Volume 15, No 1, 2018
Lived Experiences Of Badjaos In Cebu City: A Phenomenological Study
Limuel J. Abelgas
Abstract
Holistic awareness of the Indigenous Peoples' (IPs) biological, social, cultural, religious, linguistic, behavioral, and economic features remains a core element in fully understanding their beings. This study utilized transcendental phenomenology (TPh) to analyze and present the Badjaos' lived experiences and challenges. The 20 respondents were purposively selected through the inclusion and exclusion criteria. They all lived in a Badjao community in Cebu City. Informed consent of the local chief executive and the chieftain of the Badjao tribe; and other ethical considerations were secured and followed. Researcher-made-open–ended questionnaires, written in Cebuano and had an English translation, were used. In gathering the data, a semi-structured and face-to-face interview with a Badjao interpreter who was both fluent in the Badjao dialect and Bisaya was done at the respondents' abode from Badjao or Cebuano dialect to the English language. Eventually, the transcripts were then divided into categories; codes were formed in accordance with frequencies of the contexts; and themes and sub-themes were then grouped, re-grouped, and finalized. The findings revealed that in terms of lived experiences in Cebu City, the Badjao participants' narratives formed the following themes: Religious Veneration, Earning a Living, and In-Group Socialization. While their perceived challenges encountered were: Discrimination; Overpopulated Households, and Low Income. Therefore, it is recommended that respect to the Badjaos and other cultural minorities be afforded; and the government should conduct sustainable livelihood training and technical vocational programs.
Pages: 154-163
Keywords: Badjaos, Sea Gypsies, lived experiences, challenges, transcendental phenomenology, Cebu City, Philippines