February is not only about cupids and cut-out hearts. February is Arts Month. And I'm thrilled when Sir Ricky de Ungria informed us that Davao is one of the sponsors of the Philippine International Arts Festival (PIAF). The third Cinema Rehiyon showcases different indie films from all over the country. And I'm looking forward to watch movies made by Mindanaoans.

Yesterday, I had my rest day. and what's the best way to have a ME, MYSELF and I time? By 1:30pm, I'm off for a movie date. Cinema 6 at Gaisano Mall is already closed. The movie already starting. Good thing Chi was there.:)
It was already the narrative of Lola Candida (the director's grandmother) on the Equifrilibricum World Religion's founder Dr. Hilario Camino Moncado. Ang Panagtagpo Sa Akong Mga Apohan (The Day My Grandmothers Met) documents the perspective of the female Moncadista members. it's a visual journey of narratives-- of looking at Limao and Babak Island and the rich history of the Moncadistas. Some may say it's a cult. Universal Religion is what they profess.

Malaya Camporedondo with her sleeping baby.

(backstory: When I entered the cinema, I stood just near the entrance first. A Madonna with a pixie cut and her child is standing also. The baby's trying to hold me. I took his/ her (not sure of the baby's sex)hand coo with this adorable baby.Only to find out it's the director herself. hehe and her partner Kabunyan de Guia (for reel and real! )

Next short film is Sherad Anthony Sanchez' Balangay. Sanchez is the multi-awarded director of Huling Balyan ng Buhi. Balangay tackles Ata- Manobo's displacement due to military and NPAs clash in Davao del Norte. While it has several serious matters to discuss- displacement, peace situation, poverty and intervention from NGOs, the prolonged silence narrative made the audience very uncomfortable. I don't know if that is one of the director's goal, but it is effective in making the audience raise question. What is the relevance of the collective memories and personalities as if they're floating in scenes? The movie is very aural. The silence? We are not used to it. it makes us unsettled. Homelessness. Poverty. and Cracking up (craziness). Davao old airport provides a very good backdrop on this. BUt some scenes are quite dragging. The media person provided comic relief but has become irritating. A character nurse (?)/ saleslady's role is blurry; a character that comes in and ends with no explanation. Sherad respects everyone's opinion on his supposedly "secret" movie. He respects every audience experience. Including dozing off while watching this. :)

Halaw's Sheron Dayoc, Zurich Chan of Boca and their staff, crew and actors/ actresses


Boca's expensive actress! The main tease.

Comes next are two short films.
I love Boca (Mouth) by Zurich Chan. Charlemangne Alejandro's working his ass as a letter/ catalogue sender. A chain smoker with no direction until he found The One who will change his life forever. Short yet very cinematic. And yeah hearing Chavacano on the big screen is just sweet. It reminds me of Pedro Almodóvar.

Un Diutay Mundo (Small World)by Ana Carlyn Lim's is a sad story of Kafka locked in his room. She wanted to share his story but she was silenced even before she wrote about this nine-year old boy. Quite sad and brutal way to end it.

The day's feast is Halaw (way of the Sea). Sheron Dayoc and his team has great eyes for details. No wonder this film is making rounds in various international film festivals. :) The young child played by Arnalyn Ismael is a breather. Natural child actress. She reminds me of another indie film child Rebecca Lusterio. Halaw chronicles the lives of Filipinos who crosses Sabah in search of greener pasture and good life. Unemployment. Prostitution. Women and child trafficking. Smuggling.the central government that is not felt in the island provinces. To whom should they rely? Lives that intertwined. Recruiters and boatmen, the villagers from nearby islands that thrives on this business. An open secret that nobody dares to ask.

I really wanted to watch Sheika and Limbunan but the organizers begged us to give chance to the waiting students (there's a long line outside!). I had my share of the light and besides stomach is already growling. And Korean food is waiting with my pre- valentine dinner dates! :)

P.S. You might ask who is Alexis. Alexis Tioseco is one young movie critic and a strong advocate of Philippine independent film making. Him discussing film to Carlos J. Caparas will remain in my memory. He is a good listener and forms solid ideas about the topic. He explains well despite Caparas' lack of listening and comprehension ability.




But he had gone too soon. It's his 30th birthday today. I know he'll be delighted to see indie films thriving. Winning awards here and abroad. But he hopes for more avenue for the local populace to appreciate indie films. And Cinema Rehiyon is just one of the ways of bringing cinema diversity. Don't worry Alexis. What you believe in will continue. I hope you're here to witness it. again, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ALEXIS!

Time, invaluable time, has an incredible way of outpacing speed and outdating people and events.

Suddenly the cuddlesome infant, initially dependent on another human being for material and emotional nourishment, grows into the awkward adolescent and matures into the individual who either dilly- dallies with time or perpetually races with it, cramming a 60- hour activity into a 24- hour daily existence. What is today’s current events would soon fade into the old to become ancient history to be occasionally remembered as a point of reference. The bright, shining sun of a moment ago may turn into romantic twilight or gentle rain or splashing storm, to be soon quickly forgotten after it has gone and be appreciated once more only upon its recurrence.



Time is so fleeting, mercurial at leisure, that one either rides along to achieve a sense of relevance or personal accomplishments or both or lags behind from incompatibility with speed and its attendant pressure.



Time may continuously fray already worn- out nerves, alter set goals and priorities, advance a future project into premature fruition, outgrow insecurities and broaden personal perspectives, crystallize hopes and wishes into raw realities.



How often do Mondays swiftly breeze into Fridays, when only yesterday, it seemed one was sluggishly brushing off the sleepy daze of the weekend, frenetically growing into the hectic momentum that signals the excitement of the end of yet another work week or school days?



We welcome the New Year with contagious enthusiasm, sometimes with sadness to see a good year go by or with blue- blooded optimism that the new one would usher in better prospects for success and happiness. Then the months would outrace each other and before one has completely shed off the memories of the yuletide interlude, Christmas would approach sneakily with all its good tidings and festive spirit which eventually would mean the close of another year and the birth of still another.



The conservative 50’s made way for the swinging 60’s which in turn, brought about the tumultuous 70’s. Every decade has a story, a trademark, a character, a uniqueness in the annals of history. In the nostalgic moods of the present, one looks back, gazes into the past with either relief or nonchalance, but delves deeper for reasons learned while shrugging off the memories as merely a part of the " good old days.”



As actual personal experiences would bear out, time is an all too important Master that demands outmost punctuality and has no patience to wait for latecomers, whether prince or pauper. We reached this compromise from the very start and may have either disciplined ourselves into never taking the hours of every day for granted, or forever found ourselves tardy in meeting life’s many deadlines. We may seem to be taking our own sweet time in savoring the various irresponsible pleasures that come along the way, sometimes sacrificing the more urgent expectations demanded in the name of responsibility. Then just when time seems to be running short, we impatiently squeeze the hours into minutes, the years into days, in an attempt to catch up and make up for the hapless oversight. Some may make it right on record time to the finish line fulfilled, exultant if rather breathless. But the unfortunate others may gasp from the strenuous, unrelenting pressures, nevertheless failing to reach the goal due to time constraint or sheer short- sighted performance.



The born marathoners among us may find ourselves consistently ahead of the race but in our serious involvement to satisfy the essentials to become our society’s accomplished achievers, we may have neglected the little, cheerful diversions that make world an amiable battlefield. In our scurrying rash to get there, to arrive and be counted, we may have slipped the pleasurable phases of our lives and would now have to make an abrupt about- face in order to complete the cycle. Those of us in this predicament should count our blessings for, compared to the late bloomers, we are a great leap ahead in the human endurance contest.



So life is a merciless, time- dictated jungle, a breath- taking quest for the “survival of the fittest.” Indeed, it is – and a lot more besides. It is a long, tedious process of struggling for identity, purpose and attainment. It is a perpetual perfunctory trial- and- error promenade— for in this world, WHO is perfectly precise?— geared towards the genuine esteem of that glorious moment of eureka, when man finally comes to terms of him/herself.



LIFE despite its ultimate aim for meaning revolves around the enjoyment of every minute of our waking hours, blending hard work with stolen moments of fun, so that in twilight one may proudly acknowledge that s/he has truly lived a well- balanced existence. So that when the battle is over and he/ she sits complacently to assess his/ her accomplishments, there would be no frantic cause to rush back and catch up on the seemingly insignificant, aimless motions that nonetheless contribute to the enhancement and appreciation of living. Catching up may be a dispensable whim one may forego or pursue, however, it directs one where he/ she may have done better or may have experienced the necessary deviation from the serious burden of responsibilities. If only for those reasons, catching up becomes not merely a futile, frivolous frolic, but a goal in itself. Another essential absorption to find more profound meaning.

Road Journal ng Batang Lakwatsera


October 27


I am looking for Diego and Swiper. Will you join the adventure? :)

I had packed by bags a day before since I spent the night with my friends. At 10:30 AM at Davao international airport, my immediate supervisor Ate Elvie had just arrived from her Belgium trip. We no longer have enough time to meet so while she’s waiting for her luggage, we had our short program meeting. Updates and little chitchat with her trip. And as promised, she gave me the Belgian chocolates. Sweet.

At the waiting lounge, I’ve met Anna, 21 years old on her first plane trip. Her first trip outside her hometown and alone. She’s going to Zamboanga to meet their ‘recruiter’- direct hiring for Malaysia, she said. She doesn’t know about the check-in policies and the hand-carry baggage. She checked-in her only back pack with all of her valuables inside not knowing she can bring it along. All she was holding was her ticket and ID. I don’t know if the direct hiring for Malaysia is true. As our talk progressed, she shared that there are six of them going to Zamboanga, coming from different areas of Mindanao and Visayas, and they will be going to Malaysia (through backdoor, most likely). She’s telling me she’s doing it because she wanted to help her family, that she is not paying anything for her employment. She sees her recruiter as a savior who'll help her in her dreams of helping her family. But how many times have we heard of Filipinos, majority are women and children given promises of employment and good life? Most are from the far flung barrios who only wanted the best for their families but tricked into prostitution? These thoughts were floating on my head as the PA system calls their flight. She bid goodbye smiling. I asked her to pray and be vigilant, that the work abroad may or may not be high paying. I pray for her safety.

"How many Anna’s do we need to lose? When will be the time of sending out OFWs will no longer be the option for employment? *sigh*

By 2pm, I arrived at NAIA and Brod Wani fetched me with his motorcycle. I never tried riding a motorcycle in the traffic metro. Brod Wani is my official sundo and ticket buyer. He bought the bus ticket early reservation as it’s already nearing the long holidays. I had the 4pm bus. No more time to recharge. It’s raining hard and we finally decided for my health’s sake, I I need to take the cab going to Alimall than insist on riding the cool motorcycle. I was already starving , and after putting my luggage at my designated I decided to buy some food at Dunkin Donuts. The service crew is excruciatingly sloooooooow. When I went back, the bus was no longer there! I was about to panic, then the conductor from the nearby bus pointed at the gate. Great, just great.

A nice start for my first 12-hour straight bus travel.
We had our three strops at San Pablo, Laguna, another town in Laguna ( I forgot to ask since I was already too sleepy) and in Naga City.

October 28.

I arrived at 4AM in Daraga. My sister is excited to see me. She’s still awake when I texted her to fetch me. It’s drizzling. I slept until 9am. By 10am, my sister and I went to Albay Capitol. And I was surprised (more of annoyed) that my sister doesn’t know where the Capitol is! Imagine she lived her for a year or two already and she haven’t explored the area. Unbelievable. One thing we need to do is explore the area where we live. We must know our own city/town/ province. Well, I am quite guilty of this when some friends wanted to visit my hometown, I could not advise them what's the best place to visit. So I started knowing and learning more about my town. For instance, I am surprised to know that people from South Cotabato has NEVER been able to go and visit Lake Sebu. We aim to visit other places to explore yet we never explore our very own provinces. One important trait is to be tourists and tourist guides of our places. We have to learn what our province has to offer. AND we have to learn the history of our place.

So for my trip here, it’s I and my sister who will be seeing the things/places for the first time! Before coming here, I read an article in Sunstar about Bicol and the places to visit and I wrote them down. The first place I wanted to see is the Magayon Art Gallery at the lobby of Albay Capitol. Much to my dismay, not much paintings were left on exhibition.

Then to prepare for my itineraries, I went to the City Tourism office to ask for a map (even though I don’t know how to read a map) like what most foreign tourists do. At the back of the tourism office is the Museum and Library.



The battle of Legazpi mural welcomes the guest. I love going to museums to know the history of the place we visited but sadly, we do not have a good custom in preservation. Like in Butuan, the unearthed balanghai was left scattered around. These are bits and pieces of our being a nation, a part of our proud past yet it remained just a remnant. But unlike in Butuan where there is a very passionate museum curator who explains what the materials being exhibited are, Legazpi Museum is just a storehouse of old things but with no historical explanation of its relevance in the making of the province. Except for the fact that Gen. Paua and Vito Belarmino, the historical figures I was memorizing before are Bicolanos (they might be good lovers, perhaps?hehe) led the Battle of Legazpi against the Spaniards.

October 29



I woke up early. Despite the drizzle, I jogged to Daraga Church and marvel at the majestic view of Mayon. Mt. Mayon is indeed Daragang Magayon (Beautiful maiden) that enchants every tourist looking at it. The Daraga church is made of Baroque architecture and is now undergoing renovation. It is one of a kind historical site and these old churches are the influences of our Spanish colonizers. You will be amazed by the stone details at the belfry. Daraga Church was constructed as another place for worship when the Cagsawa Church was buried after the 1814 eruption. The church is being renovated but I’m afraid it will be cemented and lose its unique design. I was told that it must obtain the permit from the National Historical Institute’s permit and the city permit but the parish failed to do so.

While jogging around the church, I met the Living Asia crew filming the area.. They were guided by Mr. Luis Santos from Legazpi Vice Mayor’s office. He asked me where I came from. I tol him I'm from South Cotabato. And the perennial question was asked. "Muslim ka?" Ugh.It's not that I do not like being called as Muslim but it just shows how Mindanao is being defined by religion and the connotations associated with the word. So I have to explain a little of geography and Mindanao history. That Mindanao is a big island rich in natural resources and it has no single religion. Then one of the crew of Living Asia joined us and asked me what I was doing in Bicol. To explore the place. I told him, And probably apply in Living Asia. haha! I want his job. :D

October 30

It’s raining hard since last night. I didn’t make the planned jogging to Lignon Hill. I just slept, and watched the TV the whole day together with my nephew. Such a couch potato!

October31


Jogging to Lignon Hill. It’s like hiking to top of Shrine Hills in Matina with the breathtaking view of Mayon.



Then by 10AM, my sister, Nonoy my nephew and I went to Cagsawa Church. I am amazed by the children/ tour guide who know the tricks in picture taking. They are the masters of perspective photography!


L-R. Jomar (10 years old), Loida (12 y.o) and Agua (11 y.o)



November 1

I was kind of bored. It’s raining hard again and my feet itches. I want to travel. My sister cannot accompany me in long travels. She’s eight-month pregnant already. So I decided to pack my bag and took the bus. Where to? To Camarines Sur Watersports Complex (CWC)! The famous watersports complex manned by the provincial government and where Aga Muhlach is a regular 'wakeboarder' (are they called as such? hehe)

All I know is CWC is at Pili, Camsur but I forgot to tell the conductor to help me out. I fell asleep and before I knew it, I was already in Naga City! Great. So I have to take the bus again back to Pili. But I was never afraid. I was laughing knowing how fool I was. At this time, I keep on badgering the conductor to drop me off at CWC.

CWC is a huge complex within the Provincial Capitol. There are many foreigners and families enjoying the holiday, trying to balance on the plank of wood (sorry I'm not good at describing this sports). I took the beginner’s ride and was told to try the neophyte’s lessons at Wynch Park. So together with Aldrin, April and Trixie (my new acquaintances from Manila) we took the shuttle and tried the lessons. Wakeboarding looks easy but boy, it’s difficult to keep your balance on water on a board with huge slip-on slippers. Our group were laughing hard because we cannot make it up to the end. So we lowered our goal of even making it just at the middle yet we could not make it! After 4 try-outs still semplang!























Then there was this group of foreigners, ‘professional wakeboarders’, who approached Kuya Angelo, the operator that they wanted to use the nearby place to play. But they didn’t make any prior arrangements so they have to wait for the next day. But they keep on insisting that they are professionals and they want to have an exclusive use of the ‘pool’. If they can’t open the other pool, they are asking to use our pool instead. The nerve to demand! One parent was pissed off. He told them off to follow the procedure and they do not own the place. And they cannot demand to use our pool since we are customers too. The gall of the 'professionals'! tsk!


It’s already 4pm. I initially planed to spend the night in Camsur but I am having second thoughts. CWC’s cabana houses are quite expensive. So I decided to go back to Daraga, Albay and passed by Nabua, Camsur’s Church instead. I saw from one album of a friend in FB that the stained glass are quite amazing. It's good to end the day at the church. But traveling back, there were many people coming home from the cemetery and it started to rain again. I decided not to stop at Nabua. Then I realized, I could have went to Naga City and spent the night there and visit the old churches. However, the time (read: MONEY!) was too limited.

My sister was shocked I went home since I told her that I’ll be on a road trip. But hell, I still have many things to buy. My boss just texted me for an abaca bag with specification. Haha!


November 2


I went back to Cagsawa Ruins just walking from Daraga to Camalig! Beat that! I thought it's just near. I have to be physically active since I am eating a lot! I love anything that has coconut milk and Bicol’s food just suites my palate. I am devouring any food. And oh, if you decided to drop by Bicol, try Graceland’s bestseller- Special Bicol Express. It will just cost you P79 for a taste of heaven. 




























I bought abaca bags, sandals, chili cellphone accessory, and t-shirts as pasalubongs for friends and bosses. Then, I went all by myself to Kapuntukan Hill and Embarcadero. Kapuntukan Hill also known as the Sleeping Lion (aerial view) is being developed like Manila's Baywalk. Embarcadero (Spanish word for embark) is a mall like the Mall of Asia (MOA). This place is good for jogging and for lovers. :D




View of Mayon from Embarcadero.


November 3

It’s my ate’s birthday! And she woke up at the wrong side of the bed. I planned to jog around Embarcadero and take a snapshot of Mt. Mayon and buy flowers and cake as a surprise for her. But the night before, my nephew’s yaya did not come back and my ate’s mad. So it’s bad start of the day and I am tasked to be the yaya for the day. What a wonderful way to start my last day here!

Later in the evening, she decided she would not be affected. We had our shared dinner together with the neighbors and relatives of her husband.




HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR SISTER! You know how much I LOVE YOU! =)





November 4

Travel back to Manila. My flight from Legazpi- Manila was delayed for about 30minutes. I met Mrs. Maria Teresa Anson, a widow who loves to travel. She just went home to Legazpi to visit her husband’s grave then she’ll be going to Bangkok to her eldest daughter to help care for her grandchildren. We had a long talk about enjoying youth, traveling and loving oneself. She told me to find a partner who shares my love for exploring new places. I will Ms. Anson. I hope I can write a good love story just like yours. :)



As we were about to board, there was this couple who went first at the line. My seatmate tapped by shoulder and whispered, ‘di ba artista yan? Si Mateo?” I looked up from my the book I’m reading, their backs on me so I can’t say for sure so I just shrugged. Falling line, that’s where I had a good look and the couple previously pointed out is Maja Salvador and Mateo Guidecilli. I love Mateo before when he's still on the race track. He seems out-of-reach. As one friend said, "mas mailap, mas nakakaexcite." haha!


My flight back to Davao is at 7pm and I arrived at NAIA 3 at 1230pm. I have a long 5-hour waiting period. Good thing, Nina Quibod came all the way from Laguna and accompanied me in killing time.




She decided not to work just to be with me. As she said,"Madaling kitain ang pera, ang totoong kabigan mahirap makita" (It's easy to earn money, but difficult to find a true friend). aawww! Such a sweet friend. 







My flight got delayed by an hour and half. I arrived in Davao at around 10:30PM. Just opened my phone and there were two invitations to party. I don’t want to favor one party and I am suffering from cough and colds. After dropping off my luggage at my place, I went to Radiance Massage for ventosa and whole body massage. And the masseuse and I were laughing every time the cups on my back were removed. So many ‘air’. That’s the price I have to pay for being such a lakwatsera. 






If I have to summarize my whole trip in photo(s), it ends to this:



My Plane tickets and the ventosa massage! =)

I miss writing. I miss the taste of the words forming up my tongues, the energy flowing to my fingers as I type and sees it on screen. I miss words to fill up the void. I miss writing for pleasure. It has been a long time that I wrote for pleasure. Words has become my comfort when I lost my lola and granddad. Words are my solace.


I stopped writing on my notebook. I'm afraid I am losing the energy to capture what I feel. I wanted to write more about my travels, my observations yet it seems work has become an interference instead of being the source of inspiration. I am pushing myself to write more. I will be flirting with words again.

Photo courtesy of John Louie dela Victoria

THIS WAY TO MAJESTIC APO.
The sign reads at one of the hiking trek entrance of Mt. Apo, known as the highest peak in the Philippines. According to oral tradition, Mt. Apo was believed to be inhabited by Apo Apao Sandawa in the 1830s, the ancestor of the Obo Manuvus. He divided the mountain and the forest amongst his children. One of his children is Datu Adot Umpan.

Little is known that behind the majestic and breathtaking view and teeming resources within the mountain, the descendants of Apo Apao Sandawa are in conflict over management of their titled 3, 177.199 hectares approved ancestral domain. Before then, the issue of ownership, control and access to the bountiful resources on their ancestral domain remain an unresolved issue. Five generations later, another Datu Adot Umpan took the name and continued the fight for their management of their ancestral domain.

Datu Eduardo Umpan or Kapitan Adot is now the three-time elected barangay captain of Barangay Balabag. Now on his last term, he vowed to still lead and continue the struggle of his people. “Ang pakigbisog alang sa among yuta wala nahuman sa pagdawat namo sa titulo o CADT. Bisan naa na mi titulo, wala gihapon napanghingusog sa tribu ang iyang katungod sa pagdumala sa yutang kabilin. Apil pa nga away-away sa mga tawo sa kun kinsa ang mga nakapahimulos sa benipisyo gikan sa yuta sa tribu. (Our struggle for our land did not end when we received the title. Even we already have the title, our voice as a tribe and our way to govern our land is not recognized. Adding to this is the conflict between the people as to whom receives benefits from the land that is owned by the tribe).”

To protect, promote and respect the rights of the indigenous peoples in the country, the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA) or RA 8371 was enacted into law. However, twelve years after the law’s enactment, what are the changes to the lives of Obo- Manuvus of Mt. Apo?

Kapitan Adot Umpan, as datu and also a leader of the smallest unit of governance, what changes has he observed? Being the implementor of the Local Government Code (LGC), how it is being harmonized to their law which is the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA) of 1997? “Walay konplekto kay kabalo ko sa kultura sa mga tribu, kabalo sad ko sa balaod sa gobyerno. Mas naging advantage nako kay IP ko. (There was no conflict since I know of the culture of the indigenous people and of the law of the government. It is an advantage for me since I am a member of the IP). Otherwise, he sees it as an opportunity in leading the diverse community composed of Obo-Manuvus, Islamized Indigenous Peoples and even with the Bisaya settlers).

For him, claiming their ancestral domain and having a title or Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT) to prove for their ownership did not end their woes. “Wala may pagbag-o. Oo naa mi titulo, kining CADT pero wala may development. Kung naa man pagbag-o, katong mas nagkagubot mi hiunon. (There are no changes. Yes, we do have a title but there are no developments. If there are changes, that is we have been divided).
What he is referring to is the division in the community which he thinks is sowed by the entry of the Philippine National Oil Company- Energy Development Corporation (PNOC-EDC). Ironically, PNOC is a government owned and controlled corporation. But as of July 2007, the majority of shares of stocks of the government were sold to the Lopezes, as the major stockholder of PNOC. Lopezes are one of the richest family in the country that owns ABS-CBN, Meralco, Myniald among others.

A memory revisited

The northwestern part of Mount Apo constitutes the ancestral domain of the Obo- Manobos. The home for the endangered Philippine eagle and endemic flora and fauna, it was declared as a natural park by President Quezon in 1936.

When Mindanao was opened for resettlement during the 1930s, lowland Mount Apo became home to the migrants from Luzon and Visayas. Slowly, the Obo- Manobos have been displaced and faced with new concepts of land ownership. Before precolonial times, everything is considered as communal property; the land is not owned by any person. The community is the steward or caretakers of their surroundings, thus it must be protected. The colonial government of Spain and America brought new ideas of titling as proof of ownership of lands. Slowly, the hinterland of Mount Apo was issued by tittles and owned by the new settlers. Big logging concessions were also given to Busque and Manila Venneer Company. (hindi ko pa po nakita ang date when exactly it was given)
Through the Juris Regalia Doctrine, started by the Spanish colonial government, the Philippine government has a legal right to control the use of land and resources within Mount Apo. The Obo Manuvus has been stripped off of its right over their lands. The late Datu Abon Umpan has seen their powerlessness and displacement. He filed a petition to the then Bureau of Wildlife (renamed and now known as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources or DENR) for the government to allocate 1,500 hectares as settlement areas for the indigenous communities. President Magsaysay granted the request but President Garcia nullified the decision when he assumed office after the former’s death on a plane crash.

The Gulf War on early 1990s had caused oil crisis. During the Aquino administration, it sees immediate tapping of indigenous energy projects. Mount Apo is viewed as a viable geothermal source. By 1991, DENR issued an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) to PNOC- EDC to tap Mt. Apo’s enormous geothermal energy. Amidst protests of environmental activists and from the inhabitants, the project was pursued and was formally signed by President Ramos effective on January 23, 1993. This gave PNOC the right to tap the mountain for its geothermal energy generation project covering 701 hectares of Brgy. Ilomavis within the ancestral domain of the Obo- Manuvus.

Losing their land, their traditions and eventually their identity, the Obo Manuvus particularly the Bayawan and Umpan clans formed a movement called Tudduk to Kalubbaran ni Apo Ayon Umpan (Pillars of the Descendants of Ayon Umpan) which aims for cultural regeneration. However, this is impossible without involving reclamation of their ancestral domain where their lives, traditions and governance are inextricably linked.

On 1993, the DENR issued an order, DAO 2 which outlines the procedures wherein the indigenous peoples can claim their lands. DAO 2 gave them recognition of their ancestral lands and territories. This is through issuance of Certificate of Ancestral Land/Domain Claim (CADC/CALC). It is in this legal context that several claims on Mount Apo sprouted. One of this claim is filed by Datu Santiago Aba who is not a part of the Apao lineage but included Mt. Apo on his CADC claim.

On July 16, 1996, the Apao descendants submitted a petition to the provincial office of the DENR to protest the claim of Datu Santiago Aba, who included areas from another clan. This petition paved way to the formation of Ilomavis- Balabag Apo Sandawa Manobo Ancestral Domain Claim (IBASMADC). IBASMADC passed a claim over 20,000 hectares within the northwestern part of Mount Apo. The claim was reduced to 3, 753 hectares by DENR.

With strong clamor of different indigenous peoples in the country and from the international organizations such as United Nations (UN) and International Labor Organization (ILO), a bill was being formulated on the halls of Philippine Congress and Senate. Then Congressman Gregorio Andolana of North Cotabato passed a bill in House of Representatives with Senator juan Flavier passing a same bill in the Senate that outlines the provisions for protection, promotion and recognition of the rights of indigenous peoples in the country. Long deliberations and marches followed before IPRA was finally enacted into law on 1997.

IPRA has legally recognized the IP rights not only through certificates (CADC) issued thru DAO 2 by DENR which is incommensurable compared to the Torrens title. Through IPRA , IPs have been given legal recognition and for titling of their ancestral territories as well as outlining provisions on governing the resources.

This inspired the IBASMADC to follow-up their claim. They have been successful in consolidating the different clans and spearheaded the claim-making process for their ancestral domain. The processing for their CADT) as processed by the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), the lead agency tasked for IPRA implementation. IBASMADC has been following their application.
However on mid- 1998, the group faced one of the biggest challenges. Some of the Apao leaders in Sayaban separated and formed Idpossokadoy Ta Linubbaran ni Apao (ILAI). They contested IBASMADC’s claim and filed a separate application with DENR. This had caused a rift between the clans and caused tension in the community. According to some IBASMADC members, the management of PNOC has a hand on the rift.

CADT, PNOC and the rift within

Heaving a sigh, Datu Adot Umpan explained how it happened. “Ang mga clan sama sa Bayawan, Umpan and Andot nga anaa sa Barangay Ilomavis, Balabag,ug Kawayan, mao na sila ang mga original na IBASMADC members. Tapos katong nihawa ang uban ilabi na katong mga taga Ilomavis nga gipanguluhan ni Lucio Serrano, nagtukod sila ug ILAI. Human ato gusto nila angkunon ang parte nga anaa ang PNOC. Kato nga area dili lang sa tibuok Ilomavis.. Naa man na sa sentro sa ancestral domain. (The major clans namely Bayawan, Umpan and Andot that occupies barangays Ilomavis, Balabag, and Kawayan constitutes the original IBASMADC membership. Later on when other members particularly those coming from Ilomavis separated and was headed by Lucio Serrano, they formed ILAI. Then they wanted to secure on their application the area where PNOC is constructed, However, PNOC is not solely on the part of Ilomavis, it is on the center of the ancestral domain).”

“Ang mga tao kabalo dinhi na ang PNOC man nagtabang sa iLAI aron magpasa ug separate claim. Syempre aron hawak nila sa liog ang mga lideres, dali ra mailad. Bisan pila ra ilang ihatag, okay ra. (The people here know that PNOC helped ILAI in filing a separate claim. They have control on the leaders, so they can easily manipulate. Whatever they give, they would just receive),” he added.

During their claim making process, Datu Atawan Bayawan heads IBASMADC while Datu Lucio Serrano leads ILAI. To resolve the issue, the NCIP, held a on-on-one meeting with the two leaders to “unify” their claim on the area and to clarify political boundaries. A Memorandum of Agreement was signed on December 2, 2002 that there will be a unified claim for CADT but the two groups will have a separate management on traditionally bounded territories but will share revenues derived from utilization of the domain. They decided to rename the claim into Manobo- Apao Descendants Ancestral Domain of Mount Apo (MADAMA). Datu Bayawan and Datu Serrano were appointed as representatives in the ancestral domain claim.

He protested on the said agreement. “Katong desisyon wala man to nakonsulta sa tibuok IBASMADC. (The decision was not consulted to the whole IBASMADC constituents).”

Then a meeting was held to elect Council of Leaders, which in turn elected 7 Council of Elders. The Council of Elders in turn elected 3 IP representatives to the MADADMA. The three IP representatives were Datu Atawan Bayawan (representing Kawayan), Datu Lucio Serrano (representing Ilomavis) and him (representing Balabag).

He allegedly added that, “Katong 2005, ang mga manager sa PNOC gifinance ang meeting sa Council of Leaders sa Peps, ug naa silay plano nga ituboy ug himuong Supreme Datu si Lucio Serrano. (On 2005, managers of PNOC financed a meeting of the Council of Leaders and they planned to push and anoint Lucio Serrano as Supreme Datu).”

This is dangerous, according to Datu Adot when someone is anointed as Supreme Datu, as no one can question his decisions. He even narrated that if oral traditions and lineage will be scrutinized, Datu Lucio Serrano would not be representing Ilomavis, but it should be somebody from the Andot clan. Lucio Serrano as the locals say is “tabid” or he came from the woman’s family married to the Andot clan. According to tradition, the datu who can represent the clan should come from the family of the man.

He further claims that, “kanang naa sa Council of Leaders except ra sa akoa, naa na sa payroll sa PNOC. Bisan ako giofferan dati muadto ra ko sa opisina kada akinse ug katapusan (All of those who are in the Council of Leaders except me are into PNOC payroll. I was even offered to just go to the office every 15th and end of the month).”
He himself used to work as a security guard on 1992 wherein a year after, he was promoted as security supervisor. The next year, he was already the assistant security personnel supervisor. He resigned when the community applied for CADT.

“We are fighting for that piece of land where PNOC was constructed and to avoid conflict of interest, I resigned,” he added in vernacular. He thinks that if he didn’t resign, he could now be a regular employee of the company. Or he could choose to accept the money offered to him. “Ikaw ra maganar, unsaon man ang ubang pamilya? Mura ra nimo gibaligya imong katribu. (You only will benefit, how about other families? It seems like you have sold your fellow IPs).” For him it is an act of betrayal.

He contends that the geothermal plant is within the center of their ancestral domain. Any benefits should be shared by the whole community not only that of Baranagy Ilomavis where the geothermal plant is constructed. “Sa IPRA man gud dunay probisyon para sa royalty share sa mga IP nga ang resources gamiton sa mga negosyante o sa bisan unsang kompanya. Pero katong gihatag sa amoa ang CADT katong July 2004, wala giapil ang 701 hectares sa PNOC area. Tibuok area gihatag namo except ra katong sa PNOC. Bisan pila ra ilahang ihatag, walang klarong accounting. Dili man dapat ing-ana. (There is one provision in IPRA regarding royalty share of IP community on the revenues in the usage of resources by any companies. But when the CADT was awarded to us on July 2004, the 701 hectares occupied by PNOC was not included. The whole area was given excluding the PNOC. Now, they are only giving without no clear accounting. This should not be the case).”
According to Edtami Mansayagan, one of the NCIP Commissioners during the time of Obo Manuvus claim, he did not agree to “donut-like” approval of the ancestral domain. It means, the 3,117.99 hectares were awarded to the Obo Manuvus yet the 701 hectares occupied by PNOC remains at the hand of the government (but with a separate clause on the NCIP resolution stating that the Obo Manuvus can reclaim the area and of non-expansion of the geothermal plant). This is one of the complex conflicting interpretations of the law and the implementation to the local level.
Section 2, Article III of IPRA states that the “IPs have the rights to benefit form the utilization, extraction, use and development of lands and natural resources within their ancestral lands/domains and to be compensated for any social and/or environmental costs of such activities.”

“Ang nahitabo ang Ilomavis ra ug Kawayan ang nakabaton aning share gikan sa revenue sa PNOC nga ang titulo ani nakapangalan sa tibuok MADADMA. Dapat tanang tao sa komunidad makadawat. Pantay-pantay dapat. Ang kasubo ani, mga lideres ug pipila ra sa ilahang pamilya ang nakahimulos. (What happened is Ilomavis and Kawayan received shares from the revenue of PNOC but the title is named to whole MADAMA. Whole people in the community should be able to receive from the share. It should be equal. Sadly, it is only the leaders and their families that benefited).


IP governance and the lost opportunity

The struggle could not fully move on since many of them are working in the geothermal plant. A resort was also opened near the plant. The heat from the mountain was tapped into a hot and cold lake resort as a part of the joint-venture agreement supposedly between the local government of Kidapawan and MADADMA. This Lake Agcu resort was said to be given under the management of the IP leaders of MADADMA. “Unsaon man nila pag manage na igo ra man na sila hatagan ug kwarta ug painumon. (How can they manage it, they are just given money and liquors).”

While still on the claim-making process, the community should have an Ancestral Domain Sustainable and Development Protection Plan (ADSDPP), a detailed plan as to how the resources will be managed. Sadly, the claimants and now CADT holders were not able to do it. Right after the CADT was awarded, members of the community went back to their lives but the rift could no longer be remedied.

“Oportunidad na unta to kung unsaon sa tribu manage ang mga resources na anaa dinhi, apan unsa nahitabo? Interes sa PNOC ra ang naprotektahan. Pipila ra ang nahatagan, apan majority nga apektado sa hungaw sa planta, wala. (It was an opportunity on how the community would manage the resources we have here, but what happened? It is the interest of the PNOC that is being protected. Only a few benefited, majority who are also affected by the smoke coming form the plant, they haven’t received anything).”

Encroachment on natural park, ancestral domain

Aside from the rift between members of the community, another concern of Datu Adot is the planned expansion of PNOC beyond its designated areas. The Lake Agcu Resort are also expanding. But these expansions, according to Datu Adot are without consultations. Another cause of concern is the unprecedented entry of banana and oil palm plantations on their lands.

By virtue of PD 59 and the National Integrated Protected Area Systems (NIPAS), Mt. Apo was declared as a natural park and protected area. Encroachment is highly prohibited. However, banana companies have been expanding, inching up to the upland area of Ilomavis. Being also a declared ancestral domain of the Obo Manuvus, consultation must be seek first from the members of the community through their right for free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) under Sec. 7, Article III (will check again later) of IPRA.

“Wala gyud na dinhi may nahitabong konsultasyon. Nahatagan ra sila ug Environmental Compliance Certificate sa DENR. Unsa mga epekto aning pagpahalapad sa mga sagingan? Dunay mga kemikal ginagamit tapos protected area gud ni. (There is no consultation conducted. They were given ECC by DENR. What is the effect of expanding these plantations? It uses chemicals and to think this is a protected area).”

The companies would contend that only affected areas will be consulted and it is the people who have leased their private lands. Aside from this, they give jobs to the people. To this Datu Adot asserts, “Ang mga tawo dinhi nahimo ra nga mga hurnalista. Hurnalista sa ilang kaugalingong yuta? Sila muaaply sa mga pesticides sa saging, ilahang panglawas maapektuhan Dunay magreklamo nga sakit sa mata ug mga pangatol. Barato pa sad kayo ang bayad, wala kaabot sa minimum wage, tapos kining ganansiya aning mga kompanya daku kaayo. Dati wala pa kaabot sa minimum wage. (The people here remain as laborers. Laborers on their own lands? They wouold be the ones who would apply the pesticides on bananas, their health are at stake. There are who would complain eye irritations and skin infections. The daily wage is beyond minimum but the profits of these companies are huge).”

Then on 2006, the residents of Balabag had a General Assembly wherein 350 families signed the petition asking for evaluation and inventory of protected areas within their area, asking for DENR and NCIP to investigate the intrusion of private entities on such areas and the violation of their right to free, prior and informed consent. They filed the petition and seek for the joint investigation of DENR and NCIP. These two agencies has quasi-judicial functions but to his dismay, they receive no response from both agencies.

“Sa IPRA kining musulod dapat muagi sa Council Elders apan kini tanan gisunod. Unsaon ta man sad, akong katungod isip isa ka kapitan limitado ra sad sa barangay. Muingon man sila human na sila nananghid sa siyudad. Nabuhat na nako akong parte ug budlay kayo ka yang ubang mga ahensiya nga unta responsible ani, wala sad ginabuhat. (Based on IPRA, whoever would enter should pass through the Council of Elders, but this are not followed. My rights are only limited to the barangay. They would tell us they have already secured the permission from the city. I have done what I can do, the problem is when these agencies responsible for this are not doing anything).”
He also lamented the another five hectares planted by oil palm at Sitio Lumut.


Ways forward: develop local economy


Kapitan Adot on his diversified farm


Selling of land is common especially if the person is financially challenged. It is commonly done by IPs especially during hard times. A piece of land is sold even in exchange of horse or carabao. But when this area is already under CADT, IPRA prohibits this act. But beyond this community “owning” the ancestral domain, there is also prior vested rights of the individual especially those migrant settlers within the community who already owns portions of land registered at the Bureau of Lands. A homogenous tribal village is no longer common after all. Thus, managing the ancestral domain entails balancing the rights of the individual titleholders and that of the communal ownership of other resources within the domain.

“Ang dapat unta tabangan nga mahimong produktibo kining yuta aron dili na maisip sa mga tawo ilabi na ang tribu nga ibaligya. Ngano pa man niya ibaligya kung duna siya makuha nga kita gikan sa yuta? (What should be done is to make the land productive so that people especially IPs not to think of selling the lands. Why would you sell it if you can make a living out of the said land?).”

He knows it is a challenge since support from the government is minimal. The lands are no longer as productive as before. That is why he encourages his constituents to practice sustainable agriculture, by utilizing the available materials within their area. Twenty meters away from their home, he cultivated the one-hectare land he inherited from his father and turned it into a demo-farm for organic farming teeming of various fruit-bearing trees such as durian, mangosteen, marang, lanzones and passion fruit and livestock and poultry for breeding. He also has a fishpond full of tilapia.

All varieties of durian are available. “Nagtanom ko tanang nga variety, ang uban girequest sa DA (Department of Agriculture) aron kun gusto sa mga tawo nga mangayo ug semilya, pili ra sila kay naa man tanan. (I planted different varieties; others were requested from DA so that when the people would want to get seed they just have to choose since everything is available.
He owed to durian the piece of residential lot he purchased and the construction of a semi-concrete house at the center of Kidapawan City where his two sons and wife stays on weekdays. His sons are both college students while his wife works at the capitol. “Sa unang harvest, naka P140,00 ko, tapos sa ikaduha, mga P150,00. Apan tiguwang naman ang mga puno, dili na ing-ana kadaghan ang bunga.(During the first harvest, I was able to earn P140,00 then on the second harvest around P150,000. However, the trees are quite old now, the produced fruits are no longer the same as before).”

He thinks what is more important is to develop the community livelihood and food sufficiency. While asserting for right to land in legal terms, the community must strengthen their claim for land by making it more productive.

Since it’s his last term now, he plans to take a rest and continue his passion for farming. He plans to focus more on his farm and his vermiculture production Due to illness that struck his lanzones trees, he plans to replace the plants with passion fruits. For him, his farm is his refuge and a stress reliever. Every morning he walks to his farm to feed his turkey, chicken,pigs, cows and tilapia. “Gikan ta sa lupa, mubalik gyud ta gihapon sa lupa. Mang-empleyo ta apan dili man hanggtud sa hanggtud makaya nato mang-empleyo kay naa man retirement age. Muretire ta ug mubalik gyud ta panguma. Tan-awa mga dagkung negosyante, mamalit sila yuta kay nakita nila dagku gyud ang kwarta sa yuta. Mao sad gani interesado sila sa yuta sa tribu kay lapad gud na. (We came from the land, we all would return to it. We seek employment while we can but we would not stay that way, and there’s a retirement age. We will retire and we would go back to farming. Look at the businessmen, they buy lands since they know there is money in land. That's why they are even very interested to ancestral domains since it is huge).”

As he was slicing the durian, he called his youngest daughter. “Gusto ra nako makita nga akoang mga anak ug ang tribu makabenispiyo sa among yuta. Himuon kining produktibo nga walay kadautan sa yuta. (I just want my children and the future generation of the tribe to be able to benefit from our lands. Make the lands productive without destroying it).”

This wish will only be attained through collective action from the community itself. But with the still unresolved rift between leaders caused by the entry of economic opportunities, it would take different strategies for resolution. The current conflicting laws and the non-implementation of the laws by responsible agencies also make the problem more complex. Strengthening and equalizing benefits to different barangays within the ancestral domain and PNOC’s observance of corporate social responsibility to the community must be observed.



NB. To know more about historical struggle of the Obo-Manuvus in Mt. Apo and other indigenous peoples' communities in Mindanao, I encourage you to read "Conflicting Laws, Overlapping Claims: The Politics of Indigenous Peoples’ Land Rights in Mindanao" by Ms. Aida Vidal.