Village people

ALABEL, Sarangani (April 24, 2008) - Blaan women, unmindful of the heat of the sun, witness the 20th foundation anniversary program of their barangay with some guests from the lowlands. (Photo by Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Blaan youth

ALABEL, Sarangani (April 24, 2008) – The Blaan youth entertains guests with their traditional dance during the 20th foundation anniversary program Wednesday, April 23, of barangay Datal Anggas. (Photo by Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Blaan performers

ALABEL, Sarangani (April 24, 2008) – The Dakita dance group performs Wednesday, April 23, during the 20th foundation anniversary program of barangay Datal Anggas, once a village rarely reached by government services and provincial officials due to its difficult terrain and rebel influence. (Photo by Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Village token

ALABEL, Sarangani (April 24, 2008) – Gov. Migs Dominguez and Vice Gov. Steve Chiongbian Solon each receive a token from barangay captain Caris Salimama (center) of Datal Anggas Wednesday, April 23, during their visit and in time for the barangay's 20th foundation anniversary. Also in Photo is Lt. Col. Manuel Sequitin, 66th Infantry Battalion commander. (Photo by Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Vice Gov. Steve

ALABEL, Sarangani (April 24, 2008) - Vice Gov. Steve Chiongbian Solon encourages village residents to plant coffee as he assures them of a ready market. He also promised government's assistance in the fast and efficient delivery of their products to the market by assigning one all-weather truck in this far-flung village. (Photo by Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Photo ops

ALABEL, Sarangani (April 24, 2008) – Gov. Migs Dominguez and Vice Gov. Steve Chiongbian Solon are flanked by military and civilian officials with village people Wednesday, April 23, in a photo opportunity at barangay Datal Anggas, the capital town's most remote village. (Photo by Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Cave yields breast-shaped potsherd

MAITUM, Sarangani (April 18, 2008) – Archaeologists digging test pits inside a newly-discovered cave have found potsherds shaped like a woman's breast and a portion of an elbow, similar to anthropomorphic artifacts found in nearby Ayob Cave in 1991 which were carbon-dated to nearly 2000 years ago.

The five-person team from the National Museum also recovered Wednesday (April 16) human and animal bones at the cave in sitio Sagel accidentally uncovered by quarry workers on April 5.

The team has taken soil samples to further study its alkalinity that could have affected the disintegration of the bones.

"We are digging two test pits, about 78 cm. and 20 cm. deep, but the flooring could still be two meters below," team leader Nida Cuevas said.

"What is there is an academic, cultural, scientific evidence at 'yung mga belief systems kung papaano ni-remember ang mga patay noong una."

Cuevas conducted an archaeological study on the gender signified by the artifacts of anthropomorphic secondary burial jars found in Ayob Cave. These jars are now exhibited at the National Museum.

Some significant features and identifications Cuevas found in the jars are the heads, breasts, teeth, and genitals.

Using ethnographic analogy of the natives in the Philippines and in other Southeast Asian countries, these features determine the gender of the person shaped in the burial jars, Cuevas said.

"Kayo lang dito sa Maitum ang meron magandang ganitong collection," said National Museum researcher Alexandra de Leon.

"Religious beliefs and tradition. These are the aspects which we hope to discover that the evidence on the artifacts can provide," she added.

Ayob Cave is about 600 meters away from the newly-discovered cave and both are found on the same hillside in barangay Pinol. (SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/RGP)

Bones

MAITUM, Sarangani (April 18, 2008) – A human or animal bone taken from a test pit inside Sagel Cave is examined by National Museum researcher Alexandra de Leon during the second day of excavation Thursday, April 17. Two test pits have yielded potsherds similar to man-shaped artifacts found in another cave in barangay Pinol in 1991 which were carbon-dated to nearly 2000 years ago. (Photo by Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Breast

MAITUM, Sarangani (April 18, 2008) – This part of a woman's breast is among the potsherds gathered Wednesday, April 16, from test pits inside Sagel Cave. Also among the potsherds are a portion of an elbow similar to anthropomorphic secondary burial jars found in Ayob Cave in barangay Pinol in 1991 which were carbon-dated to nearly 2000 years ago. (Photo by Elizabeth R. Palma Gil/MAITUM INFORMATION OFFICE)

CAve potsherds

MAITUM, Sarangani (April 18, 2008) - National Museum researcher Alexandra de Leon lays down potsherds and human and animal bones collected Thursday, April 17, from test pits inside Sagel Cave. (Photo by Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Media briefing

MAITUM, Sarangani (April 18, 2008) – Reporters get a crash course on archaeology from National Museum researcher Alexandra de Leon at the Maitum town hall Thursday, April 17. De Leon, who will receive her MA in Archaeology degree from UP on April 27, is part of the five-person National Museum team doing a "preliminary study and assessment" of the newly-discovered cave in sitio Sagel, barangay Pinol. (Photo by Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Datu Damfel Banwe

MALUNGON, Sarangani (March 27, 2008) – Wearing the traditional Blaan attire, boxing hero Manny Pacquiao becomes Datu Damfel Banwe' which means "a man to unite the people from distant places towards peace and prosperity." (Photo by Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Conferment rites

MALUNGON, Sarangani (March 27, 2008) – Blaan tribal elders confer WBC super featherweight champion Manny Pacquiao the rank of datu in Malungon Wednesday, March 26, at the municipal gymnasium. Partly hidden at left is Mayor Reynaldo Constantino. (Photo by Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

IPs confer Pacquiao rank of Datu

MALUNGON, Sarangani (March 27, 2008) – Elders of the indigenous people (IP) conferred world boxing champ Manny Pacquiao the rank of datu (tribal leader) as he returned home Wednesday (March 26) to a rousing welcome ceremony in Malungon where he chairs the municipal tourism council.

Pacquiao's title of Datu Damfel Banwe' means "a man with the power to unite the people from all places towards peace and prosperity".

The WBC super featherweight champion arrived at General Santos City airport in the morning.

Pacquiao was joined by South Cotabato Rep. Darlene Antonino-Custodio and General Santos City Mayor Pedro Acharon, Jr. in a motorcade and press conference.

Shortly after, Malungon municipal officials in a motorcade led Pacquiao to the town where he received a hero's welcome at the jam-packed municipal gym.

"Ipinakita nya ang kahalagahan na walang imposible kapag tayo ay may pangarap at inspirasyon," Governor Migs Dominguez said in a welcome message.

Mayor Reynaldo Constantino said he had scheduled Pacquiao's grand welcome in Malungon even before the boxing champ's latest victory against Mexican Juan Manual Marquez.

Malungon is the only landlocked municipality in Sarangani. On its hinterlands are villages of indigenous peoples such as the Tagakaolos and the Blaans.

The province's School of Living Tradition (SLT) project has made the Blaans and the Tagakaolos preserve their heritage of tribal dress weaving and beads making which is also their source of income.

Pacquiao's conferment as datu is in accordance with the Indigenous People's Rights Act (IPRA) or R.A. 8371, recognizing Pacquiao's respect among the country's IPs.

Late last year, Pacquiao joined Environment Secretary Lito Atienza in a reforestation drive in Sarangani's capital town Alabel to protect a watershed there. (SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Malong

MALAPATAN, Sarangani (March 16, 2008) – Women in Malapatan town keep their traditional arts alive with a malong-weaving project under their Rural Improvement Club. They prepare threads to weave and produce malong like the ones they are wearing. (Photo by Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Weaving

MALAPATAN, Sarangani (March 15, 2008) – A Blaan woman starts a weaving process (tabih). A dileh (knife), galana (dye) made up of yellow, green, violet and red, and a wooden stick (los) are used to treat the dried leaves of buli or romblon leaves. The traditional tabih, one of the three vanishing arts of weaving among the indigenous people, has been preserved in Sarangani through the School of Living Tradition project of Governor Migs Dominguez. (Photo by Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Romblon harvest

MALAPATAN, Sarangani (March 15, 2008) – A Blaan woman harvests romblon leaves (buli) in Upper Lasang where a School of Living Tradition for mat weaving was established by the provincial government. Romblon is found on many islands in the Western Pacific and grows in abundance by the seashore. A sustainable resource, the sword shaped leaves are harvested leaving the plant to grow new leaves for future use. Once dried, the leaves are traditionally woven into sleeping mats, market bags and other useful items. (Photo by Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Lamlunay: Nurturing a culture of business and tradition

Russtum G. Pelima

MAITUM, Sarangani (March 14, 2008) – The place was once a battleground deserted by Tboli villagers, their displaced families settling elsewhere in the lowlands driven by armed conflicts in the 70s.

But barangay Upo has not withered hope.

After a long time, the Tbolis decided to resettle, protect their forest, save their future and tradition, built their own business.

What they're sowing for nature has been bringing good fortune to barangay Upo's doorsteps.

The Lamlunay Research and Learning Center (LRLC) built at the foot of a forest gained recognition as one of the 19 finalists at the national Gawad Galing Pook last year.

In March 11, a team from United Nations World Food Program (WFP) conducted a project visit in Lamlunay for the Ylang-ylang and banana food-for-work program.

The Upo Valley Multi-purpose Cooperative (UVAMULCO) takes care of the community farmers' businesses. Started to operate in 2000 and now with 300 farmer members, UVAMULCO buys abaca, banana, coffee and corn from the farmers. It has enabled them easy market. This small barangay can produce 30 tons of bananas in a week.

LRLC now nurses 15,000 hills of rubber trees for free distribution to the farmers.

The center sits on land donated by the Kusin family to the barangay. It intends to showcase how its 97-hectare forest must be protected through reforestation.

Lamlunay is a coined Tboli term which means paradise-lam (into) and lunay (a tree), thus, "into the forest."

Among the indigenous peoples like the Tbolis, forest is a paradise, with all its natural beauty, serenity, and bounty.

At the heart of Lamlunay's mountain is a waterfalls. Basilio Kusin recounted to me how it got its name.

Once, a Tboli named Lumabag lived here. Being alone, he fed from fruit trees and hunting wild animals in the forest. Trying to catch a frog one day, Lumabag fell into the wild water and died there. From then on, the people called the waterfalls Ficong Lumabag (Lumabag Falls).

Just before lunch, young Tboli girls in colorful tribal dress performed a Tboli traditional dance.

Basilio and I seated under the canopies so he could continue telling me his stories-the origin of a nearby brook called Banlagil, and how the lunay tree in the midst of the forest has provided light to the village people-while playing the duwagay, a Tboli violin.

"You know," he whispered as he noticed my attention was caught by his instrument. "A Tboli plays the duwagay to court a girl. Soon, the girl would come out and flee from her mother's house to look where the tune comes from." (SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/RGP)

UN official lauds Sarangani town's food program

MAITUM, Sarangani (March 13, 2008) – United Nations World Food Program (WFP) Country Director Guarnieri Valerie has commended the local government and community joint efforts in the implementation of food-for-work program.

During the site visit and validation at the Lamlunay Research and Learning Center (LRLC) in barangay Upo Tuesday (Mar. 11), Valerie said the community models Mindanao in its Food for Education, Food for Work, Food for Hope and Food for Peace.

"It sounds that in here you embrace many of these principles," Valerie said.

"One of the reasons why we wanted to see your area is because the sort of the things you were doing in Sarangani and here in this municipality is exactly the sort of things that the World Food Program is trying to support in Mindanao."

Upo was driven by conflict between government and secessionist rebels in the 70s.

LRLC opened with an 11-hectare land donated by a Tboli family to the barangay and started to operate in 2000 with the local government beginning to conduct inter-agency trainings and seminars.

The center runs on a tripartite management of the municipal and provincial government, the barangay, and the community and serves to protect its 97-hectare forested area.

Lamlunay is a native coinage of lam (into) and lunay (tree), thus "into the forest." Lamlunay connotes a paradise among the Tbolis.

The center now nurses 15,000 rubber seedlings to be distributed to community farmers for free.

In return, Upo Valley Multi-purpose Cooperative (UVAMULCO) buys farmers' products in the area such as abaca, coffee and banana.

UVAMULCO has 300 coop members who farm their own lands. Among the barangay's eight sitios, Antam produces the biggest, with eight tons of banana per week.

Valerie lauds in particular the participation of women in the implementation of the Ylang-ylang and banana projects, and the barangay community in maintaining peace and order.

LRLC was one of the 19 national finalists for the Gawad Galing Pook 2007.

"This is our perfect example of a cultural minority that is able to succeed not because of government, but really because the community bonded together and decided that they wanted to move on forward," Governor Migs Dominguez said.

The UN team also visited the Gawad Kalinga eco-village in barangay Mabay in Maitum; the skills training and weaving project of rebel returnees in Sitio Ihan, Barangay Datal Anggas in Alabel; and the School of Living Tradition in Lamlifew, Malungon. (SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/RGP)

Mango

MAITUM, Sarangani (March 14, 2008) – A caretaker inspects mango seedlings at the Lamlunay Research and Learning Center (LRLC) in barangay Upo, a finalist in the recent Gawad Galing Pook national awards on outstanding local governance programs. LRLC in Maitum is a 108-hectare facility that maintains nurseries of fruit trees and other crops and distributes seedlings to barangays. LRLC demo farms use sloping agricultural land technology. Diversified farming systems are also maintained in the center. Through LRLC, a brainchild of the late Mayor George Yabes, the average family income in barangay Upo has continuously increased. (Photo by Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Tboli violin

MAITUM, Sarangani (March 12, 2008) – Basilio Kusin plays a Duwagay, a Tboli violin made of lunay tree and a copper coil used as string. A Tboli male plays the Duwagay in courtship. (Photo by SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/CAS)

UN World Food Program

MAITUM, Sarangani (March 12, 2008) – Governor Migs Dominguez welcomes residents and guests from the United Nations World Food Program led by Country Director Guarnieri Valerie (2nd from right) on Tuesday (Mar. 11) at Lamlunay Research and Learning Center, a finalist in the recent Gawad Galing Pook national awards. It is one of Sarangani's outstanding local governance programs on farm learning that helped increase the average family income in the barangay. (Photo by SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/CAS)

Door-to-door consultation

ALABEL, Sarangani (March 5, 2008) – Blaan women hold an impromptu "door-to-door" consultation with Governor Migs Dominguez through a window in purok Ihan, barangay Datal Anggas, a former rebel stronghold where government presence was rarely felt before. The village is 47 kilometers north of the municipal center and can be reached by going through a muddy and treacherous terrain. (Photo by SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/CAS)

Officials listen to villagers' gripes

ALABEL, Sarangani (March 5, 2008) – Local government officials have sought community cooperation and support for stable peace and order condition in the hinterlands following recent surrender of rebels to the government.

Governor Migs Dominguez, who led municipal officials to Purok Ihan in barangay Datal Anggas Tuesday (Mar. 4), gave the opportunity for villagers to air their sentiments and get government attention to improve their living.

"Kailangan naming ang inyong suporta at kooperasyon," the governor told residents in Datal Anggas, some 47 kilometers north of the poblacion.

Dominguez asked them to list down the basic services needed by the barangay for the local government to look into.

The municipal government has built a water system sourced from a spring that benefits 80 households in the village belonging to the Blaan tribe.

A nursery for 10,000 rubber trees was constructed late last year to be planted in Datal Anggas and its adjacent barangays.

In August, a score of bandits and 16 members of the New People's Army (NPA) laid down their arms to government and started farming for corn.

"Salamat sa tulong ng gobyerno sa amin," Roger Tartisan said.

Tartisan, 20, and his former co-combatant, Layde Malinaw, 31, now produce corn and bring their crops to the market through a habal-habal (passenger motorcycle).

Lt. Col. Manuel Sequitin, 66th Infantry Battalion commander, has placed a Division Recon Company in Ihan to ensure the security of the villagers.

A livelihood training on basket weaving for former rebels and women has been conducted by Globe Telecom and ABS-CBN Bayan Foundation's BridgeCom sa Bayan in partnership with the provincial government of Sarangani and the Alcantara Foundation.

Purok Chairman Victor Moda said the completion of a six-kilometer Ihan-Kalbangan road through the food-for-work program would enable children to go to a primary school two kilometers away from the purok center. (SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/RGP)

Sarangani celebrates National Arts Month (NAM)

By Gandhi C. Kinjiyo

ALABEL, Sarangani (February 27, 2008) - Dressed in colorful tribal costumes, Sarangans (people of Sarangani) from the seven municipalities of the province gathered at the provincial capital Tuesday (Feb. 26) to showcase their different culture, arts and tradition in celebration of the National Arts Month.

Participants from the towns of Glan, Malapatan, Alabel, Malungon, Maasim, Kiamba and Maitum displayed the traditional costumes and dances of Lumads (Indigenous People) and different Moro tribes.

Tribal dances and plays performed by youth participants depicted the way of life, rituals, practices and beliefs of the original inhabitants of the province.

"The gathering entitled 'Ani ng Sining ng Sarangani' provides a venue for the young Sarangans to learn about culture of the people here and appreciate arts as well," said Maribeth Farnazo, program manager of the Indigenous People Development Program (IPDP).

The IPDP, which spearheaded the program, is under the office of Governor Migs Dominguez whose main thrust is the preservation of culture and the arts of the different Lumads of the province.

The IPDP also facilitates the creation of School of Living Tradition (SLT) of the different tribes of the province geared to educate the young IPs in weaving mat, traditional clothes, beads making, making ethnic accessories made of brass as well as performing traditional dances and songs. The cultural experts in the province are tapped as mentors and facilitators in the SLTs.

Majority of the IPs living in Sarangani include Tagakaolo, Blaan,Manobo, Ubo and Tboli with few Klagans. Moro tribes are dominated by Maguindanaon, Samal, and Sangirs. Some Tausugs and Badjaos are found in few coastal barangays.

Farnazo said the affair is in line with the celebration of the National Arts Month and Philippine Arts Festival every February.

Provincial Administrator Fredo Basino and Board Member Arturo Lawa, both belonging to the Blaan tribe, graced the occasion.

Basino lauded the affair as "it opens the door for us to understand who we are." He added that with the event which "reflects and depicts" the culture of Sarangani, "we shall not lose our cultural identity."

Carlos Silva, coordinator of the Philippine Arts Festival from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts was the guest speaker.

Silva related the message of Vilma L. Labrador, acting chairperson of the NCCA which states: "We are certain that 'education through the arts' can empower the Filipinos to create a culture of peace, harmony and understanding towards progress and sustainable development." He said the NCCA is grateful for all the partners in promoting culture and the arts all over the country.The 'Ani ng Sining ng Sarangani' was supported by the NCCA.

Sarangani province has institutionalized a "Provincial Council for Culture and Arts," as a body that plans and prepares policy for the development of the culture and arts of Sarangani. (GCK/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Arts Festival

ALABEL, Sarangani (February 26, 2008) - Tboli performers from Kiamba town during the "Ani ng Sining ng Sarangani" celebration of the National Arts Month and Philippine Arts Festival Tuesday (Feb. 26) at Alabel Gymnasium, an event sponsored by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, the provincial government Indigenous Peoples Development Program and the Lamlifew Tribal Women's Association. (Photo by SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/CAS)

Tboli dance

ALABEL, Sarangani (February 26, 2008) – A Tboli couple from Maitum town performs a number during the "Ani ng Sining ng Sarangani" in celebration of National Arts Month and Philippine Arts Festival Tuesday (Feb. 26) at Alabel Gymnasium. (Photo by SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/CAS)

Production number

ALABEL, Sarangani (February 26, 2008) – A dance group of Alabel National High School performs during the "Ani ng Sining ng Sarangani" in celebration of National Arts Month and Philippine Arts Festival Tuesday (Feb. 26) at Alabel Gymnasium. (Photo by SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/CAS)

Tribal leader

MALUNGON, Sarangani (February 23, 2008) – Recognized as makabatug (tribal leader), Vice Governor Steve Solon, with wife, Michelle (seated left behind the vice governor) expresses his deep honor to the Tagakaolos at the opening of the tribal training center in Kityan Friday (Feb. 22). Tagakaolo has a population of 14,000 in the hinterlands of Malungon. The provincial government supports the Kityan School of Living Tradition through the province's Indigenous People's Development Program. (Photo by SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/RGP)

Tagakaolo training center

MALUNGON, Sarangani (February 23, 2008) – Vice Governor Steve Solon leads the ribbon cutting and inauguration of a Tagakaolo training center in Kityan Friday (Feb. 22) where women make their traditional tribal dress, baskets and beads. (Photo by SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/RGP)

Flower garden

MALUNGON, Sarangani (February 23, 2008) – A Tagakaolo girl collects yellow petals to shower visitors as they arrive at the Tagakaolo training center – a School of Living Tradition (SLT) - in Kityan Friday (Feb. 22). The provincial government runs the SLTs through the Indigenous People's Development Program of Governor Migs Dominguez. (Photo by SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/RGP)

Arrival

MALUNGON, Sarangani (February 23, 2008) – Tagakaolo girls welcome Vice Governor Steve Solon at the Tagakaolo training center – a School of Living Tradition (SLT) - in Kityan village Friday (Feb. 22) where women make their tribal dress, baskets and beads. Tagakaolo has a population of 14,000 in the hinterlands of Malungon. The provincial government supports its SLTs through the province's Indigenous People's Development Program. (Photo by SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/RGP)

Two Sarangani finalists in Gawad Galing Pook

ALABEL, Sarangani (February 18, 2008) – Sarangani's outstanding local governance programs on farm learning and indigenous people are finalists in the Galing Pook Awards.

Awarding ceremonies are scheduled in Malacañang on February 28 with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

One of the finalists is Lamlunay Research and Learning Center (LRLC) of Maitum, a 108-hectare facility that maintains nurseries of fruit trees and other crops and distributes seedlings to barangays.

LRLC demo farms use sloping agricultural land technology. Diversified farming systems are also maintained in the center. Through LRLC, a brainchild of the late Mayor George Yabes, the average family income in barangay Upo has continuously increased from P4,000 in 2004 to P7,000 in 2005, and to P10,000 in 2006.

The other finalist is Gov. Migs Dominguez' Indigenous Peoples Development Program (IPDP). The program worked for the acquisition of IP tenurial instruments in ancestral domains, restoration of the cultural heritage and identity of Sarangani IPs.

The program increased participation of IPs in development, and the provision of socio-economic and environmental services in IP communities.

LRLC and IPDP were picked as among the 19 finalists that were evaluated last year.
It is the municipality of Maitum's third straight year in the Gawad Galing Pook.

In 2005, the municipality of Maitum received from Galing Pook the Special Citation on Child Rights Responsive Local Governance. The citation, given in partnership with the United Nations Children's Fund, is awarded to local government units (LGUs) demonstrating exemplary initiatives that respond to child rights concerns.

In 2006, Galing Pook conferred Maitum, together with nine other LGUs nationwide, the Special Citation on Local Capacity Innovations for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The winning LGUs were selected from previous recipients of the Gawad Galing Pook that demonstrated positive innovative approaches towards achieving any of the eight MDGs.

The Gantimpalang Panglingkod Pook or Gawad Galing Pook was launched in October 21, 1993 as the pioneering awards program on innovation and excellence in local governance.

It was a joint initiative of the Department of Interior and Local Government through its Local Government Academy, the Ford Foundation, and other individual local governance advocates from the academe, civil society, and government.

The winners of the Gawad Galing Pook are chosen every year from a national search of local governance programs sifted through a multi-level rigorous screening process based on the criteria of positive socio-economic and environmental impact, promotion of people's empowerment, transferability and sustainability, efficiency of program service delivery, and creative use of powers provided by the Local Government Code and other decentralization and local autonomy policies. (SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Note: Details about the Galing Pook Foundation Gawa Galing 2007 Awardees at http://www.galingpook.org/2007finalists.htm

Tboli Artist

KIAMBA, Sarangani (February 10, 2008) - Ronald Tamfalan, 31, presents his 5'x6' painting entitled "Panibagong Buhay" on exhibit at the lobby of Kiamba town hall. Tamfalan, a Tboli artist born and raised in sitio Falel, barangay Tamadang in Kiamba was visiting his hometown for a visual arts exhibition Sunday, February 10. Other paintings of Tamfalan are at the Metropolitan Museum. (Photo by SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/CAS)

Blaan Christmas

A Christmas celebration with the Blaan ladies (Herminia Lacna, Helen Lumbos, Rose Bantilan, Maribeth Farnazo) from Sarangani Province hosted by Ms. Marlene Po. Also in the photo are Ms. Marian Roces, Selene and Bruno.

Tboli Dance

KIAMBA, Sarangani (December 12, 2007) – A T'boli lass performs during the light-a-tree program at municipal kiosk Tuesday evening, December 11. (Photo by SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/CAS)

Sarangani Village Museum

MANILA (December 12, 2007) – Herminia Lacna and Rose Bantilan show upland rice packaged in indigenous materials including the tools used in milling rice the traditional way at the launch December 3 of the first village museum in the Philippines at the National Museum in Manila. The museum to be established in Lamlifew village in Malungon, Sarangani will provide information and growing specimen of the dozens of varieties of upland rice that the B'laan have managed to nurture. (Photo by SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE courtesy of Marlene Po)

NOTES ON THE EXHIBITION

Launch at the National Museum of the Philippines, 03 December 2007
Lamlifew Village Museum
Malungon, Sarangani
NOTES ON THE EXHIBITION*

This modest exhibition at the 4th floor of the Museum of the Filipino People, Manila, was curated to serve as an announcement that the Philippines’ first village museum, created by its residents, begins its institutional life.

The Lamlifew Village Museum is located in a hilly sitio of the town of Malungon, Province of Sarangani. At the moment, it is an empty thatch and bamboo structure larger than the huts of the residents, a closely-related B’laan-speaking community. The first materials developed for the interior of the museum are the photographs and initial texts exhibited during tonight’s launch. These materials will be shipped to Lamlifew after a few days at the National Museum.

At Lamlifew, the photographs will be serving two bridging functions. Firstly, between the residents and visitors, these images will represent portals into B’laan life (traditional, transitional, and altered), particularly in relation to geographic and social areas that visitors will not be able to access readily. Secondly, between and among the B’laan residents themselves in Lamlifew, especially across the generations, the photographs will be the foci of discussions, narrations, perhaps singing—with the intended outcome of compiling data, from within the community, at their own pace, usually without the presence of visitors, out of which they can craft which stories they wish to tell about themselves.

With this system, the tasks of data-gathering, interpretation, editing,
and conveying information, will primarily be in the hands of the residents of Lamlifew. It is expected that they, in turn, will also develop a strong sense of trusteeship over the narratives of other B’laan in the more interior areas of Sarangani, on one hand, and on the other hand, a dynamic relation with parties coming from outside their cultural world.

The exhibition tonight at the National Museum will differ in a substantial way from what will be seen in the thatch and bamboo museum in Lamlifew. Tonight, there is on exhibit superb early 20th century examples of B’laan ikat dyeing, beadwork and mother-of-pearl work. These are on loan for a few days from private collectors. There are only a handful of such examples held by the B’laan themselves at present. Indeed, there are very few examples left in the Philippines, as these materials are dispersed in private and state collections all over the world. Many B’laan have not seen these materials. The monetary values of these antiques are at quantum distance from B’laan reality. It is important to note that the younger B’laan of Lamlifew itself have not seen these materials.

Thus, a major part of the work of the Lamlifew Village Museum is to attempt to gain access to photographic images of old B’laan artwork (dyeing and beadwork in particular), to try to relearn the processes and aesthetic-spiritual content that create these materials, and to try to harmonize this re-learning process with the demands of a changing world.

Having acknowledged their amputation from their own artistic traditions, the Lamlifew Tribal Women’s Association chose to focus on the still-intact rice planting traditions as the museum theme. During the coming years of re-learning material culture skills — and they know this will take a long time — they have decided to promote upland rice agriculture.

Their hope is that the transitional process they will be undergoing can be managed in
ways that allow them the dignity of a continuing link with their own sources of genius.

*Information courtesy of Ms. Marlene Po, co-organizer of the event.

Some photos taken during the launching of the first Village Museum of the Philippines courtesy of Ms. Marlene Po, co-organizer of the event.

More photos at this link:

http://operaiostanco.multiply.com/photos/album/41/BLAAN_TRIBE

Blaan ladies

MALUNGON, Sarangani (December 5, 2007) – B'laan ladies spend leisure time together in the village of Lamlifew where the first village museum in the Philippines is being established. This museum will provide information and growing specimens of the dozens of varieties of upland rice that the B'laan have managed to nurture. The village museum was launched Monday, December 3, at the National Museum of the Philippines, Manila. (Photo by SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/CAS)

5-7 photos of MunaTo Festival Champion

ALABEL, Sarangani (November 29, 2007) – Dancers of Glan School of Arts & Trades perform Wednesday, November 28, at the Sarangani capitol grounds to emerge as the 5th MunaTo Festival's champion in the street-dancing competition with a cash prize of P75,000. The winning group from Glan town used multihued coco-inspired gears to showcase the abundance of coconut in the municipality. (Photo by SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/Cocoy Sexcion)

1-4 photos of MunaTo Festival Champion

ALABEL, Sarangani (November 29, 2007) – Dancers of Glan School of Arts & Trades perform Wednesday, November 28, at the Sarangani capitol grounds to emerge as the 5th MunaTo Festival's champion in the street-dancing competition with a cash prize of P75,000. The winning group from Glan town used multihued coco-inspired gears to showcase the abundance of coconut in the municipality. (Photo by SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/Cocoy Sexcion)

6 MunaTo Festival

ALABEL, Sarangani (November 29, 2007) - An entire family of five crowds a small motorcycle so they could watch the street dancing competition at the Sarangani capitol grounds. The province is celebrating the 5th MunaTo Festival which coincides with the 15th Foundation Anniversary Wednesday, November 28, of Sarangani Province. (Photo for SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE courtesy of Bobby Timonera of MindaNews)

5 MunaTo Festival

ALABEL, Sarangani (November 29, 2007) – Mothers do last minute touchup before the street dancing competition during the province's 5th MunaTo Festival which coincides with the 15th Foundation Anniversary Wednesday, November 28, of Sarangani province. (Photo for SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE courtesy of Bobby Timonera of MindaNews)

4 MunaTo Festival

ALABEL, Sarangani (November 29, 2007) – Street dancers compete for the annual street dancing competition during the province's 5th MunaTo Festival which coincides with the 15th Foundation Anniversary Wednesday, November 28, of Sarangani province. (Photo for SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE courtesy of Bobby Timonera of MindaNews)

3 MunaTo Festival

ALABEL, Sarangani (November 29, 2007) – Street dancers compete for the annual street dancing competition during the province's 5th MunaTo Festival which coincides with the 15th Foundation Anniversary Wednesday, November 28, of Sarangani province. (Photo for SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE courtesy of Bobby Timonera of MindaNews)

2 MunaTo Festival

ALABEL, Sarangani (November 29, 2007) – A street dancing participant acting the role of a pest escapes the wrath of farmers as Sarangani province celebrates Wednesday, November 28, the 5th MunaTo Festival dance competition which coincides with its 15th Foundation Anniversary. (Photo for SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE courtesy of Bobby Timonera of MindaNews)

1 MunaTo Festival

ALABEL, Sarangani (November 29, 2007) – Street dancers compete for the annual street dancing competition during the province's 5th MunaTo Festival which coincides with the 15th Foundation Anniversary Wednesday, November 28, of Sarangani province. (Photo for SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE courtesy of Bobby Timonera of MindaNews)

Tribal kids

ALABEL, Sarangani (November 26, 2007) – Kids in colorful B'laan dress welcome Governor Migs Dominguez at the tribal village set up at the Capitol Park for the duration of MunaTo Festival from November 23 to 28. (Photo by SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/CAS)