English - Balay Mindanaw

Part 1 - IntroductionsAn Orientation to the StudyWhy Document the Peacebuilding Initiatives of theHigaunons?“Maayad ha adlaw!”For over a year starting August 2005, young researchdevelopment workers have been traversing themountains the Higaunon people call home. We trekked toBarangays Hagpa and Kalabugao in Impasug-ong, Bukidnon;Barangays Kalipay, Sangalan and Eureka in Gingoog City andBarangay Minalwang in Claveria, Misamis Oriental. In thecourse of our travels, we met many of the Higaunons along theway. They talked to us, laughed with us, and shared us theirstories -- of their history, their ethnicity, spirituality, as wellas tales of development aggression and their correspondingstruggle, of conflict and war, and eventually of waging peaceto protect their lands, their tribe, and to keep families and kin3