Kalagan people

The Kalagan (also known as Kagan, Kaagan, or in Spanish as Caragan) is a subgroup of the Mandaya–Mansaka people who speak the Kalagan language. The Kalagan comprise three subgroups which are usually treated as different tribes: the Tagakaulo, the Kagan, and the Kallao of Samal. They are native to areas within Davao del Sur, Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte (including Samal Island), Davao Oriental, and Cotabato; between the territories of the Blaan people and the coastline. They were historically composed of small warring groups. They are renowned as agriculturalists, cultivating rice, corn, abaca, and coconut for cash crops, whereas their counterparts living along the coast practice fishing.

The name "Kalagan" (also "Kaagan" or "Kagan", depending on subgroup) literally means '[strong] spirited', 'fierce', or 'brave'; from kalag ('spirit' or 'soul') in the native animistic anito religions. The whole Provincia de Caraga in 1622 was called region de gente animosa ('region of spirited folk') by Spanish colonizers for the same reason. They were historically composed of small groups led by datus.

The Kagan subgroup is the Islamized-indigenous people in the Davao Gulf area and known by the nickname "Davao Moros". They are one of the Muslim minority groups in Mindanao and belong to the 13 Moro Muslim tribes of the Bangsamoro family. They became Muslim in the middle of the 19th century due to extensive exposure or contact with the communities of their Maguindanaon neighbors, and intermarriages between Kalagan and Maguindanaons. Thus making Islamized Kagan heavily influenced by Maguindanaon culture.

The Kalagan people are most predominantly found on the River Delta areas surrounding the shorelines of Davao Gulf.

They live in the district of Sirawan, Bangkal, and Maa of Davao City; Kaganguwan in Panabo City; Hijo, Bingcongan, and Madaum in Tagum; Davao del Norte (including Samal Island); Piso, Macangao, Sumlog, Kaligaran, Lukatan, Mati in Davao Oriental; Pantukan, Mabini, and Maco in Davao de Oro; and some areas in Cotabato; between the territories of the Blaan people, and the Mandaya–Mansaka. The Caraga Region and the municipality of Caraga, Davao Oriental are named after them.

Kagan came from the word kaag, which means to inform, secure, or secrecy. It is a native word used by the tribe earlier when they have to inform the people in the tribe and also their neighbouring tribes, the Mandayas and Mansakas about something happening since they are living in the river keys and coastal areas of Davao. The other term also is Ka – allagan which means shining light referring to the sun as they are believed to be more advanced in lifestyle and society than their neighbouring tribes which live on the highlands of the mountains of Davao.

The Kalagans lived in communities called banwa. The banwas were usually located at the rivers and the river keys of Davao. Each banwa has its leader called a datu. The datu is usually a man with strong political and physical leadership in the community.

Before Islam came to Mindanao, the early Kalagans were believed to be animists and they believed that there was one supreme God called Tagallang, which means "creator". They also believed that all of nature like trees, stones, mountains, the river, and the ocean has a spirit, that they called maguya. The Kalagan respected the maguya by performing ceremonial rituals.