The Story of Datu Wasay

I learned from a group of Dulangan Manobos that a chieftain named Wasay once lived in a big hut that his family shared with four other families. I'm talking about five separate families, not a man with five wives. Some of the five men in the house had more than one wives.

The house had no divisions inside, and the hearth was at the center. All the families cooked in the hearth. At night, everyone slept around it, with all their feet near the fire to protect themselves from the cold.

Being the head of five families living in one house means that Datu Wasay was wealthier than most datus in his tribe. He must have a huge track of land, for land was the primary source of income of most Dulangan Manobos. In fact, the village where his hut used to be has been named after him. Datu Wasay is currently a barangay of the municipality of Kalamansig.

The story of Datu Wasay, though, has a sad ending. He sold his property to a Christian man and moved to a more remote area. The price of the property? Seven pieces of pimpong (an explosive device used to kill feeding wild pigs) and one manoso (a bundle of dried tobacco leaves).

A Dulangan Manobo Saying

"I've been wet, so I might as well take a bath." I heard this from a Dulangan Manobo man. He has been through a difficult situation, and he has to face a lot more, and he's determined to fight until everything is over. The expression must be unique to the tribe. I haven't heard this in other languages. The closest to this that we Ilonggos have may be "Salomon ko na lang ni" or "I might as well dive into this."

I think the expression reveals so much about the people who use it. First, Dulangan Manobos have a strong sense of justice. When they feel dishonored, whether by their fellow Manobos or by people from other tribes, they seek reparation or even retribution. They can forgive and forget to a certain extent only. Second, they have a negative view of being wet and of taking a bath. As someone who grew up in the same mountains where they live, I can easily understand this attitude. Taking a bath can be such a chore in a cold climate. It can make you sick instead of making you feel refreshed. Being merely wet may also be a problem, especially for people whose only set of clothes are the ones they are wearing, as it had been for many Manobos until recently.