Pulangiyen community is one of the cultural groups in northern Mindanao that traditionally identify themselves by the river systems they inhabit. They live in a village called Bendum, located along the upper reaches of the Pulangi River and on the western slopes of the Pantaron Range. The government recognized the Pulangiyen’s ancestral domain of 2,600 hectares in 1998. There are about 60 households in Bendum, 20% of whom are migrants. There is a tribal council of elders who lead the community, but there are also sitio (village) leaders with some Pulangiyen membership who link with the neighboring Busdi village.
For us, we especially emphasize and choose spirituality because we believe that it is an integral part of our life and cultural way of living. Through spirituality, we gain a deeper understanding and open our minds by incorporating our own knowledge and traditions. This connection to the religious sector guides us and helps us enhance our skills in communicating with others, as well as in respecting and valuing the customs and beliefs of everyone.
The second aspect that we consider important and need to emphasize is technology. It allows us to bridge the distance and establish good relationships, as well as facilitates learning and sharing of knowledge. It enables us to sustain our cultural beliefs and way of livelihood.
For us, peace is the key to maintaining good relations. Instead of disregarding people from different cultures, we should guide them to appreciate the uniqueness of our own culture, which is a gift from our creator and passed down by our ancestors. Leadership skills are essential for us to continue sharing what we have learned in the media with our colleagues. It is not just for our own benefit but for everyone’s.
Ancestral stories hold immense value for the Church as they offer a different perspective in examining spirituality, faith, and the divine. By accepting and learning from the ancestral stories of indigenous communities from various tribes, the Church can gain a deeper understanding of the diverse ways people connect with sacred beliefs and respect for His creations. These stories can enrich the spiritual culture of the Church, strengthen the overall cultural dialogue, and promote a more inclusive and comprehensive view of faith.
Within ancestral stories, revelations and connections to the divine can be found. Like the Bible, which contains profound truths and teachings, ancestral stories of tribes worldwide may also hold seeds of divine wisdom. These stories can provide a broad perspective on the interconnectedness of all creation and the presence of a higher power. Exploring these stories with an open heart and mind can reveal profound spiritual truths and deepen the understanding of the vast connection to the sacred stories and experiences of our ancestors.
Ancestral stories are crucial for indigenous communities in preserving their cultural identity, language, and traditions. They serve as a source of knowledge and wisdom that has value passed down from generation to generation. By embracing and sharing these stories, we, the Pulangiyen tribe, can strengthen our sense of community and reinforce the cultural heritage of our ancestors using our rights as aboriginal people. These stories can also serve as a powerful tool in defending our land, our resources, and our human rights.
To continue connecting and supporting each other in creating inherited cultural media, establishing networks and platforms for collaboration is essential. This could include creating online communities or social media groups to share our story as the Pulangiyen tribe from the mountainous part of the world and other aboriginal communities, stories, videos, podcasts, photos, music, and more. Organizing workshops and sharing knowledge about culture through gatherings can provide opportunities for collaboration and network building. By spreading and amplifying each other’s voices and sharing the inherited culture, we can create a powerful network that celebrates and preserves indigenous traditions.
Ancestral stories are a source of strength, resilience, and wisdom. By sharing them with the world, we can help preserve our culture and recognize our rights as Aboriginal people. Let us stay connected, support each other, and collectively create a network that empowers and strengthens our cultural community.
The ancestral land for us Pulangiyen people is not just land that we own, but it holds deep significance in our culture, history, and identity as indigenous people. It is our home and the source of our livelihood. Our ancestral land is important to us because it sustains us from generation to generation. It gives us the strength to protect our culture.
We protect our ancestral land or ancestral domain by understanding every step and context of how we sustain ourselves within our ancestral domain. As aboriginal people, we take care of our resources through the ADSDPP or Ancestral Domain Sustainable Development and Protection Plan, and through unity to create a comprehensive plan for the benefit of all. We also connect with other indigenous communities to expand our knowledge of sustainable resources. We collaborate with organizations near us to understand how to manage it properly and to have respect for each other’s work and aspirations for the common good.
The connection between ancestral land and climate change is evident. In our ancestral land, we can find various resources that provide for our basic needs such as water, air, food, and medicine, from our ancestors until now. However, due to the abuse and mismanagement by some people, there is a relationship between the two. Nowadays, we can no longer predict the weather, which makes it difficult for people to rely on farming. We believe in what Pope Francis said, that the first thing to be destroyed is the human attitude towards their lifestyle before destroying our environment. The changing weather affects the indigenous people’s way of life and food security.
In our community, the reality is that many young people go to urban areas to find work and meet their needs. They want to buy phones, motorcycles, and other things. This cannot be stopped because it is their desire, especially for out-of-school youth. In our ancestral land, we conduct workshops to deepen their understanding of our resources. We also use technology like group chat through Facebook to keep them connected and updated about our ancestral domain.
We can suggest ways to stay connected even if we live in cities or other countries. Connect with organizations and groups that promote indigenous culture within the city or community. It is important to have connections with different tribes and recognize each other. We need different opinions from other tribes to learn from them and share our knowledge. Participating in cultural activities and celebrations that showcase aboriginal traditions and culture is also important. Engage in traditional arts and crafts to preserve our cultural heritage. Connect with other Indigenous individuals or communities through social media platforms or online forums. Promote education and awareness about indigenous cultures and traditions to other sectors of society, so they can truly understand our tribe, the Pulangiyen people in the Philippines.
According to our ancestors, being cannot survive without land. As indigenous people, land is a significant part of our lives, allowing us to live peacefully and abundantly. If, for example, we do not have land, we would need to understand the reason why and continue to face challenges while remaining strong in our identity, to deeply understand ourselves as indigenous people who hold the right of ownership.
Technologies are a great help for us Aboriginal people to stay informed and not be ignorant about new ways. Especially in identifying our territory using GPS and camera phones, which guide us in continuously gaining new knowledge.
Home for us is the mother earth, created by God for us to care for and respect. It requires our help and unity to address the challenges we face, such as climate change, which requires action from each one of us.
The story of our culture and traditions, when compared to our sacred book, is not far off. This story brings us to understand the profound relationship with our environment.
The most important thing for us as Pulangiyen is to value our culture and identity which introduces our being. The culture followed by our ancestors can be combined with the culture of the church to have a deeper understanding of our connection to the resources created by God. Although we have different ways of expressing our identity and being that can be conveyed to the world, it still comes back to each one of us on how we maintain it despite the many new knowledge that can change our minds and emotions. Let us always remember that no matter where we are in the world, our historical life depends on it.
We give importance to it as the root of our way of life, in the way we live together with respect for God’s creation that gives life to each one, especially in our culture. Each one of us has our own language to convey our knowledge of culture and tradition that has a profound relationship with the land that sustains us. Because of the challenges faced by the youth today, who are increasingly dependent on themselves and are indifferent to the events happening around us or in our world.
“Harmony Unveiled: A Majestic Gathering of Indigenous People for Unity and Interconnectedness.” The pursuit of learning in the media cannot be stopped, as we already have some knowledge. Each piece, each one is important. May our relationship and collaboration continue to address the gaps and better understand how media studies connect with our culture. Our dreams as upland communities hope that these opportunities for study will persist in the future to deepen our understanding and knowledge. And to establish a strong foundation and relationship among indigenous peoples worldwide.
Let the respect for each culture and individual continue. We also desire Filipinos to have the opportunity to study here to further strengthen our relationship. Showcasing authentic culture through music and dance, preserving our own traditions, not just modern music, didn’t lose and forget what we follow. We are also grateful and happy because of the Kep students, as we witnessed them using their own language inherited from their ancestors.
In our culture as aboriginal people living in the mountainous region of Bukidnon Pulangiyen, our language is very important to us because it is what defines our identity, who we truly are, and how we live in this world. It is also a significant tool for us to achieve our desired progress in education.
It also introduces us to others. Even if we don’t understand each other’s language, there are ways for us to understand each other.
The church, especially the Catholic Church, guides cultures to keep them alive and meaningful. The church also accompanies the culture to monitor how it can be continued.
In terms of the new path the Church needs to take regarding aboriginal peoples, the most important aspect is the recognition and respect for our culture, traditions, and rights. The Church needs to be a voice for Aboriginal peoples in issues related to our economic, educational, and healthcare rights. The Church should actively support and promote the inclusion and participation of Aboriginal peoples in decision-making processes within the Church and the society.
There are countless stories of hope, pain, and struggles within our own community as Aboriginal people. We have faced challenges in preserving our ancestral lands, protecting our cultural heritage, and ensuring the well-being of our people. However, amidst these struggles, there are also stories of resilience, unity, and hope. We celebrate our cultural identity, pass down traditional knowledge to the younger generation, and work together to address the issues that affect our community.
I would like to share the stories of our community through videos or podcasts! It would be a great platform to highlight the experiences, aspirations, and achievements of the Aboriginal people. By sharing these stories, we can raise awareness, promote understanding, and inspire others to support the rights and well-being of Indigenous communities. Let us work together to make this happen!
Written by Indigenous youths from the Pulangiyen Indigenous group in the Philippines during the 10-day extensive media production training for Asian Indigenous youth in Kep province, Cambodia in March 2024.
