English - Balay Mindanaw

LUMADNONG PAGKINABUHI NGADTO SA KALINAWdatu’s area and where the spheres of his influence reign andwithin his gaop are his sakop or constituents. The foremostresponsibility of the datu to his gaop is to protect his peoplefrom disruptions of any kind. “His responsibility is to protecthis people, and strive hard so they would not be oppressed.”The datu is responsible for ensuring the unity and welfareof his people. That is why during that occurrence of conflicts,the datu initiates the paghusay or mediation proceedings toput an end to the rift. He facilitates the restoration of strainedrelations between the persons involved. But as a mediator,Amba Palasambag opined that a datu should not dictateor command the parties involved in the conflict. “The datucannot dictate his whim upon the parties, so he could notforce them to do as he pleases. The feuding parties should bethe ones to decide if they conform to the advice of the datu.”Amba Palasambag, however, recalled of a case mediatedby his grandfather in the past when the latter forced thefeuding parties to follow his advice in ending the conflict. ItThe literacy center for the Higaunon community located in Sitio Kiudto, BarangayHagpa, Impasug-ong, Bukidnon.40