English - Balay Mindanaw

Part 3 - Mga Paghusay: Concepts and Practices in Conflict ResolutionHindangon, Gingoog City and those of the adjacent barangayof Minalwang, Claveria, Misamis Oriental in June 2005.Higaunon and Dumagat youths were involved in this incident.The youth of Minalwang complained to their kagawad, AlamatPinalandang, who immediately made an investigation. Hefound out that the youth of Palo were guilty for starting thetrouble. Kagawad Alamat summoned the concerned youth ofPalo to come to Minalwang for the settlement but the youthsrefused because they were afraid to go to there. Because ofthis, Kagawad Alamat went to Palo and there he undertookthe resolution proceedings with the youth. The concernedyouths were made to pay the manggad in the form Php 1,000.Mediating and Resolving Conflicts Not EasyAs Amba Palasambag puts it: “It’s easy to commit amistake, but resolving it is extremely difficult.” The palaghusayis constantly faced with the challenge to put an end to the feudand restore the good relationships of the parties involved. Inone of his paghusay, Tatay Malindahay heard comments fromthe audience: “Could the datu resolve this conflict when eventhe barangay captain himself failed?”In the middle of litigation, the palaghusay puts himself ina dangerous position. Junie, the son of Amba Palasambag,reported: “In the past, there had been bloody incidents.Relatives were fighting each other, and the hatred was intense.No other mediator would want to commit suicide by doingthe settlement himself. But Amba Palasambag, ever the gooddatu, risked his life and be the hero, mustering all his couragebecause it’s the only way to resolve the conflict.” AmbaPalasambag said: “We risk our lives in mediating conflicts.You’d feel like you’re about to die. Being a mediator is not ajoke.”According to Tatay Manuel, settlement of conflict andkeeping everything in order are foremost concerns among the151