The Atis or were just one of the the original inhabitants of the of the Philippines before the arrival of the Malay in the 10th century and the Spanish in the 15th century. The atis had a complex social strata with a datu that had the role of king, judge, and protector of the band of extended families or villages in a given area.

The natives possessed an alphabet called alibata and manufactured primitive tools long before the arrival or induction of outside influences. They traded pottery from seafaring Chinese and Muslims and some tribes even practiced mummification. The Ifugaos in Banaue , Luzon in northern Manila have carved beautiful rice terraces out of the mountain side by hand, but as their population dwindles and the knowledge and desire to maintain them declines UNESCO has included the terraces on the List of World Heritage in Danger for 2001.

Scientific research on the indigenious populations isolated on islands like those in South East Asia (Fiji, Japan), New Guinea, and Australia has shown many similarities to the way human beings adapted and evolved in a closed environment very similar to Charles Darwin's Theory of Evolution.

Mining, deforestation, illegal logging, and slash-and-burn farming has caused the indigenous population in all parts of the Philippines to steadily decrease to the point where they number in the thousands today, but unlike the federal laws granting Native Americans land and protection, the Philippines affords them no protection but this is just as well as the atis have become extremely nomadic due to social and economic strain on their culture and way of life that had remained unchanged for thousands of years. The atis have no sense of money or land ownership and sometimes can be seen camping out in city parks or panhandling although this is done out of boredom than out of a need for food or money.