In the Shadow of Datu Dino’s Tangkulu’: A Semiotic Analysis of Faith and Ritual in the Bukidnon Tribe

This study examines the representation of faith and ritual in the Bukidnon tribe as depicted in Tangkulu’ ni Datu Dino by Jhon Joseph D. Pandong II. The researcher employed a semiotic reading based on Roland Barthes’ theory to identify symbols and scenes in the narrative that reflect spirituality. This was further contextualized through the lens of Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Practices (IKSP) to situate the rituals within native epistemologies. Three prominent themes emerged from the analysis: the collective faith in Magbabaya, spiritual rituals such as the bangkasu’, dreams, and the naming of the datu, and dance as a ritual of celebration, struggle, and thanksgiving. The study reveals that Bukidnon literature is a vessel of culture and a living connection among spirit, people, and nature. The data also affirms ritual is an active form of social organization and spiritual communication within the tribe. Through this reading, Tangkulu’ ni Datu Dino is not only a literary creation but a conduit of indigenous knowledge and the collective belief of the Lumad.