English - Balay Mindanaw

LUMADNONG PAGKINABUHI NGADTO SA KALINAWconsult and seek the opinion of everyone in order to come upwith sensible decisions.“For me, the datu does not have the sole authority indecision-making. I don’t know what others think. Butthe majority of them now, except the really good datus,decide all by themselves because they’re the datu anyway.Traditionally, however, the constituents make the decision,and the datu only has to concur. It is the same with thebarangay captain, because he could not make decisions onhis own without consulting the kagawads. It has alwaysbeen like that.”Like Amba Palasambag, Amay Mantangkilan and TatayMalindahay, ’Tay Dikno believes that the datu’s role inaddressing conflict is only to offer suggestions and restorethe good relationship of the parties involved. Moreover, thedatu should also be a model or a good example to others. ’TayDikno said:“The datu should explain the laws relating to the conflict,but he could not impose his opinions on the parties involved.His family should set as an example. If a datu does not respecthis family, how can he expect to earn the respect of others?”’Tay Dikno had already been mediating conflicts evenbefore he was ordained a datu. He called himself a “traineedatu.” This experience is common among many Higaunondatus such that prior to ordination or their being formallyconferred as datu, they have gone through a lengthy internshipstage (Paredes: 1997:125).His father, being a datu palaghusay (mediator), was theone who taught him all the rudiments in settling disputes.’Tay Dikno started mediating minor conflicts, like lalis-lalis orpetty quarrels, and marriages. “My father often tasked me tosettle conflicts. Sometimes he would let me settle spouses in a92