Reading 11.5.

Source: Adjudged Best Paper during the FIRST INTERNATIONAL ,

SCIENTIFIC CONVENTION of.the Philippi'ne Society, for the Study
of Nature (PSSN)
"Community participation and biodiversity education to sus(aln
nature"held at Palawan State UniversityPuerto Princesa City, 2-4
. May 2007
TINDUPi, P'RAS, SAMALUNA:
THE SUBANUN SEASONS AND COMMUNITY SURVIVAL SJRATEGIES FOR
. BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION .
[,. C. Sevidal Castro, Uwayway S. Viloria,
Johanna E. Hanasan, and Reymund T. Bago
Paper Presenter: L. C. Sevidal Castro, Pli. D .
. Professor _ _ . . _
Mindanao State University-lligar:i Institute of Tectmology
lligan City
Introduction
The Subanun in .the Mt. Malindang Natural Park are keen observers seasonal variations.
Their -identific13tion with the seasons is a product oflong years of relating with nature. The
Subanun seasonal calendar illustrates 'the types of seasons which a specific ar.ea
experiences over a period of time. The variations in seasons dictate the kind of activities
that members of the community execute in the process of interacting with the ecosystem.
The Subanun had nurtured their intricate coexistence With 'the biophysical environment
which, on one hand, provides the resources vital for their on the other, limits
their activities. Nurturing this coexistence has been marked by laboriousness of work,
occurrence of poor harvests, lack of social services, and conditions of poor health. Their
belief system, closely tied to their concept of nature, provides a sense of security in facing
the and uncertaintie_s of living and in o.vercoming the d_ifficulties therein.
T_he present report briefly tackles their seasonal calendar, "an important aspect of the
indi enous knowledges stems (IK$) and Subanun cultural system and institutio s
that put order to the relationship between the communi y an the biophysical environment.
paper are erive from es u y comp 21)05 for the P 1lippines-
Netherlands Biodiversity Research Program for Development in Mindanao: Foc4s on fv1t.
Malindang and its Immediate Environs _(BRP). Said study had been guided by a.conceptual
framework illustrated in the schematic diagram in Figure No. 1.]
A brief literature review
The literature in the Philippiri.es and elsewhere on indigenous knowledge systems and on
' the components thereof is not scant. A good number describe the importance of indigen0us
knowledge for natural resource management ahd sustainable development. There are
materials which examine, firstly, a number of perspectives of studies on indigenous
knowledge systems, resource use and sljstainable development, on traditional
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ge11der and coriser-Vatiop-rifbiologicaf anckultura{ diversity. 'A few others are studies on
ownership, use :;ind . , '
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. On perspectives. . .,
Much of ethnographic literaturereviewed tell uslhat in r:nany traditional territories of
. indigenous peoples there is continuing deterioration of the natural. habitat of these peoples
ariq their culture. Such literature assert that the indigenous peoples have a wealth. of ._ ,
traditional"knowiedge and beiief systemswhose efficaciousness in maintaining biological
and cultural diversity is unquestionable. SeveraJ of these researches assert (hat itis
imperative for government bodies ana Civil society to:r.ec6gnize the essential connection
belween biological .afid _cultut'al diversity. ." : : . , ,
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Fig. No. 1. Schematic diagram of the conceptual framework of the study entitled,
lodigenous-Knowledge Systems and Modern Technology-Based Approaches:
Opportunities for Biodiversity Management and Conservation -in Mt. Malindang andits
- Immediate Ef]virons '
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- - - Contexts- -
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Groups of tr:ibal seek means fo create. relationsh-ips with other institutions-.
including th :academic aiJd religi.Qus amt organizations tt::rat serve-to -
. efforts at maintaining biological c,uftural diver_sity. _
example of-this is the.research project conducted by UNDP, TCDC, TWN (n.d .. ). Two
volumes oOheir publications, Volum,e 3 and Volur.ne :4, discuss positiye experiences that
. _ . have evolved from "the specific social and cultural conditions of certain countries of J he
South.
A ofpapers tackling indigenous knowledge systems, UGAT (1996) articulates how
indigenous peoples continue to struggle'l'0 "redefine themselves, to adapt to changing_
circumstances without the ioss of identities and their sense of place that meaning to
existence"_ (Fqreword). _, ... .. _ ,
Rice-(1996), in . 'The Forest Ecology pf Homo asserts that ,sapiens must
a determined effort to think and integrate use of-resources with the total ecosystem in
: ttre face of threats to the .environment which -overwhelm its ability to reproduce resources ..
While Chambeis, and Tbrupp.(1991}re9ogrilze the. values oJ .local .knowledge and
praCtices, they believe itisaangerous to think \ .. every' item of local .gbout
the environment conceals grains of truth." : They believe it prudent to s_trike a
, -'. baJance betwe.enasserting the values and advantages of indigenous knowledge, as well as, '
-- their limitations ah cf potential. . . ' . . .
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- . Also stressed by Chambers, Pacey ard Thn.ipp' is the importance of legitimiz!n@ loqal
. -knowledge in strengthening and maintaining cultl,iral integrity and the people's sens.e of .
values, as well in .opposing cultural from: outSide.
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. The. authors tinderscore that indigenous 2nd P.ractices have c0-ev61ved
"' ,. ov_ef time (iS 'adaptatiohs to particular environmental, social, l economic, and 'political
pressures. "This also associat_ed with religious ' bali$fs _,
the" plants. and their uses; in this thejr ,religion is partly a way of
... valued resources. _The complex belief sy13tem thu$ reflects the people's relationshipJo. lhe
. ,ecology .... " (qhambers, Thrupp. 199t:33). ,
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- One cas-e study in Ut-IDP, TCEDC, TWN , (n,d.), Volurr,e , 3_ entitled, "Sustainable rice
production by women" cycle in the
CordiHera.cind describes how the rituals -f:orm of .the agricultural cycle: It explains how
_ . ..,.. the indlgenous-socio_-polificj:il system regulates the system, It .describes the
: sustainability of} iceffan:ning despite the harsh environment. ., .
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Ano:ther study in lJNDP. rcEDC', :;.TWN {n.d.), Volume 4, entitled, '.'fqdigenous
. agroforestry practices iri the COrdil!era," declares that religi_ous an'Cl . tra.ditional "'-beliefs,
practiees and ritual!?. have out ofJfle people's relatioriship with . the land an<:l the
forest. ', The article'describes how the different agmfprestry practic.es oHhe indigel'ious
of tbe Cordillera .have lielped sustainfind preserve life iri .the region, .
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Saine references c,;, land ownership, I.and , .
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.- Regpala (1996) demonstrates hpw indigenous peoples make decisions regarding land us$
and. management on basis principles. The_paper describes the 9oncept of
daga . and pertinen,t terms included the concept. referring to physical landform_s, soiL:
and types of vegeitalion livelihood activities associated vyith it . Some
factors-which she identifies as important in determini"ng land use categories are: agripultural
c;;alendar:, -who can gain access type of.claim ana/orownership; basiS,. of claim
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. Objectives
Thjs paper aims to:
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1. identify the seasonal variations in the study sites
2. - describe-how activities undertaken during the seasons are adaptive strategies of the
; comprising thelrdynamic response to the"breadth and limitations provided
by the biophysical ,environment . . , - _
the Subanun, through the seasonal calendar, nurture their intr:icate
coexistence With the biophysical environment as they survive in it
Methodology used
Largely qualitative_ in the study benefits .from a triangulation of informatibn seurces,
as well as, of data-gathering techniques. The main tools were key informant (Kl) interviews
and focus . discussion-(FGD), documentary review, secondary __ data
gathering, a_n_d non-participant observati8.!1
study.sites - ""
Research was done n the f Lake Duminagat, Gandawan, Mansawan
an mall Potongan and i ow a arangays of Peniel and Mamalad T e firs tllree are
site$ tocc;itea in the municipality. of Don Victoriano; Barangay Small Po orrgan is located in
the municipality of ConcepCion; Barangay Pehiel, ir;l the municipality Lopez Jaena; ar:id
Barangay Mamalad, in the municipality qf Cal_amba.
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and/or . ..... method of cultivation and tools used; rjtuaJs and beliefs associated
with types of land use. She asserts that to the Tengyan, daga is alive, life giving-and
spiritual , and is the link to the ancestors.
V. Suminguit (1989). describes how the Subanun in the Zamboanga Peninsula, with their
own cultural patterns of land use,. had lived in harmony with nature and. the supernatural
world.: This harmony had been disrupted by alteration of their social, spiritual, and .
physical environments, not dissimilar with Burton's contentions the Talaandig (2002).
Certain materials illustrate- land and land use, as well as, land and culture, on top of
describing efforts made to document ancestral domain claims of, indigenous peoples. One
such ls. the research by Rodil, -Sevidal Castro and Tangian (1998) which describes the
cultural practices of the lmpahanong Higaunon, land. use practices, their origin story and
their evidences of ancestral domain claim including their cpncept of ancestral territory (walo
ha.taluqan), the gene_alogy of the principal leaders, names of places, mountains, rivers and
creeks. It documents. the ancestral domain claim of the members of the lmpahanong
Amusig _ Higaunon -Tribal Community in . accordance with the guidelines set by the
Indigenous People's Rights Act. _
Rationale .
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Practices, like. beliefs; as much as, interconnected ideas, values, skills which local people
acquire and share .by means of accumulating experiences, informal. experiments and
intimate understanding of.the dynamics of the socio-w ltural;-economic, -political, historical,
- geographic and physical milieu; comprise Indigenous knowledge systems (IKS). It is an
outcome of people's long years of experiences as they interact with or _respond to natural
non-human community; other ethnic groups, gender groups, organizations or institutions.
Their knowledge arid practices have "co-evolved -over time as adaptations to particular
environmental, social, economic and political circumstances and pressures" (Chambers;
Pacey and Thrupp 1991 :31 ). - -
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Among_ such indigenous knowledge are those that pertain to their perceptions of th_eir
environments and their relationships with them. This knowledge is in their
seasonal calendar, as much as, their knowledge about classification and properties- of
plants and animals, how eQosystems fun_ction, and how resources 'ilre used and managed,
among others. Practices in utilizing the environment; religious_ and traditional beliefs, and
rituals have evolved out of the people's relationship with the land anc:J the forest.
Understanding the Subanu-n seasonal calendar _ helps in setting the stage for viewing -the
genera( stability of cultures and ecosystems and in sketching .the context in wnich to discu'ss
the impact of traditional resource use and management schemes on the
relation.
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Fig. No. 1a. Map showing .the study sites.
Mt. Malindang_Range Natural Park-
of Misamis Philippines
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SEARCA
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Significance of the -study
Describing yet another element .of indigenous knowledge systems (IKS) strengthens
understanding of the integrity and ,vitality of culture-ecosystem relation, particularly as this
.relationship impinges on resource use anp management. Appreciating the elements of IKS
broadensthe perspectives not only,of government authorities but civil society as well, in.the
formulation of development policy anp in the planning and implementation of development
plans: . Too, this provides the opportunity for grounding theory on the empirical exr:ieri_ehce .
of the people inthe study sites.
The seasons
The Subanun in the study sites,recognize eneral seasons over a
The first is the tindupi, or rainy I wet season ana secona the ras, or sunny I dry
season. Aside from these, there are five intermittent season namely: sama.luna,
qan'us Elupi, p'ras gan'us, gan'us, and p'ras 9!!fil 1 luqong. ,
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Gan'us d i is characterized by f uen ram, :-aecomparne.a
. arms. , This is common to .the upland barangays -of Lake Duminagat, Gandawan, and
Small ,Potongan and in the lowland of NJamalad.
- , . The season callecl1trarnan'us 1 a sunny period accompanied by wind I storm. It
is peculiar to the i -al'a.ngay e B-arcmgay Small Potongan. Ganus. the Subanun term
for windy, is experienced in the upland barangays of Lake Duminagat and Mansawan arid
the lowland barangay of Pen.iel. It is characterized by strong winds I.storms t I
lugong consists of sunny periods with storms. Such is peculiar to the lowland barangay of
Mamalad;-_ =
. . thiJ months Jn which the season occurs ..
Given the particularity of physlco-geographic characteristics of the study sites,. the
mo.nlhs of occurrence of the seasons are not always the sametor the site1?. Tindupi in the
upland barangay of Lake Duminagat occurs in the months of September and November. In
. another upland barangay, Gandawan, it occurs only in the month of December. In another
- upland oarangay, Mansawan, the rainy season occurs in the consecutive months of
Oc:;tob_er .arid November and again - in . January, then in May. In still another upland
barangay, Sma!I Potongan, tindupi occurs for four months each year, in the months of
September, November, and in the consecutive months O:f December and January. It also
occors {or four months in a lowland barangay, Peniel, from October until January. In the'
lowland barangay, Mamalad, it occurs in three consectitive months, from November to
January.
in terms bf its duration, longest tindupi occurs in four months, at different months in
the period : between Septe_mber and January, in two upland (Mansawan and Small
,:: Potongan), and_ one lowland (Peniel) barangays. The shortest occurs in one month,, in an
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b1pl<;ind barangay, Gandawan, in December. The con:imon morith inwhich all, except one
(Gan<;Jawan), of the study sites experience the rainy season is November. "
Tindupi occurs in three study sites simultaneously in the months of November and
- Decemb,er: upland Small Potongan an<::l lowland .peniel and Mamalad. This s.eason starts
as early as in the month of May in upland Mansawan, and -as late as in October, in the case
of lowland Peniel. For the two upland barangays of Mansa.wan and Small Pqtongan,, as
well as, the lowland barangays of Peniel and Mamalad, tindupi extends up till January.
P'ras (sunny) is for the shortest period of time in the upland barangay - .
of Lal<e Duminagat, that is, for one month, in March. It is in two lowland barangays where
. the season is experienced the longest, or the m-ost frequently; in Barangay Peniel, for five
months eacl:l year - consecutively, from February to May, then again in July; and in
Barangay Mamalad, where p'ras occurs consecutively from February to April, then again in
August and September. P'ras is experienced in the upland barangay of Gandawan for
.toree consecutive months, from January to March. In Mansawan, b'ras persists _for two
consecutive months,,.from March to April, as it does in anothetJ upland barangay, Small
Potongan. -
The season of p'ras occurs in. fourc study -sites in the con_secutive
months of March and April, that is, :n the uplapd barangays of Mansawan and Sma11 --
Pot6ngan, and in the lowlaod barangays of Peniel and Mamal1!ld. , -.
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March is. the month in-which it occurs in all study sites, except in the barangay with
the highest elevation, Lake Duminagat.
Samaluna occurs in the upland ba(angays as follows: during the months of JanuarY.
and March in,. Barangay Lake Duminagat, then in April and May, in October and 'then again
in December; in Barangay Gandawan in April (simultaneously with Barangay . Lake
. Duininagat) and then_ in $epteniber till November (October simultaneously with Lake
Dumina9at); in Barangay Mansawan, it occurs in Feoruary, then in August till September
(the. latter. inonth, in common with Gandawan ), then again in-December; in Barangay Small
Potongan, in tti:e months .of February (in. common with Mansawan), May and October (the .
latter, iri common with Gah.dawan and Lake Duminagat). In the lowland: barangays, it
occurs in' September, in Barangay Peniel (in common. with Mansawan and Gandawan);' in
lowland Mamalad, it occurs in , July and- October (the latter, simultaneously with Lake
Duminagat, Gandawan .and Small Potongan). As yobl can, see, the month of October is the
month in which samaluna occurs simultaneously in the.biggest number of study sites .:._ four :
namely, in the upland barang;;iys. of Lake Dumiri agat, -Gandawan, and Sma!I Potongan,
a . d_ iri the lowland bararmay of .f\i3ar!1alaq . : .. - ,.,,. . ..
Gan\1s dblpi happens only in four study sites. The' longest occurs in an upland
barangay, Gandawan, a crater valley, from May up till August. - It happe-ns in two
consecutive months from ' July to August in the upland barangay of Lake Ouminagat
(simultaneously with Gandawan). There is no such season in Barangay Mansawan, owing,
. perhaps, to its geophysical features. There are several wid_e openings between hills in the
allowing, therefore, channels for -the fast movement or exit of winds in the area: _
It is in .:th sites it . happens simultaneously - in G.andawan, Small Potongan, and
l'v1amalad, but only in one month, that is, in June. Gan'us dupi does n.ot occur in Peniel,.
lowla'nd ba.rangay study site.
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P'ras gan'us, unique to Small Potongan, occurn in the months of July and August.
Gan'us (w!ndy I stormy) is to the upland barangays of Lake Duminagat and
Mansawan, and lowlan_d barangay of Peniel; it occurs in_ (he m6.nth of Ju!1e in Lake
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in June and July in Mansawan, whi _le itoccurs in Peniel ir:i June and August.
.P'ras gl!fil_llugong, unique to Barangay Mamalad, happens in the month of May.
. The Subanun farmers take into account the . patterns of seasonal. yariatiqn in
cieterminingJtie specific activities done through. the year. The following section details such
activities. It mentions rituals and beliefs observed in the seasori.
tfrf:Ttindupt.
During the tindupl, activities. are car:ried out common the study si.tes __
R -ffarm lot or paqlampas I pagdampas is done, usually towards the end of the
year. In the case of Baranga,y [ a e uminaga , a pas is done in November and
i)ecember; in Barar;igay Gandawan, hi.s i$ done in November; and' in Barangay Mansawan,
paglampas is done in December. Likewise, pagdampas I paglampas of farmlands is dqne
in Small Potongan and Peniel:
[In areas that have farms now devoted to commercial crops, this is the season for
preparing seeds for vegetables like cabbage and Chinese cabbage before these are
planted . . In Barangay Lake Duminagat, this is done in November; in Barangay Mansawan,
in January. ' During this season, seeds ar:e made to germinate on separate seedbeds for a
few weeks until they grow .by a few inches, just enough for them to -survive the weather
conditions at the time ottransplanting. Sufficient water supply is a ; eqliisite wheri
germinating seeds of said <vegetables. (lh Barangay Gandawan, seed germination is done
in the month of Februaf"Y, although there, it is a sunny month. This is m?de possible
because there is easy access tQ water.) 1n addition, planting of cash crops, especially
cabbage and sibuyas, kamote, as well, is undertaken in Barangay Gandawan (in the month
of December) and in Barangay Mansawan (in January and- May). Cabbage, Chinese
cabbage . and sibuyas grow well when- planted during rainy days. .. Planting them under
extreme heat may only cause wilting the young plant.]
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tindu'pi (rainy) cr0Q i e. It is,ffie time for rrst croppi g
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(panu-ig) in Mamalad. Meanwhile, in upland Small Potongan, it is time for the
second cropping (pangulilanq). Planting of rooforops like kamote, gabi, etc., is also done in
the same barangays. In fact, kamote is grown all year round in all the study sites, beca.use.
it can withstand all types of weather
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During this season, matrne crops are fi arvested, like kamote (mag ali og l<amoti).
This is undertaken in Barangay Gandawan in ecember, and in Barangay Mansawan_';"in
. . In addition, harvest i.s done of some crops i'ike upland rice (humay sa kamad-an),
rocitcrops, like kamote (sweet potato) and kamanting (cassava) in Small Potongan, and corn
in Barangay Mamalad. [In areas to sibuvas for cash,. harvest (magsipak og
sibuyas) thereof is also done.] Harvesting is another .occasion for farmers to express their
gratitude to the spirits. In Barangay Small Potongan, a few activities for crop care . are
conducted, like weeding or uprooting grasses from farmlands (ba-61) with the use of a trowel
(bunqlay). Activities are also undertaken for management of pests, especially maya birds.
For flie. latter, people use hugay, Jnvolving the process of pulling a network of strings from
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uplc;ind l;>arangay, Gandawan, in December. The common month in which all, except one
(Gandawan), of the study sites experience the rainy season is November. ,__
Tindupi occurs in three study sites simultaneously in the months of and
- December: upland Small Potongan and lowland .f>eniei and Mamalad. This season starts
as early as in the month of May in upland Mansawan, af'.ld as late as in October, in the case ,
of .lowland Peniel. For the two upland barangays of Mansa:w.an and Small Potongan,, as
well as, the lowland barangays of Peniel and Mamalad, tir\dupi,extends up till January.
. P'ras (sunny) is experienced for the shortest period of time i!1 the upland barangay
of Lal<e Duminagaf, that is, for one month, in March. It is in two lowland barangays where
the season is experienced the lo.ngest, or the most frequently: in Barangay Peniel, for five
months each year - consecutively, from February to May, again in July; and in
Barangay Mamalad, where p'ras occurs consecutively froin February to April, then again in
August and September. P'ras is experienced in_ the upland barangay of Gandawan for
tbree consecutive months, from January to March. In Mansawan, p'ras persists.for two
corise:Gufote months, 'from Marth to April, as it does in .anotheii upland barangay, Small
. Potohgan.
The season of p'ras occurs in fol!lr study sites simultaneously in the con_secutive
months of March and April, that is, in t:ie uplaJl d barangays . of Mansawan and Small
Potongan, and in the lowland barangays of Peniel and Mamalad.
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March is the rnonth in-which it occurs in all study except in the barangay with
the highest elevation, Lake Duminagat.
Samaluna occurs in the upland barangays as follows: during the months of January
and March in; Barangay Lake Duminagat, then in April and May, in October again
in December; in 8qrangay . Gandawan in 'April (simultaneously with Barangay Lake
Durninagat) and then in September till November (October simultaneously with lake
Duminagat); in Barangay Mansawan, it occurs in February, then in August till September
(the inonth,) n common with Gandawan), then again in'December; in Barangay Small
Potongari, in th.e months of February ( in. common with Mansawan), May and October (the
latter, irt common with Gandawan and Lake Duminagat). In the lowland. barangays, . it
occur,s in' September, in Barangay Peniel (in common. with Mansawan and ); in
lowland Mamalad, it occurs in July and October (the latter, simultaneously with Lake
Duminagat, Gandawan and Small Potongan). As-you can, see, the month of October is t,he .,
month !n which samaluna occurs simultaneously in the biggest number of study sites ..., four
, namely, in the upland barang<;iys of Lake Dumir:iagat, G:andawan, and SmaJI Potoogan, .
and.i n the lowland barangay _. -... .... , .
.I
. Gan'us du pi happens _only in four study sites. The: longest occurs in an upland
barangay, Gandawan, a crater Vqlley; from May UR till August. . It happe'ils in two
consecutive. months .from July to August in the upland barangay of Lake Duminagat
(simultaneously with Gandawan). There is no such season in Barangay Mansawan, owing,
to its geophysical features.. There are seve_ral wid,e openings between hills in the
. Barahgay, allowing, therefore, channels for the fast movement or exit of winds in ttie area: .
. It is sites that it happens simultaneously .,... in Gandawan, Small Potongan; and
Mamalaq, put only in one month, that is, in J.une. Gan'us dupi does not occur in l?eniel,
, lowlahd.barangay study site.
..
.. '
P'ras gan'us, unique to Small Potongan, occurs in the months of JuJy and August.
Gan'us (windy I stormy) is pecl,Jliar to the upland l)arangays of Lake and
Mansawan, and the lowland barangay of Peniel ; it occurs in the mqnth of June in Lake
- . . - ' . , . , .
345
..
/
' ..
which hang empty tin cans and pieces of bunting-like madeof strips -of plastic
cellophane .. set up over the entire rice field.
In areas with higher elevations, like Barangay Lake Duminagat, at this time, the air
becomes cooler than usual. . In another upland Mansawan, the rainy months of
. October and November are the months.when incidence of illness of both humans and
animals is highest. In the 'lowland barangays.of Peniel and Mamalad, the rainy season is
usually the time when a similar heightening of incidence of _illnesses 'ensues, most
espf?cially; respiratory ailments. No high incidence of illness is observed in Barangay Lake
Duminagat or in Barangay Gandawan. 1n Barangay Peniel, this is the season for gathering
h.erbal plants.
Access to formal medical services being difficult, the Subanun resort to extracting
herbal plants found in the forest (see -Appenqix A for flora resources including. herbal
plants.) They .also grow in their backyard a few species 6f herbal plarits, as observed in the
barangays of Lake Duminagat and .Gandawan, tc;> ensure access to medical relief in case of
. illnesses. This minimizes the compulsion to go into the forest to herbal plants
whenever illness occurs. Extraction of herbal in the forest is accompanied with
the Subanun's of respect for spirits in the forest. Although !he act of
extracting herbals .in the forest no longer requires the performance of rituals, still .an
must seek permission of the before gathering herbal plants in the forest.
Activities during the p'ras.
, Pagsilab in upland Lake Duminagat is done in April; ih upland Gandawan, in
January and February; and in upland Mansawan, in March to April. Meanwhile, [n the
upland barangays of Small Potongan and lowland barangay of-Peniel, it is usually done in
March. In Barangay Mamalad, pagsilab is absent. _,,
etc., is
347
: are and are harvested at any timeof the year-for subsistence: However,
because of changes which ren<;ler the seasons unpredictable; subanun
farmers are compel.led to plant upland crops not only during. p'ras but even during.. the
-
1
tindupl and in other iriterm'itter:H seasons.
. } , : . ,c.. .
. _ ' :,_ -- - - . - ;. ";'c '" , "}i< "
1
- "_ ( __ , _
.. < [ForAhe commetc1ci[ .Gani;iawan, February is the time when
- . - .- . . - - ' . _. - - - - - :;.,,- ' - ,
SE)eds 9f capba_ge are. made Jo germir-iate) n . In B<:frangay Marisawan. ' and
Barangay Gandawan, sibuyas is also planted in the month of Mar::oh:J
... . ' .. . :- ' .
...-
...
l .. : Also, .tiaryes.tlng

crops, 1i_ke kamote, .and_ [and

. ., .. sibuyas for those areas growiRg it for cash.] Thi s $Js iri '.;,6:9rani;i.aY
< .[ and in . ... _ 1_. < ' . "
In Mamalad, asiC!e fr:om .planting during this seas9ri, harvesting of mature crops
'
l" '
which liad earlirheeri plarted is 'als.o:an . ,
' - -
Jn Barangay Mansawan and Peniel, c:t few crop care activities are cond.ucted, like
application of fertilizer especially to corn. Some fishing and hunting are also done.
- I - , . ' 1'
..
. .
A?tivities during the _samaluna . .
DespitE;l the_ changecibfe conditions, agricultural activities still performed during
this s_easoli. Common to .the six study $ites is _narvesting of rootcrops.
larnpas is an activity common to the study sites in Don Vietoriano: iii Barangay Lake
:ouminagat, this is 'done in the months of December and' Jan1.,1ary; November in Barangay
:Gandawan; and December in Barangay Mansawan. ..
-
In Barangay SmallPotongan, cuttings frqm farm clearing like grasses, branches, ,
trunks, etc., are left to dry,in February.- .,...
. After: clearing, planting in \he three barangays follows. In Lake planting
.of kanaka; karilote, gabi is done in January. In Barangay Gandawan, corn is planted.
(f)ugas ag mais). in the , months of April and . banana is planted in November. [In the
barahgays that grow cash crops, these are the ai;tivities: .in Barangay Lake Duminagat,
transplanting of cabbage is done in December; also; planting of sibuyas, Chinese cabbage.
- lh qab_bage; and sayote are planted-in February.]- ' .
. In planting upland rice CJnd corn,7 arid s0me
- especially kamote and kamanting, or cassava, is also done> farmer.s usually plant '
cor:n -- pugas -- in February t6 avoid the January rains. Pugas of corn is also done in.that
month to allow the plant to grow enough .towithstand .the strong wind Jn March.
Cornwhich are planted ahead, specifically in fertilized in this same month. '
Fishing is also done. "
. Harvesting of mature crops is : also done during this . season. In Barangay
Mansawan, corn and kamote are harvested in December. fin 'those. sites growing cash
crops, cabbage is harvested in Barangay Lake.Duminagat in April. lnBarangay Gandawan, .
. sibuyas and cabbage are harvested in Aprii, and ba,nanc;i in November.] ,
- - - --._ .. "'..;.
In October, _rllature crops are harveSted (ani for rice; kali for r6otcrops) in -
PotongaH: , Harvested crops .like u13land rice .and corn are gradually readied for family
. . . '
348 .
. ,
consumption: pounding in '.the case of riGe, and grinding for corn. Rice_ grains for -planting
are selected and readie_d for the _next cropping season.
0
: In , Barangay Mamalad, the,-. month of july marks the second- cropping se'ason
(pang.l:llilaFig sa ba--01) for corn (to be harvested jn Octobet). Wetland_ rice -is' also pl_anted: in
this same month. ' Fishing is also don_e._ ' - '
3
ln 'Oclober, rice and-corn are harvested: lri this same month,
of illness increases.
In Barangay Lake Duminagat, the month of December is marked by the dugmon, the
period of hibernation of- wild boars, and the ting-anak (birthing). Hunting wild . boa? is
' avoided this season. 1Nander around during this s_eason. c
It fa this same period when fishes "like kasili (eel) and paitari are _found -in
abundance. In Barangay Gandawan and Barangay Mansawan, pahubas, a method in
fishing, _ is un_dertaken in the months of April and February,
Activities cfuring thf! gan'us dup1.
Not too many activities _are carried out in sararigay Lake du-rfr1g this
season which occurs in July to August, except planting kamote, gabi, and . In
Gandawan, this season happens in four consecutive months starting in May. and ending in.
August. Several activities are carried out in the same season. First, bung lay or weeding
out grasses including ifs roots (one of far:m maintenance activities) with .the use of-a tool
. called guna (trowel) is done-in May. -Second, planting kanaKa.in June [arid spring onions in
August, is also- undertaken]. In the safTle season, ha!Vestlng is done of kanaka -in June
(madkali og kanaka) and of kamote (magkali og kamote) in AUgust. [Harvesting is _done in .
May of spring onions (magsipak og si_buyas)fortho.se growing-tile ca.sh crop]. . '
Occurr:iFTg in June in Small Potongan, gan'us .dupi ls -the season o( panu-ig sa -
humay basakari, or the first cropping season of wetland rice. Gan'us dupi is, also h_arvest
time of wetland rice, marking, as such, the end of the second cropping season, pangulilang
(which started in the moi:ith of . . Meanwhile, in Barangay Mamalad, gan'us dupi
marks also the panu-ig for. wetland 'i"ice, and the secohd cropping (pangulilang sa ba-ol) for
upland com and other crops. ,- ' - ' '
<!'
Rootcrops -like kamote, gab( and kamanting planted during this time in Small
Potongan. Crop tare activities, specifically weeding I uprooting grasses io farm lots, i:!'re .
undertaken du.ring this r:nc:inth. Fishing, as well as, hunting activities are in this
season: _
Tile months of July August constitute the p_eriod when wild boars become.quite
active, thus, becoming more visible than if") other seasons. As earlier stated, no s1:1ch
seasonofgan'Usi dupi'iJccurs in -upland Marisawan: -
, >
Activities during the p'ras .
.- . Unique to upland Small Potongan, p'ras -gan'us is the time for second cropping
(pangulilang) -for corn. Planted in-July; the corn is expected.tb be harvested in October or
November, or lft!ithin 3 to 4 months after planting. Significant during this se'ason are such
activities'as: harvesting. (kali) in July of footcrops, harvesting .(sangql) Jn August of corn
pll3Ated ,in the par-lu-ig and planting (pugas) of corn. Hunting starts in July
and 'ends in Augl,Jst.
349'
Activities during._the gan'us.
.. , .
. .
During this season, in Lake Duininagat, only planting of rootcrops and tubers like
kamote, kanaka, and qabi, is 1,mdertaken. Meanwhile, harvest .of corn (sanggl og mais) and
of spring (magsipak og sibuyas) is undertaken in Mansawan in the month of July. In
lowland_ Peniel, the season involves harvesting in August of corn planted during_ the panu-ig,
thereby ending the first cropping season, and marking the start of the second cropping
(panqulilang). Undertaken in this same month is gathering of herbal plants to remedy
illnesses with which the residents are inflicted during this period. Crop activities, like
weeding or digging out grasses_ (bunglay) and tasks for pest management are done in June.
Activities during the p'ras gilat I lugC?ng .
. Observed _onlY:in Mamalad, the season of p'ras q(lat I lugong, is the time
when .farm activities are quite Jimlted. Only weeding I uprooting grasses (bunglay) can be
carried out.
' Summary
On the whole, the Subanun recogni ze two (2) general seasons obtaining in the study ,
sites, with a number of varying There are, however, -distinct
differences among the study sites in terms of the time of occurrence and the length or
duration of the season. '.
.; '.:. ...
The two gen-eral seasons are tindupi, or rainy I wet season, and p' ras, or sunny I dry
season. Several intermittent seasons oq;ur in the These are the samaluna, gan'us
dup( p'ras ganius, p'ras qilat I luq6nq, and gan'us,
There are certain periods when a specific type- of season occurs in three or- more
r:.esearch sites simultaneously. For example, tindupi occurs in the upland barangay of Small -
Potongan and in the lowland barangays of Peniel and Mamalad in the months of November
till January .. In other sites, the may occur in dissimilar months. For example, tindupi
in the upland barangays of Lake Duminagat, Mansawan,.occurs in months that
are not the same for the three. In Barangay Lake Duminagat, tindupi occurs in September
and again in November; in Gandawan, tindupi occurs in December; and in Mansawan, in
October till November, then again in January and May. Tindupi occurs as early as in May in
the upland barangay of Mansawan; in the upland barangays of Mansawan and Small
Potongan, as well as, in the lowla_nd barangays of Peniel and Mamalad, tindupi till
the month of January since it commences.in September or Octob'er.
The season ' of p'ras in four study sites simultaneously, in the consecutive
months of March and April, that is, in the upland barangays of Mansawan and Small
Potongan, and in the lowland barangays of Peniel and Mamalad.
March is the month in which it occurs in .all study sites except in one, incidentally
also the barangay with the highest elevation, Lake Duminagat. -
The season of p'ras is experienced longer in- Barangay Peniel than in 'any of the'
study sites. This occurs 'in five months of the year, first from February to May,
consecutively, then again in July.
3q0
An intermittent to all of the areas is the samaluna. The month of
October is the month in which' occurs simultaneously in the highest number of
"
r
- I
,_ . --in the upland barangays of Lake. Duminaga(
Small Potoflgan, and in the lowlai1d barangay of Mamalad. . " ' '
. . . . .
Gan'us dUpl happens. only in four study sites: the . upland barangays of La"e
.Gandawan, Small and the lowland barangay of Mamalad. It occurs
the lpngest in the upland barangay of'Gandawan, from May t0At1gust. ',
.- .': ' : I
, The rest of the intermittent seasons _are peculiar to respective areas: p'ras qan'us.
only in the. upland barangay o(Small Potorigan in July and :Augast; gan'us, in upland -
_ barangays of Lake Duminagat and Mansawan and in the lowlar:id barangay of. Peni$1. P'ras
-qilat I lugbngis known to occur otily ii) barangay of Mamah:id in May. .
Conclusion ,k.:t
Fishing activities are undertak;n in the season of p'ras: Fishing during the rainy
season is risky -as water. level rises. While -hunti ng may be done at a11y .time, many, ..
Subanun, hqwever, -regard p'ras asthe_seaso)1 m:ost suitable for hunting: . . "' ' . _-
. Due t6 tn.e- need foe survival of their, families, farmers 'take. the ris!< in carryjng du.t
:some farming.activities at' any season, Ji)<e planting, eyen when the time ofthe-year is not
::: idec;il, cind despite: knowledge about t!le _appropriate s.easons which . tQ .plant-. For
- exqmpie, years back, the early Subanun settlers US(;ld to- plant roptcrops (kamote, gabi,
kariaka), com,- uplarid ' rice, etc., during p!ras . .. Lately, .. tile . seasons had -become. '
unpredictable due to ehvironriental char,1ges: . according to the farmers. This compels 'the
farmers , to plant: such crops. even rn -seasons Tdeal, like Eluring samaluna;'
p'ras ganus, etc. Af!:er :all, either: raiA- Or, s1,m may. c9me at anytime. After _long .years of
.. staying in the area, , the Subanun have learned to face the demands and challenges posed
before them by the society and the harsnriess borne by a changi_ng environ_men{ As. a_, .
group of people _interacting-with and. dependent oh' the envjrcinrnent, they hav.e.. acquired
_ knowledge li.ke the seasonal Galendar; through concrete .experJences in handling tbe tasks ,
for their sur:VivaL: :seeingh_ow these-experiences d:ero_onstrate.the oftheir survi_val
the ';Subanun continue : these activities; , propelled to make
adjustments demanded by the -changing. accepflng these dynamics as part of
Jhe articulation. oftheir culture-e.cosystem relation. Such is transmitted to their children,
sustaining many of their survival strategies that are conservational .of _biodiversity.
. - . . ... - . . .. :: . - .. --'. /
,, . .
./ . . ,;J"'
"
352
G.uide Questions:
1.
'
2.
3.
4 .
What comprise the biophysical environment of the Subanun in the research sites described
in the artide? .
What constitute their adapiive strategies in their biophysical environment?
How do the seasonal calendars in the research sites reflect the; Subanun intricate co-
existence with their biophysical environment? How do they maintain their biological and
cultural diversity?
How does the environment provide the bread.th of resources, as wel! as, set the limits for the
. activities in theMt.Malindang
Suggested Activities:
1. Visit a-community ofindigenous people. Take note of the different agricultural activities
during a season. Identify the practices, customs, etc., observed during that season in the
Conduct of the activity/ies in order to adapt to their ecosystem. ,...,t
2. . Read stories or legends about rai;:l igenous people. Describe what the stories reveal about
their adaptive strategies in relating with their environment. _ ;<
3. . Select news articles that discuss the practices of indigenous peoples and that describe which
groups exert effort to conserve their ecosystem.
5. Visit a government agency or a civil society organization that undertakes development
programs for the indigenous people. Describe what do the authorities from these agencies
declare as the factors that promote or hinder development in the area.
6. Visit a community of indigenous people. Describe the impressions of the people
regarding the development programs conducted by government agencies or by civil
society organizations.
References:
1. Burton, Linda. 2002. Revival and enhancement of indigenous knowledge through adaptive
collaborative management: a Philippine case. Anthropological Journal of Indonesia, Bali. .
2. Chambers, R., A. Pacey,. and L.A. Thrupp (egs.) 1991. Farmer first. Intermediate Technology .
Publications, London. .
3. Regpala, Ma. Elena.' 1996. Daga: Maeng Tengyan land use categories. In Indigenous peoples of the
Philippines (knowledge, p0wer and struggles). Ed. UGAT (Ugnayang Pang-Agham Tao), Inc., Quezon
c;ty. \ .
4 . . Rice, D. 1996. The forest ecology of Homo sapiehs. In Indigenous peoples in the Philippines -
(knowledge, power and struggles)." Ed. UGAT (Ugnayang F'ang-Agham Tao), Inc., Quezon City.
5. Rodi!, R. , L. C. Sevidal Castro, and Ma. C. Tangian. 1999. The ancestral domain claim of the
lmpahanong-Amusig tribal council organization. The Mindanao Forum, 14 (1): 99-134.
6. Suminguit, V. 1989. The Subanun culture in Mt. Malindang: an ettmography. Mastera! thesis.
University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City.
7. UGAT(Ugnayang Pang-Agham Tao), Irie. 1996. Indigenous peoples of the Philippines (knowledge,
power and struggies): UGAT Inc., Quezon .City.
8. UNDP, TCDC and TWN n.d . . Sharing innovative experiences'( examples of successful economic,
environmental and sustainable livelihood initiatives in the South). Vols. 3 and 4. Special Unit for
Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries, United Nations Development Programme, and
Third World Network, Penang.
.,
.,
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Seasonal Calendar
Barangay Mamalaad,
Calamba, -Misamis Occidental
) -
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353
CHJ,>tPTER 12 . . POPULATION, SEX EDUCATION
AND FAMILY PLANNING.
INTRODUCTION TO THE
. -
The study of population issues engages both the natural and social scientists. In this
chapter, three.articles from different disciplines will explore the factors tnat the
rates trends, Other issues related to population will also be discussed such
_ as sex and fcimiiy plann-ing practices.
In the first article "Population and Poverty: The f\eal Score", from the University of
the Philippines School of Economics, Jhe authors examine the relationship between
-population and poverty in the as well as -the policy issues that need to be
considered. The second article "Getting Concerned About the Reproductive Health
Youth'', from the State of the Philippine Population Report; edition, presents the
.results,0f tt:ie Y_oung Adult Fertility Survey cpriducted in 2003. The survey report covers the
views on, knowledge of; and_ attitudes -of the youth towards various issues related to _
population such as their sexual risk like virginity; pregnancy, marriage and living--
in, E;ltC.- and-their non-sexual risk behaviors likesmoking,- dhnking, .drug use, etc. The last
article by Segundina T. Sarangani and Teresita I. Taberdo entitled "Correlates of Health
Among Maranaos of Lanao del Sur: An Executive _Summary''. investigates the signlficant
-. correlates _of health among the Maranaos of Lanae del Sur particularly involving infant
mortal!ty, child.and maternal morbi_dity, mahutrition; and family planning.
354
\..