Bayug-Iligan Ancestral Domain Leaders pay a visit to Talaandig Tribe and learned a standard of their School of Living Tradition

SUNGKO, LANTAPAN, BUKIDNON –The Nine Leaders men and women of Bayug-Iligan Ancestral Domain paid a two day visit over the weekend to the Talaandig Tribe in Barangay Sungko here and learned a standard of their School of Living Tradition that helps strengthen their customary laws. 

Tribal Leaders from Iligan posed with IP leaders in Dalwangan Malay balay City

     Datu Diamla Rolando D. So-ong, a Head Claimant of Bayug-Iligan Ancestral Domain and currently Indigenous People Mandatory Representative to the Sanguniang Panlungsod of Iligan City together with Tito Natividad Fiel, personnel of Mindanao Peace building Institute Foundation Incorporated (MPI) based in Davao and Journalist of the Philippine Daily Inquirer have facilitated the trip.

Fiel is a Project Coordinator for the Higaonon Tribe of MPI’s Resource-Based Conflict and Peace building Training Program that implemented in the six Ancestral Domains, four from the Subanen areas particularly Municipalities of Bayog, Kumalarang and Lakewood for Zamboanga del Sur; Municipality of Sindangan for Zamboanga del Norte and two for the Higaonon Tribe particularly in the City of Iligan for Lanao del Norte and Municipalities of Opol and Manticao for Misamis Oriental.

     Iligan City Lone District Representative to Congress Vicente “Varf” Belmonte has provided financial support in making the trip successful. 

Rep. Vicente "Varf" Belmonte supported the trip

 

     The delegates comprised of Datu Diamla Rolando D. Soong, Datu Ayudante Arturo Cunto, Datu Masericampo Paulino Guicanan, Baylan Trining Sisayan, Bae Dalumangkob Margelene Alivio, Bae Kaamulan Gloria Soong, Emmie Soong, Bregida So-ong, Edina Bitoon Menciano all from the Ancestral Domain of Bayug-Iligan and Tito Natividad Fiel of Mindanao Peace building Institute Foundation Inc.

     Datu Diamla said that the visit has provided them deeper insights in developing their module and curriculum of formal School of Living Tradition will be established in Barangay Rogongon, Iligan City the center of leadership of Bayug-Iligan Ancestral Domain. 

     The trip was expected to last of five days but cut short after successfully met IP Mandatory Representative of Barangay Dalwangan, Malay Balay City in the first day of the trip and obtained a photo copy of their SLT module.

Datu Migketai officiated the ritual welcoming leaders from Iligan City

     In the same date at night it successfully met Datu Migketai Victorino “Vic” Saway together with his wife and shared their thoughts and experiences in reigning their Domain and the constituents that using the three instruments 1.“Agpangan” is the basis of their assertion, 2“Gantangan” a measuring box or scoop that regulates their action as not excessive and the, 3. “Timbangan” a weighing scale that will balance their actions provide a real justice. 

     Iligan City has more than 30,000 hectares of ancestral domain of the Higaonon Tribe that they occupied since time immemorial, the National Commission on Indigenous People the agency tasked by law to promote and protect the rights of indigenous people has validated it.