English - Balay Mindanaw

Part 2 - Four Datus: Stories of the Higaunon LifeRespondents and key informants during the community feedbacking andvalidation workshop last January 6, 2006 at the Literacy Center, Sitio Kiudto,Hagpa, Impasug-ong.tasked to garrison the place was apparently lenient aboutthis rule, thereby allowing the migrants to encroach in theirterritory.Paredes (1997:71) reported that there was a slow butsteady influx of Dumagat migrants from the coast into theinterior regions that have been “opened up by economicdevelopment projects.” The logging operations in the 1960swere responsible for opening up of Higaunon settlements tothe outsiders. It was noted that by 1970, settlers outnumberedthe indigenous people by a ratio of at least six to one” (May1992:128) as cited by Paredes (1997:70).Despite the gradual encroachment of the Dumagats, theHigaunons seemingly welcomed this new development.Amba Palasambag, being the oldest datu in Hagpa, said:“In the past, when the Dumagats came, Father Cullen and I57