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The Hanunuo Mangyans of Oriental Mindoro are known for their traditional poetry known as the Ambahan. It is typically written in the Surat Mangyan script, an ancient pre-Spanish alphabet, on bamboo. Ambahan is a piece of literature and poetry created by Southern Mangyans on the Philippine Mindoro island. The Mangyans, a term for the roughly seven various ethnic groups that make up Mindoro, are significantly diverse from one another in terms of culture, language, and manner of life. The word "Mangyan" is only used to describe the ethnic group inhabiting the southern part of Mindoro, roughly corresponding to the regions in the municipalities of Bulalacao (San Pedro), Mansalay, Oriental Mindoro, and San Jose, Occidental Mindoro. They might also use the term "Hanunuo" Mangyan, which means a "real, truly, genuine" Manygan, to emphasize their point.

Like all poetry, the ambahan is an artistic and harmonious expression of a thought or feeling. The ambahan, however, is not poetry for its own purpose or for the poet's satisfaction, unlike other types of poetry. Since it finds its true existence in society, the ambahan is principally a poetry about social character. The Mangyans developed it to fulfill useful functions for the neighborhood. It is used by parents to teach their kids, young people to court each other, guests asking for food, and family members saying goodbye or farewell.