| TRIP
MAGAZINE VOL. 4
From the journal of Crissy
Guerrero, JVP Batch 14
DAY 2
I gave them chimes made of bamboo. These
were made by a CBFM (Community Based Forest Management)
community in Negros Occidental. Every time I go up to Mintapod,
I try to bring up something from a different place so Amay
has some idea of the different parts of the Philippines.
I remember when I brought up an Indonesian friend, Amay
asked what part of Bukidnon Indonesia was. At least with
the little gifts, he is given an introduction to the different
places. They placed the chimes I gave them on the BANKASO.
It is the first time I see a ritual participated
in by datus from all different municipalities
and provinces, from different parts of Bukidnon, Misamis
Oriental and Agusan del Sur. I am excited for tomorrow’s
activity. This is when each Datu will climb the BANGKASO
and share his accomplishments. Meanwhile the singing and
dancing continued...
The councilors, it appeared, had wanted
to add a political element to the traditional ritual and
they invited the governor, the mayor and the municipal councilors.
They wanted to discuss the boundary between provinces but
Amay didn’t like that idea. Politics had never been
part of the Dumalongdong and it wasn’t going to be
if Amay had his way.
None of the local government officials
arrived. I was glad. Amay would not have to deal with politicians
pushing their own agenda into a sacred ritual.
We turned in earlier that night but not
after another feast of pork. I was amazed at how organized
the whole Dumalongdong was. They had no less than 42 people
in the food committee alone overseeing the cooking, serving,
and washing, and everything went like clockwork. Nothing
NGO style where there were planning matrices and logframes,
and meetings upon meetings, but everyone knew their role
and performed brilliantly. No checklists, no practices,
no run throughs…just real life ACTION.
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Trip Vol 01
Trip Vol 02
Trip Vol 03
Trip Vol 04
Josephine G. Maribojoc, Batch 13
Tina Pineda
Fr. Jose Ramon “Jett” T. Villarin, SJ
Nathaniel "Nikki" Hipolito
Jesus Enrique "Jay" G. Saplala
Sarah S. Balane
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