Sources and Consequences of Happiness:the Sociocultural Constructs of Happiness Among Indigenous Hanunuo Mangyan Women

This paper describes the sources and consequences of happiness among Indigenous Hanunuo Manyan Women in the Island of Mindoro, Philippines. Data of this study is culled from interviews with 10 selected Mangyan women. The paper will discuss how the Mangyan women understand the concept of happiness, its sources, and its consequences in relation to their wellbeing. The paper shall also explore how happiness is manifested in various forms including but not limited to cultural artefacts such as rituals, poetry, dances, and other forms of material culture. The focus of the paper though is to highlight the socio-cultural aspects of happiness. Happiness in many indigenous societies is something that is shared collectively. For example, the Ambahan (oral poetry) of the Mangyan has to be recited along with members of the community. During recitation, people talk and laugh together. In the Ambahan, personification is used to describe the “self” as he/she relates to different situation including happiness, love, and death. This paper contends that happiness is both ephemeral and perpetual. Perpetual happiness is felt when they experience sound health, bountiful harvest, harmony with nature, ownership of land, and ability to eke out a living. Ephemeral happiness emanates from their relationship with other people