NEVER SEEN Sama-Bajau Wedding in the Philippines

The Sama-Bajau are one of the biggest ethno-linguistic groups in the Philippines. Their seafaring lifestyle has enabled them to adapt to the ever-changing landscape of the modern world, all while maintaining the traditions of their ancestors in their everyday lives.
We met some of the members of the Sama-Bajau community and are privileged to document one of their traditional weddings. Join us as we witness this once in a lifetime experience that is rarely caught on film.
We would like to thank the Bajau Community of Barangay Tampalan, Isabela City in Basilan and the Isabela City LGU for making this video possible.
Jump to:
(0:00) Intro
(1:00) Festivities
(2:00) The Wedding, Outro
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The Fat Kid Inside Studios
Erwan Heussaff - Founder
Kashka Gaddi - Content Producer
Eamonn Quizon - Cinematographer
Edel Cayetano - Story Producer
Harold Singzon - Story Producer
Mary Lournette Baligod - Story Producer
Kleo Balares - Editorial Producer
Hans Rivera - Multimedia Producer
Julius Rivera - Camera Operator
Steven Sune - Editor
Lorraine Santos - Editor
Dana Blaze - Editor
Ivan Christian Cocjin - Editor
Martin Narisma - Food Editor
Kathryna de Bustos - Content Manager
Chester Velasco - Production Assistant
Kevin Amponin - Production Assistant
Dustin Dagamac - Colorist
Sofia Paderes - Graphic Designer
Kim Manuel - Graphic Designer
Roanne Salvacion - Accountant
Donalyn Aranda - Accounting Assistant
Social Media:
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[@SLiceOfFun1994]

Erwan should have been our country's Tourism Ambassador. This is such a top tier content for promoting our culture in the Philippines.

[@rebelmermaid]

Exactly!

[@ian-un8ep]

Indeed

[@gigiwatching7463]

Haram ung bbae sumasayaw dapat hindi sumasayaw, astagfirullah

[@kawaiipotatoes7888]

lul

[@zelbarbero]

@@gigiwatching7463 may sarili din silang kultura. Wag ka nga jan.

[@thepreparedpinoychannel5637]

I know it might sound as an excessive request but a series about wedding cultures in the country should be in the plans. great work FEATR team!

[@scorpioninpink]

True. Yung nga katutubong sa Visayas at Luzon at mga Lumad sa Mindanao ay iba din ang style ng wedding. Heck, even some ethnicity in predominantly Christian communities sometimes have variations in their wedding tradition.

[@palespectre]

Beautiful. The colors are stunning. This reminds me of flipping through and reading about different cultures on the pages of National Geographic magazine. I like the ‘quiet’ feel of these types of features. Makes me focus more on the subjects. Beautiful accompanying music too.

[@featrmedia]

Wow thank you for the support!

[@kaleixoscope]

it looks like a kaleidoscope of colors, and everything speaks of a gargantuan cultural treasure 😮🫀

[@YAT1997]

These past few videos have been amazing. I lived in a similar place called Tabawan in Tawi-Tawi when I was little then Zamboanga before moving to the states at 12 years old. Now 26yo I try to describe to my friends where I came from and these videos helped paint a better picture to show them my culture and heritage. Amazing work, thank you.

[@muhammad-farouktan5560]

But you are not a Luan WHICH these people (the likes of tjis blogger) kept calling Badjao. My mother is Sama/Samal from Sibutu so I know the succinct nusncrs of the word. Again... Talima kasi..Salaam

[@zareemacherry9317]

@@muhammad-farouktan5560 neh ahu makaintum isab kita malahat ottoh

[@mhais21]

This is beautiful. I appreciate how it's different from a Catholic wedding. ❤ Love and happiness to both the bride and groom!

[@Ver0_Cat]

My favourite part was when the lens captured the beauty of the bride while she was dancing. She was so focused, and you can tell through her eyes the mixed emotions and the many thoughts running in her mind.

[@ohitsjebs808]

As a Filipino, there is so much other different lifestyle and I’ve never seen this type of tradition in the PH. I was born in PH, but left when I was 9 months old to America. My parents know about this, but have no seen where we are from in the Cagayan Valley community.

[@suhotv6894]

This is like colorful festival. A celebration indeed. A community wedding. Thank you for giving us a glimpse of other wedding traditions in the country.

[@paladenleah]

This is by far one of the best videos of Featr for me. It feels less intrusive, yet more reflective.

[@mikedirain]

I never seen these customs in the Philippines. It’s an eye opening experience for me to see all of these different foods and customs. Thank you for sharing Featr!!!

[@melsallada]

Thank you for sharing such a wonderful series on Basilan. The way that this was presented highlights the culture and heritage sensitively and thoughtfully. Really enjoying it and keep up the great work FEATR team! ❤❤❤

[@vrd4329]

Ang ganda ngaun lng ako nakapanood ng kasal ng isang sama badjao ..❤❤

[@carlinajose2449]

Wow it's really amazing and interesting wedding celebration. I never thought this exist in the Philippines. Congratulation to the newly wed.

[@tranquilitycorner7497]

Amazing work showcasing the culture of the Southern Philippines. This is the first time I saw a wedding of this ethnic group. The colors are so vibrant, culture is so rich. More content like this please!

[@dorifrance4937]

Beautiful documentary. Thank you for sharing the culture of these people.

[@tinaismyself]

All these years i thought Erwan was just overrated because he had the looks. But this is really good stuff. Noticed though a very minor etror in the subs. *the bride could meet the husband’s kin. You wrote groom

[@dianallamas7135]

This is so beautiful. Plain and simple and may God, Allah, bless this marriage and also these Pinoys. Philippines is so beautiful. I miss it so much.

[@featrmedia]

Thank you for watching!

[@jmgonzales7701]

napapansin ko yung iba sakanila medjo mukhang bumbayin

[@tataarchitect3493]

Such amazing content. May you continue to showcase the rich culture of the Philippines. Kudos as always to FEATR!

[@devolutioninc]

Thanks for this short documentary. Hopefully people realize that the Badjaos are not just the beggars on our streets.

[@cordsmist776]

Ang babata nila. Goodluck n all the best. sure si FEATR namigay hehe

[@sirkana15]

I once witnessed a pangalay pangantin dance during an IP activity and it is very beautiful.

[@erickaarcayna3986]

What a beautiful documentary! Thank you for sharing their culture, I really love it. Looking forward to other documentary that features the beautiful culture of Mindanao🙌

[@elizabethfuhr5527]

Splendid. We should see move of this kind of videos, expressing the different cultures of the Philippines.

[@mln7771]

Stunning pagentry of colours! Thank you for capturing it.

[@viviancandelario4766]

Wow!!! Absolutely beautiful ceremony, culture, people 😍

[@norouding8198]

Love it. A significant occasion announced to everyone in the community through songs, music and dance. The modern addition of loudspeakers and electronic keyboard jarred me a bit, but the essence of their tradition still remains.

[@mauryroblovich]

What a gorgeous ceremony! May this couple have a long, blessed, and harmonious life together.

[@ritchiebesas631]

I grew up knowing one type of wedding: relatives first walking down the aisle as if it's their wedding, at least an hour long ceremony, capped by the bride and groom reciting vows to each other then kissing in front of everyone. but here, the bride just waited til the groom finished his vows in front of the Imam and that's it. totally different!

[@phoebelyngonzales3899]

What is imam?

[@odileswan]

@@phoebelyngonzales3899 religious leader par

[@roundabout4727]

From a quick search it's the person who's leading the prayers, not a Muslim tho so feel free for others to correct me

[@AiPlus13]

OhMG..growing up in Zambo and having big Muslim community in our area I always hear non-Muslims say *santiki when ever there's marriage nearby. I never thought it was literal(Pagsantik) in any sense 'coz I've never seen actual Islam marriage. But we would know if there's one coz they have very festive celebrations-sometimes for two days. ❤ Thank you for showing us this beautiful marriage culture.

[@jmgonzales7701]

napapansin ko yung iba sakanila medjo mukhang bumbayin

[@kh4dijah1rha]

@@jmgonzales7701 a percentage of the moro population can trace their ancestors back to the early arab/south asian settlers in the philippines.

[@jmgonzales7701]

@@kh4dijah1rha good to know. I wonder why there isnt much interaction with middle easterners in mindanao today.

[@je_poi9792]

Those hidden gems is right under our noses! Thanks FEATR!!❤❤❤

[@maudealpha8529]

this episode gives me goosebumps. way back in tawi-tawi i normally experienced and attended a wedding like this weather in land or stilt houses, we speak the same language as “SINAMA” but a bit fast for us. It’s so overwhelming and i’m happy that FEATR got to showcased our different cultures and traditions! Kudos to the whole team! Always an amazing and substantial content-May this be an eye opener to everyone to take pride and joy with thier own culture and traditions and to always respect and embrace diversity. congrats and best wishes to the newlyweds! 💯🙌♥️

[@zeeesh6912]

This is very interesting and new. I would definitely watch this for 45+ mins for a full documentary. This is a short and direct to point. I love it. Thank you!!

[@rarovro6195]

Amazing! Thanks for the experience

[@ayii240]

BEAUTIFUL!!! ONE OF THE BESTS! 😍

[@itsroooob]

This is such an amazing featured story. You and your team have really been constantly evolving, Sir. Your array of contents alone already speak so much of your sincere love and passion for your craft. ☺️💕 Thank you very much for all your efforts, Sir Erwan and team! 🥳🤍 Thank you for helping raise the Filipino flag. 🇵🇭🌿

[@audraelynnegrimmelhaussen8808]

You have outdone yourselves with this one, FEATR team!

[@applestrudelshawarma]

One of the best contents i have ever watched. Worth every second of it. Kudos FEATR team! Hope you got your earnings. It’s well-deserved.

[@user-tn5zd2yw5b]

Best Wishes to the couples.

[@dyamoy]

Galing guys!

[@skydominic14]

Great Job Erwan and the team for covering the whole wedding with correctness in every detail you put in the caption. Hope you could cover more cultures in Southern Philippines such as Yakans, Tausugs and other groups as well. These stories are worth to share beautifully and creatively. Keep it up, team!

[@longhairfen]

Love this style of storytelling. I think this video is one of the best of Erwan's FEATR channel.

[@cabesodo]

Congratulations and best wishes to the newlyweds ❤

[@florenzryansotelo8552]

Very grateful for this video. ❤

[@dedengful]

Such a beautiful traditions although there is a blend of modernization in it. Truely amazing as this is the first time watching a Sama-Bajau wedding tradition.

[@wherearethecrayons6533]

Subhanallah! Thank you to the team for showing us this incredile event.

[@javarhinof415al2]

Wow amazing.!..3 corner of Nation (Borneo-Celebes-Sulu-Southern Philiphine)

[@sandymeganne3915]

More of this please!

[@SumaiyaMahjabeenKhan]

This is very beautiful

[@apolloxbacalaycapili2516]

Congratulations!

[@gaiaaoi1005]

Amazing feature!

[@catedoge3206]

Powerful stuff. Transparent. Honest. Real. This is it chief.

[@avonphoenix8467]

Thanks FEATR for showing us a piece of their lives.. The next time i will hear Bajau this culture will definitely come to mind.

[@aimeanchovas8028]

Wow. What a unique ceremony. 🙌

[@ronnielazaro9137]

Thank you!

[@khloja06]

beautiful bride and groom!

[@cvpoct466]

This content is gold.

[@user-fu1tv4wq8n]

I enjoy watching his travel vlogs ❤😊

[@bikolanakaoraganvlog1924]

Filipino has lots of tradition even me this is my first time to watched this kind of wedding celebration

[@MrRikkuJohn]

ang ganda 🥹🥹🥹

[@inigomontoya3750]

Beautiful.

[@Ms2cents]

As a Filipino American, I ❤seeing this cultural difference in the Philippines. I was born in Luzon, the northern part and of course, a Catholic and my family left when I was 12 so I never got exposed and/or got to travel to different parts of the Philippines. There’s definitely so many differences depending on where you’re from plus there’s so many different dialects too. I only know Tagalog. I understood what the lady on the video said so I didn’t need captions, thank goodness! 😂 Now, speaking Tagalog is a different matter. I’m a bit rusty now since I don’t speak the language often anymore. 😬

[@tacostacosta4435]

Stayed in Sitangkai for two years.. initiated the seaweeds farming!! Exotic place!!

[@scorpioninpink]

I thank Erwin for chipping away the prejudice against the Moro people and their culture one video at a time. Not even mainstream news networks can make videos like him. without

[@cliffinaramos1296]

Team featr never fail to amaze me with your content ❤❤

[@tulawieM]

I always watch this channel whenever im eating lol

[@xhoulesco7441]

Wow❤

[@ZyozyoPadilla]

Parang ansaya mag-keyboards / tumugtog habang nakasakay sa bangka tuwing mapayapa ang dagat at tama lang 'yung araw hihihi

[@benlakwatsera8589]

Wow...

[@thegreytrekker]

Not sure if I'm reading it right, but kindly check 6:46. Awesome feature though!

[@nurfazly]

masyallah my people are there too

[@brentforrest123]

The bride is so pretty

[@luckymauve]

learnednsomething again

[@AnnieAlon5]

Congratulations po sa dalawa 🎉

[@daomatcha]

Mindanao is so beautiful indeed

[@Mindanaw]

❤

[@manokchicken]

Beautiful! Do we know how old they are?

[@ReinKayomi]

The fact they're carrying speakers and an arranger keyboard with a boat in 3:59 is just bonkers

[@rigelkent]

what a beautiful culture!!!

[@jovanieomar4069]

😍😍😍

[@frankiefernandez9225]

SPECIAL WEDDING 💙💙💙❤️❤️❤️🫶🫶🫶

[@sansanjtv7799]

Can we get more like of this please

[@rtvd80]

Beautiful tradition and ceremony. But how old are the newlyweds?

[@latesukiyaki]

Would that matter? For IP, they marry younger because it helps them in unburdening the physically demanding sources of their livelihood. The more young workers you have, the more money enters the family and more food on the table.

[@saitama2.040]

I'm bajau from brunei

[@Sha-hu2ko]

❤❤❤

[@sahadcalicut4829]

What !!!!!!!!!!diversity of world

[@user-ry5th6go5g]

My parent always return the dowry to the new wed for new start for their own family .

[@latesukiyaki]

It shouod be the case. The dowry is for the bride to keep not for the bride's family to spend.

[@amadortatoy154]

Sama in island garden city of samal is the same? Iba po ang language ng samal davao kaysa kanilang language

[@phoebelyngonzales3899]

Bat ako naiyak.Dapat masaya 😂😂😂.

[@frankiefernandez9225]

❤️❤️❤️🇵🇭🇵🇭🇵🇭

[@rixmax6121]

Pa ask po. Ang Sama at Badjao same dialect ba?

[@latesukiyaki]

Hindi po although may similarities. Just like Hiligaynon and Kinaray-a or Waray and Cebuano.

[@rixmax6121]

@@latesukiyaki thanks

[@generrandu1643]

Just wondering where do they poo and the garbage, I don't see much garbage floating around, not like in Manila the Esteros are full of floating garbage .

[@weirdnerd6841]

Ofcouse into the sea hehehe😁. Esteros have boundaries so it stuck there.

[@suskagusip1036]

Esteros need a lesson from them.

[@markv1974]

Yung kapatid ko at bro in law umuwi pa ng basilan para ikasal pero nakalimutan ng imam irecord kaya civil wedding ulit haha.

[@elyusmechanicalengineering8898]

They are the tribe whom James Cameron based his Avatar 2: Way of the Water movie.

[@da_ladyzhenvindavenport]

Bata ting an are they 18 above

[@ttakttaguri]

"...groom could meet his husband's kin."?

[@thegratefullifeofvermonand2848]

caught that too. Just a typo probably, but nonetheless, an epic piece.

[@davidson8104]

These people needs a lot of very serious Islamic education. A lot of bid'ah! Astaghfirullah may Allah forgive. But kudos to the team for bringing such respectful mini docu.

[@suskagusip1036]

They're Not Fanatics like you. Religion is just one part of every Filipinos lives. They have other things to do than become hooked up in Religion.

[@davidson8104]

@@suskagusip1036 Islamic education is the pioneers of all figures and fields of knowledge and discipline known to mankind you might want to do a research! And if having this education to you is fanaticism, then I don't know what kind education you have.

[@suskagusip1036]

@@davidson8104 Why would you want Islam to be the bases for your education? In Philippine constitution There's a separation of the state and religion. We are catholic up north but we don't let our religion rule us. Same as Muslim Filipinos in the south. We read the Bible, you read the Koran. Those books are Not your Life. You people are something else. Not all Badjiao are Muslims.

[@davidson8104]

@@suskagusip1036 then why the hell are you here? I'm a Muslim speaking about Islam and Muslim practices and education? Who give you the right what should I think and do? Get out of here!

[@kh4dijah1rha]

@@suskagusip1036 those are obvious statements but what you shouldn't do is speak for the muslim community when you aren't even one in the first place. christianity is different from islam, i would know because i used to be a very religious christian. there is no sense in comparing them both when it comes to how the groups practice it. islam is a way of life, not just a belief. the existence of shari'ah is proof enough. we won't infringe on this country's laws as it's haraam but guiding fellow muslims to follow the proper islam is a task that every muslim is obligated to follow. you think all filipinos should be the same which is just not right, muslim filipinos have the right to practice the religion however they deem right as long as it doesn't go beyond the laws of the philippines. advising fellow muslims of the bid'ah that they practice in their every day lives is valid and should not be taken as fanaticism. Alhamdulillah for the knowledge that Allah ﷻ imparted as with, Allah ﷻ knows best.

[@bernicebrandes1610]

Why wasn’t she smiling?

[@wvz.]

Is this arranged marriage? They dont seem emotionally attached.

[@minayoongi4533]

In maligay nag bunga jah