‘Manobos Didn’t Make the Jars’

Late last year, I was finally able to read thoroughly the papers written by Marcelino Maceda, the anthropologist from Cebu who conducted the first scientific explorations of the archaeological sites in Kulaman Plateau. Three of the papers were published in Anthropos magazine in 1960s, and the three are currently available online on Jstor.org. I had long found access to the papers—I was quoting them in my posts as early as 2013—but I would only skim them for whatever information I needed. It was only around September last year when I had the leisure to read the whole text, from the introduction to the conclusion, from the title to the footnotes and list of references.

One of the things that I long knew but I have not mentioned in this blog is Maceda’s theory on who really made the limestone burial jars. In a 1967 paper, he states that it could not have been the Dulangan Manobos. Do I hear you gasping in shock now? Maceda says the burial practices of the present-day Dulangan Manobos do not involve secondary burial—in other words, they do not take out from the coffin or dig up their dead and move the bones to a receptacle—so they or their ancestors could not have carved the jars out of limestone. That’s Maceda’s main argument. You may read the paper for the supporting information.

Maceda says he has more reason to believe that the people who made the burial jars were “a part of the Malayo-Polynesian group that passed the Philippines on their way to the other islands of the Pacific.” He anchors his theory on researches made by other anthropologists. Now who am I to argue against men with PhD’s?

As far as I know also, as someone who grew up in Kulaman Plateau, the Dulangan Manobos do not practice secondary burial, but I want to believe that their ancestors did and the practice was just abandoned or forgotten some generations ago. I think this can be proven by a DNA test. If the DNA in the bones found in the burial jars has a high percentage of similarity to the DNA of the Dulangan Manobos living in the area today, then the jar makers might simply be the ancestors of the Dulangan Manobos. In any case, I won’t be surprised or disappointed if it’s proven some way that the jars are indeed a trace of a transient culture, a lost people. The Dulangan Manobos do not care much about the burial jars. In 1950s and 1960s, they were involved in the indiscriminate smuggling of the artifacts out of Kulaman Plateau and into the hands of greedy collectors. The Dulangan Manobos would not have sold the jars in such a scale if the jars had been sacred to them. Who would sell the bones of his ancestors?

I came across a lot of other interesting information in Maceda’s papers, and I’m going to share them with you in the coming weeks. I’ll be writing about the sexual images carved on the burial jars, why the sultan of Kulaman may not have the right to call himself so, and other related topics, if I have enough time and energy to write.

Manobo Bracelets and Anklets

You can tell a sugot (bracelet) from a sigkil (anklet) from their sizes.

The latter is normally bigger.

Sigkils go well with apol (tattoo).

Sugots may be made of nito, a native vine.

The Villages of Senator Ninoy Aquino

How has the composition of Senator Ninoy Aquino changed? I looked at three sources, each one separated from the previous by at least twenty years. My first source is Executive Order No. 211-E, series of 1965, which created the municipality of Kulaman but was later declared null and void. My second source is Republic Act No. 6712, dated February 17, 1989, which created the municipality of Senator Ninoy Aquino. My third source is the 2010 Sultan Kudarat Profile, released by the Provincial Planning Development Office.

The 1965 executive order states that the municipality of Kulaman shall comprise twenty-one barrios and sitios—nine from the municipality of Kalamansig, ten from the municipality of Isulan, and two from the municipality of Palimbang. The nine barrios and sitios from Kalamansig are Kulaman, Naplico, Upper Tran, Banegan, Batasan, Tinalon, Nati, Talding, and Clopeneting. The ten barrios and sitios from Isulan are Kadi, Malegdeg, Cawa, Gonzal, Sakuling, Sowed (Sewod), Basag, Kapayagan, Kapatagan, and Gapok. From Palimbang are Kumilat and Tacojen (now Barangay Baluan).

Compared to the 2010 report, nine of the twenty-one barrios and sitios in 1965 are now barangays of Senator Ninoy Aquino: Kulaman/Poblacion, Tinalon, Nati, Kadi, Malegdeg, Sowed (Sewod), Basag, Kapatagan, and Gapok.

The 1989 republic act states that the municipality of Senator Ninoy Aquino shall comprise eight barangays—seven from the municipality of Kalamansig and one from the municipality of Bagumbayan. The barangays from Kalamansig are Buenaflores, Bugso, Kiadsam, Kadi, Kulaman/Poblacion, Malegdeg, and Sewod. From Bagumbayan is Langgal.

All eight barangays exist to this day. The areas of some of them have been decreased to give way to the creation of twelve additional barangays: Banali, Basag, Buklod, Gapok, Kapatagan, Kuden, Lagubang, Limuhay, Midtungok, Nati, Tacupis, and Tinalon. I have some idea about which barangays the newer ones were formed from, but I won’t reveal any such info here until I’m one hundred percent sure. I have to get my hands first on the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (provincial board) resolutions that created those barangays.

Manobo Belts

Binulan-bulan, a decorative belt for men

This belt, worn by Manobo women on special occasions, is part-ornament part-musical instrument. Each of the tiny brass balls is hollow and contains a tinier ball inside. The bells chime when the wearer of the belt walks and dances.

Brass is expensive for the Manobos, so many of the women make do with belts that are made of beads and have a few brass bells only. The beaded belts, nonetheless, are beautiful on their own.

SNA’s 27th Foundation Anniversary

(I was supposed to post this last week. I was planning to go from my village to the poblacion to witness the fiesta and be online, but due to some problems, including difficulty of transportation, my plan was not pushed through. I’m now in the capital town.—Blogger)

Senator Ninoy Aquino is celebrating its 27th foundation anniversary this month, specifically on February 11 to 17. It is also the municipality’s 15th Sulok Festival and 8th Coffee Festival.

Sulok is a type of basket used by the Dulangan Manobos, the native inhabitants. Based on the calendar of activities, though, there’s nothing much tribal in the seven-day fiesta, except for a half-day event dubbed “Araw ng Katutubo.” There won’t be a tribal-themed street dancing competition, like in many other Philippine fiestas. My town is too poor to have that. But if you like coffee, you’ll be interested in the activity dubbed “Flowing Coffee.” I don’t know what that is exactly, but it sure sounds fun, and it will run for the whole duration of the celebration—“day and night”! It is a very possible thing to happen, considering that SNA is a major producer of coffee not just in the province but in the region, and even in the country, but I’m not so sure if the organizers will be able to keep their promise.

Below is the complete calendar of activities. Some of the items seem out of place or will interest the locals only, such as distribution of livelihood kits, but there are quite a few that tourists might find attractive, such as motocross (watch out specifically for the skylabs or public utility motorcycles), trade fair, pageant for local beauties, and the previously mentioned Manobo gathering.

February 11–17 Flowing Coffee (Municipal Site)
February 11–17 Trade Fair (Municipal Site)

February 11, Thursday
8:00 AM—Ecumenical Service (Municipal Gymnasium)
1:00 PM—Basketball Game (Barangay Gymnasium, Poblacion)
1:00 PM—Launching of Anti-smoking Ordinance (MG)
6:00 PM—Youth Night, Open Disco (MG)

February 12, Friday
8:00 AM—Parade, Opening Program (MG)
1:00 PM—Basketball Game (BG)
1:00 PM—Drum Corps Competition (MG)
6:00 PM—Gays’ Night, Open Disco (MG)

February 13, Saturday
8:00 AM–5:00 PM—Medical Mission, Cervical Cancer Screening (Municipal Health Office)
8:00 AM—KD [Kiddie?] Festival (MG)
1:00 PM—Araw ng Katutubo (MG)
1:00 PM—Basketball Game (BG)
6:00 PM—Interschool Competitions, Open Disco (MG)

February 14, Sunday
8:00 AM—Senior Citizens’ Day (MG)
1:00 PM—Basketball Game (MG)
6:00 PM—Officials’ Night, Open Disco (MG)

February 15, Monday
8:00 AM–5:00 PM—Araw ng Magsasaka / Agro Fair (Municipal Site)
8:00 AM—Grand Kasalang Bayan (MG)
1:00 PM—Women’s Day (MG)
6:00 PM—Educators’ Night, Open Disco (MG)

February 16, Tuesday
8:00 AM–5:00 PM—Motocross (Kulaman Central Elementary School)
7:00 PM—Search for Mutya ng SNA (MG)

February 17, Wednesday
8:00 AM–5:00 PM—Motocross (Kulaman Central Elementary School)
8:00 AM—Float Parade
9:00 AM—Anniversary Session (Sangguniang Bayan Hall)
1:00 PM—Inter Local Health Zone Meeting (Sangguniang Bayan Hall)
1:00 PM—Distribution of DOLE Pangkabuhayan Starter Kits (MG)
6:00 PM—Basketball Championship Game (MG)
7:00 PM—Disco, Fireworks Display (Municipal Site)

The Villages of Bagumbayan

In 1969, the municipality of Bagumbayan was created by virtue of Republic Act No. 5960. In 2010, the Provincial Planning Development Office released a comprehensive profile of Sultan Kudarat. I wanted to know what happened to the villages of Bagumbayan along the years, so I compared the lists in the two documents.

According to the law that took effect in 1969, Bagumbayan was to comprise thirty-two barrios and sitios taken from the municipality of Isulan. It’s not clear from the law which of the territories were barrios and which were sitios. According to the 2010 report, Bagumbayan comprise nineteen barangays. Note that barrios are called barangays today. Barrios and barangays are essentially the same—basic unit of government in the Philippines. Sitios are settlements that are usually far from the center of the barrio/barangay, but sitios are not independent and are still governed by the barrio/barangay.

Of the thirty-two barrios and sitios of Bagumbayan in 1969, nine became barangays: Bagumbayan/Poblacion, Bai Sirafinang, Biwang, Busok, Kapaya, Kinayao, Masiag, Sipaka/South Sepaka, and Tuka. Four still exist today as sitios, as can be seen in the map of Bagumbayan in the 2010 report: Chrismor, Lawa, Marbel (Marble possibly), and Salatan. Due to lack of resources, I cannot determine what happened to the remaining nineteen places: Damaslot, Dawing, Kambad, Kanakan, Keposo, Kibongkog, Ladasino, Lanao, Languan, Malalas, Malingaon, Malay, Mamison, Mapayag, Muno, Natubak, Payaguntong, Pangolan, and Siop. A few of them, though, especially Keposo and Muno, sound familiar to me; they may be in Kulaman Plateau.

Nine of the current nineteen barangays of Bagumbayan were not included in the 1969 law, so they might have been created after that year: Chua, Daluga, Kabulanan, Kanulay, Monteverde, Sison, Sto. Niño, Sumilil, and Titulok.

Daguma was also not included in the 1969 law and might have become a barangay after 1969, but it is an old place, even older than the municipality of Bagumbayan. It is listed as one of the thirty-seven municipal districts of Cotabato Province in Act No. 2711 of the Philippine Commission, dated March 10, 1917. The municipal district of Daguma was later annexed to the municipality of Dulawan when the municipality was created by virtue of Executive Order No. 66, dated November 25, 1936. The municipal district of Daguma was abolished somehow, and its seat of government, Barrio Daguma, was included in the municipality of Isulan when the municipality was created by virtue of Executive Order No. 266, dated August 30, 1957. Perhaps in 1969, when Bagumbayan was created, Daguma remained with Isulan, and for some reason, it joined or was made to join Bagumbayan later. I wish to know more what happened, but Daguma is in the plains, at the foot of Daguma Range, which borders Kulaman Plateau. The barangay is beyond the scope of this blog.

Going back to the map of Bagumbayan, I’m glad that sitios are included in it. I can point for you where exactly I spent the 2014 Holy Week, the subject of a series of posts that I wrote months ago. The Toro-toro, my favorite peak, is somewhere between the sitios of Sinaban and Mining Area. Sitio Miasong, where the cousin whom I visited lives, is somewhere between Sinigawan and Liquicon. Bagumbayan has a really big area, and its annual income is among the biggest in the province. It’s really possible to create another municipality within it. The new municipality may include the barangays and sitios in the Kulaman Plateau area, with Barangay Masiag as the seat of government. That way, the mountainous area can be governed better. The way things are, it seems to me that development is just focused on the plains, the Allah Valley area.

Manobo Necklaces

The basak (necklace) of Manobos is made normally of beads and tiny brass bells and sometimes of animal teeth. 

Another sample of a basak worn by Manobo women. Men rarely wear necklaces, and when they do, theirs are usually much simpler.

Not all basaks are large and flashy. I bought these simple ones for some friends.

The Villages of Kalamansig

In 1961, the municipality of Kalamansig was created by virtue of Executive Order No. 459. In 2010, the Provincial Planning Development Office released a comprehensive profile of Sultan Kudarat. I wanted to know what happened to the villages of Kalamansig along the years, so I compared the lists in the two documents.

According to the executive order issued in 1961, Kalamansig was to comprise twenty-eight barrios and sitios, twenty from the municipality of Lebak and eight from the municipality of Palimbang. It’s not clear from the law which of the territories were barrios and which were sitios. According to the 2010 report, Palimbang comprise fifteen barangays today. Note that barrios are called barangays today. Barrios and barangays are essentially the same—basic unit of government in the Philippines. Sitios are settlements that are usually far from the center of the barrio/barangay, but sitios are not independent and are still governed by the barrio/barangay.

The twenty barrios and sitios of Kalamansig that were taken from Lebak were Kalamansig, Lun, Pitas, Dansalang, Pigtitiguinas, Madu, Port Lebak, Linek, Santa Clara Village, Sibayor, Nalilidan, Bosawan, Calubcub, Camp III, Posal, Limbato, Limutan, Simsiman, Cadiz, and Tipudus. The eight barrios and sitios from Palimbang were Sangay, Mat, Danawan, Pasil, Babancao, Basiawang, Narra, and North Kulaman.

The fifteen barangays of Kalamansig today are Cadiz, Datu Ito Andong, Datu Wasay, Dumangas Nuevo, Hinalaan, Limulan, Nalilidan, Obial, Pag-asa, Paril, Poblacion, Sabanal, Sangay, Santa Clara, and Santa Maria.

Of the original villages in 1961, five survived until 2010: Poblacion/Kalamansig, Cadiz, Limulan (Limutan in the 1961 law), Nalilidan, and Sangay. It’s possible that the Pasil in the 1961 law and the Paril in the 2010 report are the same place, but in the absence of evidence to the contrary, I’m considering them as two separate places.

What happened to the twenty-three other barrios and sitios of Kalamansig? They must have been renamed, annexed to Senator Ninoy Aquino when the municipality was created in 1989, or annexed to the ten barangays of Kalamansig that were created after 1961: Datu Ito Andong, Datu Wasay, Dumangas Nuevo, Hinalaan, Obial, Pag-asa, Paril, Sabanal, Santa Clara, and Santa Maria. North Kulaman, annexed from Palimbang to Kalamansig in 1959, was probably the Kulaman that was annexed from Kalamansig to Senator Ninoy Aquino in 1989.

Manobo Earrings

Tunggal (large hoop earring) is one of the distinctive ornaments of Manobo women. The earring is worn in a series, the smallest hanging from the top of the ear and the biggest hanging from the earlobe. Manobo men used to wear tunggals too, but they stopped due to the influence of Christian migrants from Luzon and Visayas.

Suffering for the sake of beauty. Tunggals have caused the ears of this Manobo woman to swell and be deformed.

Simple mechanism. The brass loop is inserted through the hole in the ear. The two ends of the loop are then joined inside a bead.

The Villages of Palimbang

In 1959, the municipality of Palimbang was created by virtue of Executive Order No. 350. In 2010, the Provincial Planning Development Office released a comprehensive profile of Sultan Kudarat. I wanted to know what happened to the villages of Palimbang along the years, so I compared the lists in the two documents.

According to the executive order issued in 1959, Palimbang was to comprise forty-six barrios taken from the municipality of Lebak and the municipality of Kiamba. It should be forty-seven barrios if Ripulon Langali in the list was actually two barrios and a comma was just inadvertently omitted when the law was written. However, due to lack of contrary evidence, let’s consider Ripulon Langali for now as one barrio. According to the 2010 report, Palimbang comprise forty barangays today.

Of the forty-six barrios listed in 1959, twenty-three or exactly half still exist today. As with the rest of the Philippines, the barrios have been turned to barangays. Seventeen of the twenty-three barrios/barangays have exactly the same names in the two documents: the poblacion Palimbang, Kraan, Milbuk, Kolong-Kolong, Baliango, Kanipaan, Wal, Baranayan, Akol, Wasag, Medol, Ligao, Malatunol, Maganao, Kidayan, Namat Masla, and Malisbong. Six of the twenty-three were either misspelled in the executive order or had names that later evolved: Culobi (Colube in present-day documents), Botril (Butril), Napaapon (Napnapon), Barungis (Barongis), Kisec (Kisek), and Kipongot (Kiponget).

I’m sure that the problem with Kiponget and the five other villages above is just typographical. I can’t say the same for five of the forty-six barrios. The following might have been misspelled in the executive order or had names that later evolved: Bulan (Baluan), Tibulos (Tibuhol), Domodol (Domulol), Minos (Mina), and Ripulon Langali (Langali).

Twenty-three plus five equals twenty-eight. We have twenty-eight barrios accounted for now. There were West Badiangan and East Badiangan in 1959, but only Badiangon in 2010. One of the two barrios might have retained the name, and the other one might have been renamed. We have monitored thirty barrios now.

Five of the forty-six barrios became part of Kalamansig when the municipality was created in 1961. The barrios were Sangay, Danawan, Nara, North Kulaman, and Basiawan (Basiawang in the 1961 executive order). We have monitored thirty-five barrios. As to the remaining eleven of the forty-six, I can no longer determine what happened to them based on the 1959 executive order and the 2010 report alone. The eleven are Sinangcangan, Tipulay, South Kulaman, Balinnang, Sandiolo, Namat Paidu, Tuna, Sugko, Palili, North Tran, and South Tran.

Again, twenty-eight barrios/barangays have the same or similar names, and only one barangay, named Badiangon, survived from the two barrios West Badiangan and East Badiangan. This means that, so far, we’ve accounted for twenty-nine of the forty barangays that Palimbang currently has. There are eleven new barangays. They are Bambanen, Batang¬-Baglas, Kabuling, Kalibuhan, Libua, Lupoken, Lumitan, Maguiales, Maguid, Molon, and San Roque.