ZETS Eco-Cultural Adventure: Indigenous Encounter with Tibolo Tribe
ECO-CULTURAL ADVENTURE - combination of Nature,Culture, Cultural and Adventure from one place to another place.
There are two types of ecotourist in terms of motivation, attitude and behavior. These are the HARD ECOTOURIST and the SOFT ECOTOURIST.
The Bagobo are proud people with proto Malayan features. A strong social structure has enabled the group to blend well with the main body politic while retaining their indigenous customs, beliefs and values. While many are in economically depressed circumstances, a great number have attained a considerable degree of self-sufficiency. Most of the Bagobo have suffered dislocation from the loss of their ancestral lands and the effects of modern day insurgency.
Bagobo have ornate traditions in weaponry and other metal arts. They are noted for their skill in producing brass articles through the ancient lost-wax process. They also weave abacca cloths of earth tones and make baskets that are trimmed with beads, fibers and horse's hair.
The Tagabawa of Davao del Sur and North Cotabato, the Guiangan/ Clata of Davao City and the Ubo of Davao del Sur and Davao City are the different Bagobo communities. Ubo is a Manobo sub-tribe found between the more isolated mountains of Southwest Cotabato in the area called Datal Tabayong and farther down Davao del Sur. They number approximately 16,975 (OSCC, 1987). They indulge in Sweden and or slash-and-burn farming planting with rice, root crops and vegetables for food purposes. Sometimes they are food gatherers in the forest and indulge in hunting games. Parents negotiate the marriage of their children and the family of the man must pay the dowry before the wedding is set. Polygamy is practiced provided the man is capable of paying the bride price for each wife. The Ubo believe in a number of spirits headed by Diwata (God). Being animist, they also believe in ancestral spirits and unseen beings inhabiting the animate and inanimate objects in the environment. Every time they ask favor, they have to offer sacrifices to gain their desire. The political leader and the Datu in the village attain his position by virtue of wealth, speaking ability and knowledge of customary law called fendan. His main responsibility includes settling disputes among members of the family, neighbours and community. Once a fine is set or imposed by the Datu, the accused has to pay it to the aggrieved party and if he cannot pay he will become servant to the one who pays for him. This practice is called dok.
The Bagobo Tagabawa, one of the three subgroups of the tribe, built their home in the fertile hills and valleys at the foot of Mount Apo.
The bale is a traditional house of the Bagobo Tagabawa from Tibolo Sta. Cruz. The materials used to construct the bale are made mostly of bamboo. The walls and the distinctively steep hipped gable roof of the bale are all made of sinasa na kawayan (flattened bamboo). The floor and eaves are made of linapakan or bamboo laths, while the posts and beams are made of round timber.
A typical bale has an andana(attic), functioning as a private quarter for the daughter(s) of the owner. The main floor of the house has no interior partitions; instead, serves multiple spatial functions. A hole is bore in one corner so that family members can easily escape in case of danger. Unlike most lumads, the abuhan (hearth of the Bagobo Tagabawa) is located outside the main living area.
The Bagobo Tagabawa believes that the best time to build a house is during full moon. However, using a bent or curved wood is considered a taboo, believe to bring bad luck or illness to the occupants of the bale.
Taking a trip from Davao City EcoTerminal, where we met our first guide Michael; to Sta. Cruz would take you more or less 2 hrs by means of bus. Upon arrival, Sta. Cruz PAIC Officers Mr. Julius Paner met up with ZETS family for orientation and briefing. Then we proceeded to Digos via jeepney. On our way to Digos, we got halted by a posting military nearby. All male subjects are requested to go down for inspection. Instead of being inspected, we got our chance to take pictures of the man with a rifle. It’s a rare opportunity. After 30-40 minutes we reached Digos and transferred to a waiting van bound for Kapatagan. Going to Kapatagan, we passed another check point near Camp Sabros. There was a little discussion but nonetheless we got back on track. We are heading to Tibolo.
We reached Tibolo Cultural Village at around 1100hrs of October 22, 2010. It was a stunning experience. We were welcomed by the “bale” (cultural village house) which shelters the Tibolo tribe kept us safe the whole night. We had a great time at the “bale”, eating camote and drinking kapeng barako.
At night, we had the honor to witness their cultural dance. Of course, who can ever forget that sumptuous meal? Chicken with coconut milk cooked inside the bamboo pole. Amazing, isn’t it? What’s more amazing is that there were no morsels left on the plates after dinner.
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