf casting, post driving, carabao racing and a host of other ‘rodeo’ games. This unique observance is also accompanied by cattle raising contests, a trade fair and parades, much like the rodeos in the American West.

Masbateño or Minasbate is a member of Central Philippine languages and of the Bisayan subgroup of the Austronesian language family spoken by more than 724,000 people in the province of Masbate and some parts of Sorsogon in the Philippines. Masbatenyo (sometimes written as Masbateño) is the name used by the speakers of the language and for themselves, although the term Minásbate is sometimes also used to distinguish the language from the people. It has 350,000 speakers as of 2002, with 50,000 who speak it as their first language. About 250,000 speakers use it as their second language. Masbatenyo is closely related to Capiznon, with 79% lexical similarity, and Hiligaynon, with 76% lexical similarity. Waray language is closely related and significantly similar to Masbatenyo as well. It is also closely related to Waray Sorsogon language, the language of Sorsogon. This is because Masbate was once part of Sorsogon Province and was governed from Sorsogon City until the 1920s. It has three major dialects: the western dialect centered around the town of Balud on the western coast which is close to Capiz, the southern dialect centered about the town of Cataingan in the southeastern part of Masbate, and the northern dialect covering the whole northern half of Masbate and centered on Masbate City.

The Masbatenyo people group of the Philippines have a population over 700,000. The term Minasbate is the language spoken by this people group. In the Philippines they are located on the islands of Masbate, Ticao and Burias in the Masbate Province. This province is 200 nautical miles southeast of Manila and just west of the southern tip of Luzon Island. The classification of the language is Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Philippine, Greater Central Philippine, Central Philippine, Bisayan, Central, Peripheral. There is lexical similarity with Capiznon (79%) and Hiligaynon (76%). Hiligaynon. It is also closely related to Tagalog, the basis of the national language Filipino, and Cebuano, but it is most closely related to the language of Sorsogon City in the province of Sorsogon on the southern tip of Luzon Island. Up until the 1920's, the Masbate region was a part of Sorsogon Province. Three dialects of Masbatenyo have been discovered: the northern dialect centered around the provincial capital, Masbate town, and within the whole northern half of Masbate Island; the western dialect centered around the town of Balud on the western coast; and the southern dialect centered about the town of Cataingin in the southeastern part of Masbate. This dictionary is a record of speech as spoken in northern Masbate. This dialect is the lingua franca for the province and the home language for between 300,000 to 350,000 people. In the far southern and southwestern parts of Masbate Island, Cebuano is the home language. There are other dialects spoken in the small towns on the island of Ticao. On Burias most of the speakers are Cebuano who migrated from the Cebu region. The Masbatenyo people highly value their language, using it in the home, the market and at work. Another people group, Southern Sorsoganon, use Masbatenyo as a second language. There is a high degree of literacy in the community (65%). Masbatenyo is taught in primary and secondary schools. Written materials using the Latin script include Masbatenyo newspapers and the New Testament (1993). There are also radio programs being transmitted. This dictionary of the Masbatenyo language is a preliminary effort to compile vocabulary items together with a brief sketch of the phonology and grammar. The dictionary entries have been collected over a period of 20 years (1972-1992) while the compiler was working on linguistic and translation projects in Masbate as a volunteer researcher with the Summer Institute of Linguistics. The procedure followed in the preparation of the dictionary was to first collect texts and their translations from Masbatenyo speakers. As words were compiled, the glosses were checked with other speakers and, with their help, a wider range of English semantic equivalents was added. Information on synonyms, antonyms and more illustrative sentences were also included for each entry where possible. Finally, phonological and grammatical information about the words was added by the researcher. Further work is also needed to expand the database of words and to complete the analysis of the semantic classes of verbs. Even so, it is our desire to make available the work done so far in the hope that it will encourage others to expand this information. The educational researcher seeking insight into the language for the preparation of school materials can benefit from this work. It is hoped that the dictionary will also make a linguistic contribution to the study and maintenance of Philippine languages.

Rodeo Masbateño Festival is an exhilarating celebration of culture, tradition, and horsemanship that takes place annually in Masbate, Philippines. This iconic event, often referred to as the “Rodeo Capital of the Philippines,” showcases the deep-rooted cowboy culture of the province and attracts both locals and tourists alike. With its thrilling competitions, vibrant festivities, and rich history, Rodeo Masbateño has become a must-see attraction, drawing visitors from all corners of the globe. The origins of Rodeo Masbateño can be traced back to the 1970s. A group of local cattle ranchers and cowboys sought to showcase Masbate’s robust livestock industry and equestrian heritage. The first official Rodeo Masbateño took place in 1993, and since then, it has grown into one of the most anticipated events in the Philippines’ festival calendar. The event typically spans several days and features a diverse range of activities, including bull riding, lassoing, calf roping, and bareback bronco riding. One of the highlights of Rodeo Masbateño is the adrenaline-pumping rodeo competitions, where skilled cowboys and cowgirls demonstrate their prowess in various rodeo disciplines. Spectators are treated to awe-inspiring displays of courage, agility, and skill as participants vie for top honors and cash prizes. The competitions are not only a testament to the participants’ mastery of horsemanship but also serve as a celebration of Masbate’s cowboy culture and agricultural heritage.