Tagbanwa

• AKA: Tagbanuwa, Apurahuano, Tagbanua, Kalamian, Calamiano, Kalamianon, Kalamianen, Tangdula’nen, Silanga’nen, Tagbanoua
• Location: Palawan and outlying islands
• Subgroups: Apurahuan, Inagauan, Tandula'nen, Silanga'nen. Also Kalamianen of Calamian islands
• Subsistence: Swidden rice, corn, taro, sweet potato, cassava (preferred). Hunting; fishing, especially among the Kalamianen.
• Population: 13,643 (1990)

The Tagbanwa, located in north and central Palawan, are the dominant ethnic group of that island. There are concentrations in Coron, Aborlan, and Puerto Princesa. The Tagbanwa are noted for the complicated Pagdiwata ritual, held to celebrate various occasions including bountiful harvests and weddings. The ritual involves the drinking of rice wine from Chinese stoneware jars through bamboo straws. Like some of the Mangyan, the Tagbanwa have created their own syllabic script based on an ancient Hindic model. As elsewhere, rice is a ritual food and a divine gift from which the ritual wine is fermented. The Tagbanwa exploit forest resources including copal, rattan, and wax for income; they also craft iron with the double-bellows forge. They are one of the few remaining peoples still using the blowgun. Kinship is reckoned bilaterally, although there is a bias towards matriocality after marriage. Affinal relations are tenuous, and "in-law avoidance" is practiced.