Kitab Article VI Sections 5, 6, 7 Nature, Lemuken, Stars

Article VI. Rights and Responsibilities

Section 5. Principles Observed by the Tribe

(a) About Nature

(1) Nature is a source of health, livelihood and food.
(2) God gave nature to and for everyone.
(3) All people should take care, guard, love, and respect the mountains especially the sacred places.
(4) Without land and forest the tribe has no livelihood.
(5) The forest and land are the source of livelihood of the tribe.

(b) About Land

God gave land to the Dulangan Manobos to be planted to crops so that they will have a source of daily food. The ancestors in the past took care of land by observing traditional practices.

(1) The ancestors bequeathed the land as a source of livelihood.
(2) Land is for the tribe to have a home.
(3) Land is for farming and to be taken care of by everything that has life.
(4) Land should not be sold because it is like your parents, a source of livelihood. Selling land brings bad luck.
(5) God made land for all people to work.
(6) The land is a legacy of our ancestors and for the next generations.
(7) Land bequeathed by ancestors should not be sold.
(8) God made land for the ancestors and for the next generations.
(9) Land is a source of herbal medicine for the sick and a place for recreation of the Dulangan Manobo tribe.

(c) About Crops

In planting there are guidelines that the tribe follows. Stars are one basis when planting can be done to have a good harvest.

During harvest time for rice, this is what the elders in the old times practiced. They give thanks, butcher chickens, call all their relatives, and hold a feast for the bountiful harvest. They call and pray to the owner of the land, owner of the trees, owner of rattan and owner of water. They thank God for the blessings he’s given them.

After harvesting the crop, they move to another place to clear so that the land will be able to replenish.

(d) Forest

(1) It was used by the elders in the past.
(2) It was a source of livelihood, such as water, home to fishes.
(3) It is home to animals, a source of forest food and a source of livelihood.
(4) It is a source of gold.
(5) It gives fresh air and a beautiful view.
(6) It is a source of medicinal plants for the sick.
(7) The various kinds of animals in it give help and livelihood to human beings.
(8) Do not abuse it, for it is vital to everything that has life.
(9) It is a source of medicinal plants for the sick and a place of recreation for the Dulangan Manobo tribe.

Section 6. Lemuken
The lemuken is what the tribe listens to when they go to other places or to the forest. The song of the bird gives signs to people and warns them of bad luck in the place where they are going. The bird’s song may also signify a good harvest.

Section 7. Stars
The tribe observes the position of stars. This is how they know when to start clearing the forest and planting crops. Stars also indicate the coming season, whether sunny or rainy. The tribe uses the moon and stars as a basis in counting the days and months that have passed from planting time to harvest time.

(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.)