Eskaya of the Visayas

Religious view:

Mariano Datahan led them to convert en masse to Philippine Independent Church in 1902.

Many Eskaya today see themselves as direct successors of Tamblot's rebels , the unbaptized Boholanos who, having fled into the forest, never submitted to foreign rule.

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Biki and Beriki:

Spiritual leaders (bishop) who performed rituals for good harvests, house blessing, weddings and the like aside from the weekly services.

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Eskaya Literature:

Ateksis (Nature's guide)

- Eskaya's premonitions and beliefs on upcoming catastrophe and disasters.

Tumao (Sprout):

- a combination of the Catholic's Book of Genesis and Charles Darwin's Natural Selection. It is a myth that shapes their cultural beliefs.

 

Language: Boholano - Bisaya (conversational); Eskayan (taught in volunteer - run schools)

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The Eskaya Script - is believed by its users to have been created by Pinay, a legendary ancestor described as the 'first pope' in the Philippines.

Abidha: a primary 'alphabet'  of forty-six mixed alphabetic and syllabic characters.

Simplit: reference syllabary which consists of over 1000 characters which lists the Roman alphabetic equivalents of the Eskaya characters. 

Materials: 

Pugaran - made of coconut fronds which are used as shelters for an egg-laying hen.

Poo-so - rice wrapped and later boiled in a triangular casting made of woven coconut "lukay".

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Traditional Clothing:

- ankle-long skirt and "sarong". (women)

- tirnu ('suit') comprised of a long-sleeved shirt, long pants and a hat. (men)