The Sama Pangutaran
Sama families from the Pangutaran islands of Sulu, among the Muslim peoples who settled in southern Palawan.
Written from public sources to get this page started. We'll replace it with the story as Balabac residents tell it.
The Pangutaran islands lie west of the main chain of the Sulu Archipelago. The Sama who come from there are known as the Sama Pangutaran, and their language belongs to the western group of Sama languages.
Researchers studying Muslim migration to Palawan list the Pangutaran among the peoples who arrived between the time of the Sulu Sultanate and the middle of the 20th century.
Some came later, for harder reasons. One woman the researchers interviewed, of Sama Pangutaran descent, moved to Palawan with her parents in 1993 to escape conflict in Mindanao. Relatives already living in Palawan took them in until they found work. Like many families, most of hers eventually followed.
Stories we're gathering
This is a short introduction written from public sources. We'd like to replace it with the story as Sama Pangutaran families tell it themselves. If that's your family, send us a message.