CULTURAL PRACTICES OF COURTSHIP AND MARRIAGE AMONG INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES: AN ETHNOGRAPHIC CASE STUDY

Abstract

The study was to determine the cultural way of Courtship and Marriage practices of Aeta Magbukun in Abucay Balanga City, Bataan. This is a qualitative study which employs ethnographic type of research. The informants were the 10 indigenous Aetas who have experienced the traditional way of courtship and marriage of their community. The findings revealed that most of the participants experienced courtship under the supervision and control of the parents or the elderly members of the family. The courtship is also done through the communication and conversation of both families to further engage the couple into marriage. This reflects the eagerness of the boy for favour of the family. The presents given by the Aeta man also show their respect to each other especially to the girl to enjoy the span of their marriage.

Marriage of these minorities revealed that practices they perform is very serious matter because it’s a union of two families of the same tribe.  Conversation gives importance for the family ties of the both party. They have also retained some of their traditional beliefs and practices on courtship and marriage all throughout the life stages of the Aetas in the rural communities, their old beliefs and practices had been influenced by modernization.  It simply shows that the Aetas, are also susceptible to accept changes that may affect their way of life. Their traditional cultural practices that deeply rooted in their beliefs were difficult to neglect since it has already been part of their tradition for years.