Delegates of the First Action Asia Peacebuilders Forum got a firsthand glimpse on how the Higaonon tribe of Minalwang in the town of Claveria, Misamis Oriental settle their conflicts as they shared stories with the locals, tribal leaders included.

The indigenous people walked from six geographically scattered “gaups” (villages) and converged in the tribal hall for the said meeting. Datu Kawilihan (Joel Mansangcagan) with his wife Nanay Bilaw, Datu Maagsub (Cornellio Pinaander), Datu Amomahan (Manuel Pinaandel), Roy Pinalandang, Datu Litumbagan (Eugenis Bio) and their tribal members were chewing betel nuts as they waited for the arrival of the other members of the Higaonon community and talked about the visit by participants of the peace forum.

Other village leaders came, too, like Kagawad Vergencita Besto and Kagawad Rico Mansumagan and other tribal elders like Datu Kili-kili (Dicno Mansumagan), Wenie Hagtongan and Jimmy Pinasahel.

The visit was for the forum participants to explore different Asian approaches to peace building.

Vibol of Cambodia, Gulnara of Kyrgyzstan, a delegate from Myanmar and Stella from Philippines, along with Balay Mindanaw’s Mamart, Popot, Beroy and George, came around 9:30 in the morning.

The sharing was started by a ritual called “singampo” led by Datu Amomahan. The ritual is important for every Higaonon since this signifies their genuine identity and recognition of their uniqueness as members of the tribe. “Singampo” means calling of the spirits from the nature, asking assistance for guidance, protection, blessing of the tribe as well as thanking the greater god called “Mambabaya.” In addition, it is a form of acceptance of the visitors coming to the Higaonon community in Minalwang.

The peace forum delegates expressed amazement at the rituals, saying it was the first time they experienced such tribal traditions in this hi-tech age.

After the ritual, a discussion ensued, tackling mainly four basic points. First, the discussion of two powers within Minalwang -- that of the barangay government and of the tribal governance -- and how they work together to resolve conflict. Second, the indigenous way of resolving conflict such as the “palaghusay.” The third point focused on the real conflict in life, particularly the struggle for food on every family’s table. And lastly, how the partners affect their pursuit to peace and development. 
 

Datu Amomahan started the sharing by highlighting how interrelated the tribal governance and the barangay government are. “We have great respect for our elders and forefathers. We respect our customary laws. Respect to everybody is essential to sustain peace,” he added.

Datu Kawilihan (also the barangay captain) and Datu Kili-kili likewise said that the official barangay leadership has great respect to the tribal leaders. “If there are cases in the community that need to be settled, we usually go to the tribal leaders,” they pointed out.

Respect for the leaders of the two forms of governance is evident, leading to a simple, specific and practical peace building strategies for every peace worker.

The sharing of Datu Kili-kili explained that peace starts in the family and conflict starts when the basic human needs of food, clothing and shelter are not met.

The Myanmar delegate asked about how the Higaonons address these very basic problems.

Rico Mansumagan replied that the community has its Ancestral Domain Sustainable Development and Protection Plan (ADSDPP) that guides them in protecting, preserving and managing the tribe’s existing resources within the ancestral domain. “The barangay and tribal governments, as well as the local government unit and partner NGOs like Balay Mindanaw Foundation, support us in this undertaking,” he added.

The visiting delegates, too, shared their peacebuilding experiences in their respective countries.

The delegate from Myanmar talked about the tribe called “min-Chin” and its way of solving the conflict. He mentioned something similar to the “rido” (clan war) of Mindanao. But the conflict in Myanmar is more easily resolved after the other party has exacted revenge, unlike the conflicts among the Moros and Mindanao’s lumads that could last for generations.

Gulnora of Kyrgyzstan shared about the border problems in their country which led to unshared resources for the community. She explained that Kyrgyzstan used to be part of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), and thus there was not much discussion about borders. But with the split of the USSR, the many countries under it are now quarrelling over border issues.

Vibol of Cambodia shared the genocide under Pol Pot of the Khmer Rouge. He is said to be responsible for the killing of a fifth of Cambodia’s population.

The visitors’ sharing enlightened the Higaonons that they are not alone in pursuing peace and development, there are even others who underwent hardships more than theirs. The tribal folks observed that while they may have different methods as their guests, they are all trekking the same pathway to peace.

The visitors joined the locals for lunch, which to the Higaonons mean their oneness in pursuing genuine peace.

The meeting ended at 2:30 in the afternoon, and the visitors gave a token to the community as a symbol of great appreciation.