English - Balay Mindanaw

Part 2 - Four Datus: Stories of the Higaunon Lifeand then the wives take turns feeding him.”The concept of taking a second or third wife alsosounded repulsive to Datu Malindahay. According to him:“I cannot imagine my wife shouldering the responsibility asbreadwinner, to do the planting, weeding the farm. It’s justnot proper. It’s the man’s duty to earn a living.”Paths to DatushipBefore he was married, Amba Palasambag learned theways of the datu, especially when he started assisting insettlement proceedings. Here, Amba Palasambag started toshow his skills in mediation. Four datus -- Apo Tumatangkob,Pinahangin, Namasiyaw and Binatahan -- had noticed hisabilities. These datus encouraged him to start mediating andsettling conflicts because he already knew how to do it and hehad the skills. “They saw my good deeds. Thus, the four eldersagreed to teach me all that they knew because they realizedthat I was already doing the things they had taught me.”Apo Tumatangkob taught him the art of recitingDasang, singing the Limbay, and Ulaging (history). Pangulding(upright and just behavior) was instructed byMandante, or Datu Namasiyaw, who was an elder fromSinakungan, Esperanza, Agusan del Sur. He also taughthim all the talawagon or the spirits commonly invokedduring the performance of singampo (prayer rituals). DatuPinahangin taught Amba Palasambag the Mangabansa(good attitude towards others), and Datu Binatahan taughthim the Bunsuda, which tells about the kapoon or origin ofthe Higaunon people. Aside from the one-on-one lessons,the Datus also collectively taught him more dasang andlimbay. A person adept at reciting dasang and limbay hasbetter ways of finding his way in the society. “Dasang isimportant because if you know exactly how to expresswhat you meant to say, your companions will be glad.25