Proceeding of the 3 rd International Conference on Education, Vol. 3, 2017, pp. 234-246 Copyright © 2017 TIIKM ISSN 2424 - 6700 online DOI: https://doi.org/10.17501/icedu.2017.3125 3 rd International Conference on Education, 20-22 April 2017, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia SELECTED ONGKAH-ONGKAH OF SAMA DILAUT IN THE PROVINCE OF TAWI-TAWI: THEIR FORMS AND STYLES OF EXPRESSION Elvinia Reyes- Alivio, Junefe D. Naquira and Josephine M. Lendio College of Education, Mindanao State University-Tawi-Tawi College of Technology and Oceanography, Bongao, Tawi-Tawi, Philippines Abstract: This study aimed to determine the forms and style of expression of selected ongkah-ongkah (songs) of SamaDilaut in the province of Tawi-Tawi, the values contained in each song and its influence to the socio-political and economic lives of the SamaDilaut. This study was solely qualitative in nature. The fifteen respondents are from BohehSallang, BongaoPoblacion and Sibutu Municipality where residents are expert in composing folksongs and have been chosen to represent their barangays as contestants in the festivities like: AwwalJamman held during Kamahardikaan sin Tawi-Tawi (Province Day Celebration). Interview method and focused group discussion (FGD) aided by the interview guide and video recorder were used to gather the necessary data. Data were recorded, transcribed, translated from native tongue to English language, analyzed and interpreted to find out the values contained in the songs and how they influenced the socio-economic and political lives of the Sama folks. This study found out that the common ongkah-ongkah of the SamaDilaut are the tenes-tenes, sangbay, linggisan, lolay, leleng, anakiluh, budjangmanis, pagparinta. Some Sama folksongs like the tenes- tenes, sangbay, linggisan, pagparinta, anakiluh vary in terms of form and style of expressions, contained repetition of words and rhyming words. Some are also performed through dancing with the accompaniment of stringed instruments like guitar, gitgit and biula (violin), gabbang (bamboo xylophone), reed flute (sawnay) and tambu (drum). It also determined that the ongkah-ongkah contained socio-economic and political values of the SamaDilaut. Through singing they are able to convince people to buy their homemade products like mats (baloy). Some of them were invited to any celebration to perform, thus helping them to earn a living. These songs also provide entertainment to the community folks. Keywords:Ongkah-Ongkah, SamaDilaut, Community Folks, Tenes-Tenes, Gabbang Introduction The folk literature of Muslim cultural communities in Mindanao, Philippines, may be in prose or in verse. But the style and form of expressions may vary from one Muslim cultural community to another with what various languages that people speak. Folk literature follows the oral tradition and that folktales, myths, legends, epic poems, riddles and proverbs are handed down by word of mouth from generation to generation. Moreover, folk literature in the Muslim cultural communities has a participatory audience. The audience listens, reacts and retells what he or she hears to another audience, thereby ensuring the transmission of the folk literary materials to others. Authorship is not individual but it is collective. Basically, the problem that easily comes to mind is the lack of access to the textual materials of these oral genres, if not absenceMost yet to be collected and documented (Asain, 2015). Spotted throughout the Sulu archipelago and other parts of the Philippines like Mindanao, Visayas and Luzon live the SamaDilaut or Badjaus, Badjau means “man of the seas”. By tradition, the people are sea nomads, travelling by boat from one island to the next in search of a fishing harvest The Sama are highly fragmented people with no overall political unity in terms of government patterned system but have their own political tribal affairs. Specific Sama groups can be distinguished by dialect. However, most identify themselves with a particular island or island cluster. SamaDilaut traditional songs are handed down orally through generations. The songs are usually sung during marriage celebrations (kandulipagkawin), accompanied by dance (pang-igal) and musical instruments like pulau (flute), gabbang (bamboo xylophone), taunggo’ (kulintang gongs), and in modern times, electronic keyboards. There are several types of traditional songs, they include: isun-isun, lunsai, nasid, bua-buaanak, and tinggayun. Corresponding Author:Elvinia Reyes- Alivio/elviealivio@yahoo.com