When Birds Give the Rhythm
The Blaans of Little Baguio live of agriculture and hunting in the mountains located in the Southeastern part of the island of Mindanao (Philippines). They were exposed to Christianity, but they kept many of their traditions alive. In this paper, the authors focus on Blaan relationships with the birds surrounding them as well as on their knowledge about these birds. Birds structure their temporality – particularly their cosmogony and their daily life –, and partly define their rituals and social rules. Considered as former human beings, birds are mediators able to connect, more than any other animal, the visible and invisible worlds. In this perspective, Blaans do not really try to predict, nor to forecast the future, but rather try to follow the rhythms that are given to them by the birds.