English - Balay Mindanaw

LUMADNONG PAGKINABUHI NGADTO SA KALINAWelders. “There should be no conflict. If there would be discord,the datu should immediately intervene so chaos would becontained.” Thus, to Tatay Malindahay: “If you want to be adatu and you don’t know how to settle conflicts, then don’tbother taking the title.”Every datu has his strategy in successfully mediatinga conflict. Tatay Dikno said: “Mediation could not be donethrough fierceness; you have to do it in a nice way.” For hispart, Tatay Yukmo said: “I would control my temper, and I’dcharm them as if I were a child.” Humility is one of the qualitiesought to be possessed by a datu. Tatay Yukmo added:“I would not go against them. I would not fight them. Iwould not be angry. I would just smile. I would tell them, ‘Idon’t want your conflict to continue because I care for you.You should stop it because I don’t care if you sentence me todeath, as long as your conflict would be settled.’”The datus are loved by the people and admired for theirwisdom, good deeds and their ability to settle conflicts. Thisis also the reason why other people envy the datus. As AmayMantangkilan narrated:“There have been several instances when other datusenvied me. I just could not say the particular instances. ButI just keep silent and try to find means to solve that case I’mtasked to settle. I would also look for ways to change thenegative feelings of those people who envy me. Instead ofbeing demoralized and be mad at them, I would encouragethem to stop being envious with one another.”At the end of every successful resolution, the datus feel reliefand happiness. “It feels so good after a settlement, especiallywhen you see the good relations of both parties restored,” saidDatu Manbutalan. For Datu Mandedlyne, “I would really behappy if I could see the settled parties happy. This further152