Kitab Article V Sections 3 and 4 Planting and Harvesting

Article V. Land and Livelihood

Section 3. Process of Planting Rice
(1) Before planting, look at the stars first as a sign (kufu kulu, kutel, bituen telo, dakel bituen), also the moon.
(2) When planting, pray to Tupu Moungangen to have a plentiful harvest later on.
(3) Tupu Muungangen—blesses the seeds to be planted, no other than our God
(4) Before planting, put stones and pieces of charcoal in the seeds of rice and corn so that pests will not find and eat them.
(5) Uhok—The first to plant should be the youngest daughter and son so that the plant will not grow apart.
(6) Payo—Rice is put into holes in the soil.
(7) Some of the seeds should be left for the persons who helped in the planting. The owner himself should give them the seeds.
(8) Laday (full moon)—So that the harvest will be abundant, planting time is determined from the position of the moon.

Section 4. Harvest Process
(1) Letus/Sumbak—The remaining seeds are mixed with the new harvest and other people may not partake of the food and a chicken has to be butchered.
(2) Before the harvest, there should be an offering to nature. Butcher a chicken, take a little from each part, and then take them to the forest, in gratitude for an abundant harvest.
(3) Before the harvest, burn a duka to produce smoke.
(4) Start the harvest. Call the hired hands.
(5) Before harvesting the crop, build a straw man holding some food to ward off evil spirits that cannot be seen by the naked eye.
(6) After the harvest, store the crop first. Do not thresh it yet. Wait for three months to pass. After three months, thresh the crop, sprinkle some ashes from the hearth so that the next harvest will be plenty.
(7) After threshing, put the grains in a lihub that is made of tree bark. Burn a duka to smoke the container so that the container will be filled up.
(8) Kinentoy—Without removing the skin of the corn, put the corn inside the bamboo and then hang one by one. Do it in the cleared plot of land. Leave the corn to dry, and use the seeds for the next cropping.

(This post is a part of a series on Kitab, the customary law of the Dulangan Manobos. See my introductory post for the list of posts containing all the sections of the law. You may also see the original Filipino version on Scribd.)

Jars 3 and 4 in Silahis Arts and Artifacts

(Update: These jars may be fake. Check out this post for the explanation.)

Kitab Article V Sections 1 and 2 Life and Livelihood

Article V. Land and Livelihood

Section 1. The Need to Live
(1) We live because God gave us life.
(2) We need to live because we have to face many things here on earth.
(3) Let us send the children to school. Let us teach them how to have a good life.
(4) We should be good leaders.
(5) We should lead our tribe toward goodness and living righteously.
(6) Everyone has feelings and dignity.
(7) We have to continue living so that our tribe will not vanish.
(8) Our ancestral domain should be given to us.

Section 2. Livelihood of the People
(1) They practice conservative swidden farming.
(2) They clear a plot of land that is large enough only for their needs.
(3) They plant sweet potatoes, corn, rice, cassava, banana, and various kinds of vegetables.
(4) They move to another plot.
(5) They make tools and traps to catch wild animals and fish.
(6) When the food inside their house runs out, they look for food from the forest (biking, kelot, pange, kanto, fusow, ubod, natek).
(7) They gather honey and other edible things.
(8) They gather nests of swifts and find new ways to earn income.
(9) They mine gold in the territory of the tribe.
(10) After working the clearing, they move to another spot so that the soil can recover. The spot is cleared again only after vegetation has grown in it.

(This post is a part of a series on Kitab, the customary law of the Dulangan Manobos. See my introductory post for the list of posts containing all the sections of the law. You may also see the original Filipino version on Scribd.)

Jars 1 and 2 in Silahis Arts and Artifacts

(Update: These jars may be fake. Check out this post for the explanation.)

Kitab Article IV Sections 2 and 3 Territorial Division and Clans

Article IV. Dulangan Manobo Ancestral Territory

Section 2. Territorial Division
(1) Inged–The whole territory where the Dulangan Manobos live
(2) Dakel Menuwa–Town of the Dulangan Manobos
(3) Segenuwa–Barangay [village] of the Dulangan Manobos
(4) Segemalayan–Sitio [settlement in the outskirts of a barangay] of the Dulangan Manobos
(5) Malayan–Purok [district within a barangay] of the Dulangan Manobos

Section 3. Clan-based territory
(1) Datu Sigut Labangen–First person to live in Legodon, brave, fierce, didn’t want others to pass by his territory, killed strangers he saw for they might laugh at his disproportionate legs
(2) Sulutan Tubak Umpig–The datu of Tubak, has power and respected by people
(3) Datu Tungkilin–The datu of Kulaman in the old times
(4) Sulutan Tagenek–The highest sultan of Kulaman
(5) Sulutan Dod Nayam–The datu of Lebak recognized by the whole tribe
(6) Datu Magon Wasay–The datu of Kalamansig in the old times
(7) Datu Melinoy Sepot–The datu of Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat
(8) Datu Ketonas Kulam–The datu of Lebak, Dultan Kudarat, residing in Tatawan
(9) Datu Boneg–Ketodak, Lebak, Sultan Kudarat
(10) Datu Manampit Bucay–Lenogboyon, Esperanza, Sultan Kudarat
(11) Datu Apang–Melawel, Esperanza, Sultan Kudarat
(12) Datu Sakudal–Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat
(13) Datu Unow–Embali, Esperanza, Sultan Kudarat
(14) Datu Ungka–Kulaman, Sultan Kudarat
(15) Datu Tagaken–Kulaman, Sultan Kudarat
(16) Datu Kawan–Basag, Kulaman, Sultan Kudarat
(17) Datu Fagilidan–Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat
(18) Datu Dakias–Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat
(19) Datu Tuwegen–Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat
(20) Booy Kabaluan–Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat
(21) Datu Gantangan–Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat
(22) Datu Insam–Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat
(23) Datu Ogib–Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat
(24) Datu Kandi–Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat
(25) Datu Kaluba–Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat
(26) Datu Sumadang–Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat
(27) Datu Falaseyow–Lengali, Lebak, Sultan Kudarat
(28) Datu Lebe–Kulaman, Sultan Kudarat
(29) Datu Gugo–Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat
(30) Datu Ampuan Apang–Lebak, Sultan Kudarat
(31) Boi Lebe–Legoden, Esperanza, Sultan Kudarat
(32) Datu Kapitan–Ketodak, Lebak, Sultan Kudarat
(33) Datu Bintoy Mokatil–Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat
(34) Datu Kantala–Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat
(35) Datu Duma–Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat
(36) Datu Deweg–Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat
(37) Datu Kadingilan–Ampatuan, Sultan Kudarat
(38) Datu Manguda–South Upi, Sultan Kudarat
(39) Datu Pipayan–Esperanza, Sultan Kudarat
(40) Datu Galing–Esperanza, Sultan Kudarat
(41) Datu Dayog–Esperanza, Sultan Kudarat
(42) Datu Tagaken–Kulaman, Sultan Kudarat
(43) Datu Malakatin–Kulaman, Sultan Kudarat
(44) Datu Bayang–Lebak, Sultan Kudarat
(45) Datu Deweg–Lebak, Sultan Kudarat
(46) Datu Magayan–Esperanza, Sultan Kudarat
(47) Datu Binansil–Esperanza, Sultan Kudarat
(48) Datu Kasila–Esperanza, Sultan Kudarat
(49) Datu Mayao–Esperanza, Sultan Kudarat
(50) Datu Kawan–Kulaman, Sultan Kudarat
(51) Datu Dalimbang–Kulaman, Sultan Kudarat
(52) Datu Tigis–Esperanza, Sultan Kudarat
(53) Datu Labi–Kulaman, Sultan Kudarat

(This post is a part of a series on Kitab, the customary law of the Dulangan Manobos. See my introductory post for the list of posts containing all the sections of the law. You may also see the original Filipino version on Scribd.)

The Silahis 14

I can’t afford to buy the limestone burial jars that are for sale and then donate them to the province of Sultan Kudarat or any of the municipalities in Kulaman Plateau, so I’ll just keep track of them. Hopefully, they will all find their way back home. Below are the jars that are on display in Silahis Arts and Artifacts, located at 744 Calle Real del Palacio (General Luna), Intramuros, Manila.



1—This quadrangular jar has V-shaped and diamond patterns on the sides. The lid is shaped like a gable, but half of the top part is cut off to give way to a tiny figure of a head. The eyes, nose, and mouth of the figure are excavated.
2—This conical jar is flat at the base and has vertical flutings around the body. The lid is circular and flat at the base, which supports a knob that looks like an inverted drinking glass.
3— This quadrangular jar has V-shaped patterns on the sides. The lid is shaped like a gable. The surface of the jar and the lid is brown probably from being buried in dirt. Some parts are black, as if exposed to smoke.
4—This jar is shaped like a box with uneven and vague vertical flutings. The lid is shaped like a gable and has parallel vertical flutings. The body of the jar looks newer than the lid. It is in fact so white and shiny that I suspect it’s just a few decades old at most.
5—This quadrangular jar has a clean surface and rough in some parts. The lid is smooth, shaped like a pyramid, and has triangular drawings; one corner of it, however, is missing.
6—This boxlike jar is slightly smaller at the base. The sides have diamond designs. The lid is quadrangular and flat with a bas-relief of a carabao head, which is highly unusual, for none of the burial jars that were excavated by anthropologists in 1960s has a carving of an animal in the lid. Some of the anthropomorphic figures look like animals, but they’re obviously meant to be not purely animal. I doubt if this item has really been used as a burial jar. The surface is clean and smooth all over. Modern tools must have been used in carving the stone.
7—This small jar looks like a big vase. It has no lid. The surface is decorated by deep diagonal cuts that look like lines of dashes. Each cut is oblong and tapers on both ends.
8—This boxlike jar is smaller at the base and has a wide mouth. The lid is shaped like a gable topped with a short, wide, and rectangular handle. The surface is brown from dirt and doesn’t have any geometric designs.
9—This quadrangular jar goes wider as it goes higher. The lid is square and flat. The surface doesn’t have any geometric designs. This must be the most minimalist jar I’ve ever seen.
10—This short cylindrical jar has vertical flutings. The lid is shaped like an inverted bowl and has a small figure of a human head on top.
11—This cylindrical jar has wide vertical flutings. The lid has a circular lower half and a gable-shaped upper half.
12—This conical jar is flat at the base and has shallow vertical flutings. The lid is circular, flat, and has flutings from the center to the sides.
13—This quadrangular jar has vertical and arrow-like flutings on the sides. The lid is square, flat, and topped with a short cylinder that has vertical flutings.
14—This quadrangular jar has diamond-shaped carvings all over, including the gable-shaped lid.

(Update: These jars may be fake. Check out this post for the explanation.)

Kitab Article IV Section 1 Ancestral Territory

Article IV. Dulangan Manobo Ancestral Territory

Section 1. Ancestral Territory

The Dulangan Manobos can be found in the provinces of Sultan Kudarat and Maguindanao. In Kulaman, Sulutan Tagenik is the leader. In Legodon, Esperanza, it is Datu Councilor Kebeng. In Tubak, Maguindanao, is Sultan Umpig; in Lebak, Datu Blog; in Kalamansig, Datu Magun Wasay; and in Palimbang, Datu Balaw. This is the territory of the Dulangan Manobos here in Mindanao. They also know the mountains and bodies of water, forests, caves, and distinctive rocks in their territory.

Esperanza starts from Kefela River, Klemuno, Sugod Ulipiken, Sitio Kuhanen, Uges, Kabanalian, Keungas, going up to Blogo, boundary of Isulan and Esperanza going to Ninoy Aquino boundary of Esperanza, Apos Kedaka, Sinuksok, going to Tudok Pinukfutan, Kislanay boundary of Kalamansig, going to Tran River boundary of Lebak and Esperanza, Kislanay Ileb Linikuan Kenogon, ending in Kefela River. [Since I’m not familiar with the specific locations enumerated in this article, I translated the text almost word for word.—Blogger]

Lebak starts from Tugdanay Meedof, passing Dakel Ele, Tusong Uled, going to Lati Lamod, Basak, going to Fufu, Sandyulo, going up to Dakel Kayu, Kislanay boundary of Kalamansig and Lebak.

Kulaman starts from Kislanay Menting, Blegkasi, passing Bong-Bong, Sekuling, Legubang, Klosoy, Langgal, Lambak, boundary of Kulaman and Palimbang, ending in [?] the Panamin the boundary of Kulaman and Bagumbayan.

Palimbang starts from Metok, Balay Kilat, passing the mountains of Getan Ele, going to Getan Bala, passing Getan Pandakan, going to Melegaen Dakel, going up Kogol Kuda, passing Lawat Kumennong, going to Tudok Pig Adalan, going up to Getan Tebako, ending in [?] Tudok Makailas, which is in the boundary of Kalamansig and Kulaman.

The Dulangan Manobo territory in Maguindanao starts from Melumpayang, Tudok Sinaegan Guma, Tudok Medelang boundary of Esperanza (Sultan Kudarat) and Ampatuan (Maguindanao), going to Makalag, Kesam, Tuntungin, Ilang-Illang, going to South Upi, Klemono, Begoy, Sambulawan Kling, Luay Undek, Menetey, Selubaan going to Seput Panigan, Embale, Temulak, Trosud, Lepak Mekin, Keeded, Telektek, Pliris, going to Kued, down Tubak, Ampatuan.

(This post is a part of a series on Kitab, the customary law of the Dulangan Manobos. See my introductory post for the list of posts containing all the sections of the law. You may also see the original Filipino version on Scribd.)