English - Balay Mindanaw

LUMADNONG PAGKINABUHI NGADTO SA KALINAWOld Ways and New WaysBasically, the land and the forests are the Higaunons’ life.This is where they derive their subsistence. Their seemingdisregard for this saddens Amay Mantangkilan.“The people never realized the importance of caring forthe land, especially the forest. The people in Kabagtukan,Pulahon, Hagpa, and Kalabugao never thought of those. Theyjust cut the trees, especially the Dumagats, maybe becausethey were not aware of laws governing the cutting of trees.On my part, I always see to it to know and adhere to the lawsso that others may not take advantage of us.”Paredes (1997:55) captured the opposing attitudes of theHigaunons and the Dumagats when she said that the former“do not abuse the land, the forest, or fellow humans, and aremore concerned about maintaining smooth social relations.The Dumagats, on the other hand, tend to be ‘businessminded’and willing to destroy resources for profit.”Nevertheless, Amay Mantangkilan said that he couldnot blame the Dumagats because they only satisfied thepanginahanglan (needs) of the Higaunons. The way Dumagatsrelate to the resources around them, the practice of workingfor wages, is indeed new to the Higaunons. This startedonly with the operation of logging companies that hiredHigaunon workers as concession guards, and the coming inof migrants.“In the past, we usually went around to see the forestand hunt. But when the logging company came, working forwages started. Instead of teaching our children about nature,others ended up teaching their children about work to earncash.”60Amay Mantangkilan said that in the past, food was