25/07/2025
In Mindanaoan and Visayan tribal cultures, challenging someone to a duel or a fight to settle differences wasn’t taken lightly. It was a serious and solemn act. Once the challenge was accepted, the warrior was expected to show up and fight with courage, no matter how skilled their opponent was. Backing out, making excuses, or only agreeing to fight under certain conditions was seen as a great dishonor to both clan and tribe. In fact, a warrior who refused could be punished by their own people -they might be executed by their own kin, kicked out of the tribe, or even sold into slavery.
Tattoos among warriors weren’t for fashion or showing off. They were sacred and had to be earned through bravery and real accomplishments in battle. Each tattoo told a story of the warrior’s courage and valor, and it reflected their status within the clan and tribe.
Bragging wasn’t admired either. In fact, it was seen as a sign of weakness. Real warriors didn’t need to talk themselves up or look down on others, even their opponents. They let their actions speak for them through what they did in battle, not what they said.
This is what true Bisaya warriors stood for: bravery, no matter the odds -not cowardice or excuses, especially if you were the one who issued the challenge in the first place.
