Understanding Mindanaw, Higaonons

by Maria Eleanor E. Valeros, #netizenmedia

MISAMIS ORIENTAL, NORTHERN MINDANAO, PHILIPPINES — Every summer has its own great story. Mine involves membership (finally!) to an indigenous people’s community.

The trip took six of us to Talusan, Balingasag here in Misamis Oriental wherein we were oriented of Minkadelum – the old Mindanao.

Tibalen, believed first man of Minkadelum (the old name of Mindanao), is said to have instructed his two daughters to look for freshwater sources in the event of a dry spell.

The elder, Si Dumalaguing, went eastward while the other, Si Maraweh, took westward. The former found Lake Ke-angkabeg while the latter found Lake Lanao. The sisters were able to locate two important water sources to ensure water supply despite an extended dry season.

Datu Dencio “Lolong” Lipiahan Sr., the Supremo of Talugan Ta Tagoloan – Higaonon Tribal Communities Federation, in a four-year documentation pursuit, shared “tribal wisdom” in our so-called adoption to the Higaonon community last April 2, 2015 here in Talusan, Balingasag, Misamis Oriental. After a ritual, we migrants are already called “bilaw” and are required to study customary laws. Two of six in our group have “lumad” bloodline, or are descendants of an indigenous tribe.

Contrary to previous impression that Manobos, Talakags, Matigsalugs, Talaandigs are separate tribes, it was made known that these are so called “ascriptions of Higaonons distributed all over Mindanao.” Therefore, a Talakag woman who joined our “adoption ritual” performed at the farmhouse cum office of Ritalinda, or Bae Makabulig (wife of Datu Lolong), is considered a Higaonon by bloodline.

Datu Lolong, a seventh-generation Higaonon chieftain, corrected initial information that early Higaonons were refugees from southern Asian regions like Borneo, Sabah, or Sumatra. He said that Higaonons are the original settlers (thus, indigenous) of ancient Mingkadelum, considered a nation in the Dawn Age of Mindanao. The Malay intermarriages happened when missionaries Sarip Kabunsoan married Dumalaguing, while Sarip Alaweh married Maraweh. These Malaysian brothers were also looking for freshwater sources while they were traveling through land bridge referred to as Ngembalukan. In fact, the intermarriage also symbolized unity of two nations.

Upon discovering the same lakes on top of mountains, the brothers have both blurted: Lenggad Min Danaw (danaw means lake in Malay), to their joy and excitement.

Today, Higaonons reach an estimated 1.8 million households. However, this is based yet on a 1986 census. They were said to be coastal people but were driven to the uplands by colonizers. The “nangalasan” lived in the forests, while the “nababalay” dwelled in the coastal areas. Ascriptions were based on how they were distributed all over Mindanao in time: Matigsalugs (near rivers), Talaandigs (on rolling areas), Ipatagen (plateau of Bukidnon).

They continue to till their lands. Some have found employment in haciendas cultivated into plantations of banana, pineapple, durian, marang, aside from cash crops and other vegetables. They were also tapped in the government’s national greening program. Some of them have already found employment out of the country with the help of technical skills training.###

Negotiating the Rio

by Maria Eleanor E. Valeros, #newmedia specialist

caption: This blogger (center) with fellow writers.

CAGAYAN DE ORO, MISAMIS ORIENTAL, PHILIPPINES — White-water rafting is all about negotiating river rapids and obstacles in an inflatable rubber boat called a “raft” with a team of up to eight people and a river guide.

Rivers are graded from easy to near impossible according to size, the intensity of their rapids, and the difficulties that may affect rescue attempts.

Though the experience was a first, I banked on the assurance given me by the pros that it is not necessary to have precious knowledge on rowing. But among its few preconditions is to make it sure that the participant loves rivers, and or nature.

The Rio de Cagayan sent us on a gentle float with a water level of 3 which goes up to 5 or 6 on rainy days. We glided onboard a yellow raft on the water surface smoothly and negotiated its swells, following the run of the Rio, befriending the nature of the 14 rapids – 9 and 13 being the most challenging for white water action.

Bonding with my paddle with the easy and double forwards, and back paddle gave me my white-knuckle ride of a lifetime. With a heap of mentoring from our river guide who chose to be referred to only as “Babars,” I learned to move in synchrony with the rest of my boatmates so to move our raft.

Babars, I could sense assumed all the responsibility in maneuvering the raft right after we first-timers flawed in our paddling moves. His expertise allowed us to conquer smoothly all first four rapids. Highly qualified, experienced, and enjoys working with people, with a load of patience too (I guess guides do really have this sense of community with people they go with even for the first time) and his capacity of leading us neophytes in a competent and professional manner, he then won my respect. A seasoned river runner, indeed!

After the fourth rapid, we reached this footbridge (connecting amazingly one side of Cagayan de Oro in Misamis Oriental to a barangay of Bukidnon province) where we tried simulating some death leaps at 25 feet. Confident at my lifesaving gadgets, I leapt twice. I plunged into a deep portion of the Rio and moved on to deal with the fifth rapid where we were made to jump out of the raft, taken swiftly by the current like floating logs on a portion I personally called the “Boulder Creek” – monuments that speak eloquently how the force of water can serve as chief of sculptors.

On the 9^th rapid, our guide told us it was the most challenging to deal with because most rafts capsize in there. That was what I labeled Disastrous Fall. Babars instructed us to make fast paddles and make sure we won’t hit rocks protruding like tips of icebergs. I began praying for too much water so to make less the exposure of rocks. But then it saved us from much larger waves and boat-eating holesin places that must be avoided. Since Babars has his way with the river already, he was adept at maneuvering the raft for us. My heart just thumped at the sight of the swell of the water and all I remembered was that we were swept away gracefully to the murmur of the rapids.

We had a dip at a portion where tributaries emptied out into the Rio, before negotiating the 13^th rapid where Babars instructed us to paddle while on standing position. The 13^th was a force to reckon with and made us virtual medalists of the achievement.

It was a draining finish as we raised our paddles to form a teepee, a sign for victory. The 12-kilometer white-water rafting course was completed in five hours. That’s also when I formed a hard opinion never to embrace paddling. I really can’t love it!

White-water rafting is kewl, nevertheless. It doesn’t just talk about kicks, it brings us straight to touch and face-to-face with the whites of Rio de Cagayan. Lovely! ###