Tasaday Tribe: Filipino Hoax or Genuine?

The Tasaday tribe in the Philippines, who were once labeled as a lost Stone Age society, were revealed to be a hoax. Despite claims of noble savagery, they were manipulated by Manuel Elizalde Jr., facilitating visits for anthropologists and celebrities. The ruse was exposed when Oswald Iten found them in modern clothing, using tools, during an unexpected visit. They later admitted to playing a role for financial gain. While some deemed it a publicity scam linked to the regime of Ferdinand Marcos, Filipino President Corazon Aquino declared them real in 1988, sparking ongoing scholarly debates about their authenticity.