RATIONALE

History of Balut Island

In search for the mystery that beholds a bay, a province, and a municipality
bearing the name-Sarangani, we unveiled the mystic beauty of its place and
people.

A five-hour boat ride from General Santos City brought us to two land masses
of Sarangani Municipality-the Balut and Sarangani Islands. Balut has a land
area of 6604 hectares while Sarangani has 4014.

Its ancestry reveals that Balut, a Maguindanaon term which means an island
became a municipality of Davao del Sur 26 years ago. It is composed of 12
barangays mostly populated by sangils who landed here in the Mid 14th
century from Sangir Island, North of Indonesia, when the Dutch began to take
dominion over the island.

Baluts Sangil equivalent is wanowa.

Burials of Sangil Sultans, led by Sultan Panurat who were the first settlers of
the land, were built by pile of rocks.

Those kalachuche trees are memorials of Sangil royalty, Takeda Colano

revealed in vernacular when we visited the site of his great grandfather, Judah.

Takeda is heir to the sultanate of Sangil by affinity, according to the Sangil

tarsila or genealogy, as recorded by Dr. Domingo M. Non of Mindanao State
University and Shinzo Hayase, in 1999.

Takeda, with his two brothers, Abedin and Pacayan, recalled how their great
grandfather challenged Ruy Lopez de Villalobos in the historic Balistic Island to
a battle-a Muslim Kris against the Spanish pistol!

Marorong, fondly called Balistic Island because of its bullet form, is 70 meters
across Balut Island. The rock structure built by the Sangils and Blaans as a
fortress against Villalobos army, visitors and tourists changeably called the
islet Fort Villalobos.

Fr. Jose Luego, a Jesuit historian, and Gregorio Zaide in his History of the
Filipino People noted the landing of Ruy Lopez de Villalobos in Marorong in
search for the Moluccas Island in 1543.

and in dire need for provisions, he sailed to Sarangani, Zaide wrote.

It is remarkable how the old Sangils and the heirs to the sultanate handed
down their past for four generations through the word of mouth!

A Sangil darangen or folktale also tells a duel between two big men,
Saramangge and Marama, to win the hand of a Sangil princess. Saramangge
was treacherously defeated by Marama. His blood flowed over the bay and a
rock formed from his corpse which is now called Sarangani Island and
Sarangani Bay in honor of the noble warrior.

In Sangil etymology, Sarangani came from the Sangils Sarang-ine, this is our
territory or we stop here.

Balut and Sarangani are brothers, recounts Professor Virginia Buhisan, an

anthropologist. This was recorded by Sarangani Municipality as the legendary
origin of the place which was passed by the old folk down to the young
generation.

Elias Colano, 105 years old, is the oldest man in Balut and head of elders of
the crowned Sultan, Pagal Padasan Colano.

Such stories were derived from these twin islands of a municipality belonging
to Davao del Sur in Region XI.

The same Sarangani Bay shares marine abundance to Sarangani Province of

Region XII.

These interesting stories of the Muslims Sangil tribe and the native Blaans
whom they had intermarriages with during the early part of 16th century
complete the towns natural beauty.

Thick mangrove forest lusts the port of Barangay Mabila, the towns poblacion.

Youll surely enjoy strolling the grounds of a hot spring in Barangay Lipol, now
built with concrete structures for adventures and tourists. Its source flows
from Bad-lii in the mountains of Kalisusu and Kagongkong, about 2-hour trek
from the hot spring.

An hour of boat ride and youll reach Ulaniban, a three-kilometer of white sand
encircling the 16-hectare island belonging to barangay Patuco.

An ancient light house was built here by the Americans during the American
regime which fronts the bay.

Even the tampat or burial sites of Sultan Panurat in Batuganding Point can
attract tourists. They are marked by kalachuche trees and rocks piled by their
descendants and Blaan natives who were then Islamized.

Bato Manamil is the place where the fifth Sultanate of Maguindanao

Mohammad Jafar Sitti Manamir was born by his mother Putri Ambas,
revealed Sangil Datu Osmea Salisipan.

Our expedition recounts the abundance that Sarangani Bay is endowed with,
shared and treasured by the sarangans.

In the celebration of our first Sarangani Bay Festival on May 17-20 in Glan,
Sarangani Province, tracing down its significant past is a high light.

Beach volleyball, kayaking, skim boarding, an 11-kilometer swim across the

bay, and other bay sports will be held in the four-day tilt.

Its first time that we celebrate this event, Nenita Barroso, Sarangani Tourism
and Investment Promotion Council (STIPC) Executive Director, disclosed.

We will revisit the bays history which became the highway for the first
civilization in this part of mainland Mindanao. (Sarangani Information Office)
 For so many years the population of Blaan people in Balut and
Sarangani increases. The two beautiful islands which is Balut and Sarangani is
inhabited by Blaan people having their rich culture and traditions, however
slowly fading due to some environmental and media influences. Among these
traditions that are afraid to be gone are Performing Arts, Literary works,
rituals, Skills like Mat weaving and among others.

Blaans population in the two islands has greater number which is 44%
compared to other tribes like Sangir 22% and the rest are Manobo, Cebuanos
and Indonesians. Nevertheless the 44% of the population only few number of
Blaan individuals has the ability to perform and practice their traditions. This
is due to the environmental influences and has no capacity to transfer their
traditions to the young generations, as observed.

Sangir settlements can be mostly found on Sarangani Island between

southern Mindanao and Celebes island, as well as, Indonesia in North Sulawesi
and the Great Sangir Island. They're often mistaken for Sangil. And, like its
contemporary, are the only two representative descendants of Sulawesi. They
are fiercely proud of their identity and culture, orthodoxy, and language.
Structurally, their society was held together by the Datu, whose tenure was
measured by the number of followers. In return for tribute and labor, the datu
provided emergency aid and presided over disputes with other communities.
Independently, each Muslim group aggressively protected its borders with its
neighbouring Muslim counterparts; collectively, Filipino Muslims lacked
solidarity and were often fragmented. Thus, endemic conflict, clan war, and
family feud persisted for centuries and to the present day.
The language having Indonesian affinities and much of the indigenous
culture heavily influenced by Islam, later absorbed into the coastal societies,
particularly into the Kalagan group. Culturally, it's associated with lowland
and coastal adaptations with a mixture of intensive cultivation and
horticulture. Traditional crops include rice (in upland fields), sweet potato,
corn and banana, as well as, cash-cropping with coconut.
(http://www.ethnicgroupsphilippines.com/people/ethnic-groups-in-the-philippines/sangir/)

THE PLAN

The Local Government of the municipality of Sarangani, Office of the

Municipal Mayor with the help and support of the office of the National
Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and Non Timber Forest Products
Exchange Product (NTFP-EP) and the willingness of the Blaan and Sangir
Masters with the guidance of the Tribal leaders of Balut and Sarangani the
Enhanced School of Living Traditions is created. The projects aim is to
preserve and revitalized the cultures and traditions of the Blaan and Sangir
people living in Balut and Sarangani Islands.

The SLTs for Balut and Sarangani will focus on the enhancement of the
culture and traditions of Blaan and Sangir tribes. With the help of the tribal
consultants and tribal leaders they will guide the project during the duration of
the implementation of the project.

Traditional Skills and Crafts of Blaan and Sangir in Balut and Sarangani
Islands which needs to be transferred for Preservation

A. Art Forms

a. Mabal Tabi ( Mat Weaving)

b. Basketry
c. Sloray
B. Handicraft
a. Banig Making
b. Faglung Making ( Blaan Guitar
C. Performing Arts
a. Sangir Dance
b. Sangir Rituals
c. Flalok ( Blaan Story Telling)
d. Blaan Dances
e. Tmotok Slage ( Blaan Traditional Music Using Agong
f. Komokon ( Blaan Traditional Melodies)
g. Dalmondon ( Blaan Traditional Song )
h. Odol Playing ( percussion instrument
i. Tangungo playing ( set of metal gongs )
j. Faglong Playing

D. Rituals and Others

a. Traditional Cooking
b. Panyalam Making
c. Tafey Making
d. Fuso Saging
e. And other Blaan and Sangir Delicacies
 SWOT ANALYSIS, ISSUES AND CONCERNS

OF THE MASTER PLAN

Crafts, Traditional Skills and Development Needs Based on SWOT Analysis

Arts of Blaan and Sangir
 The need for motivation due to lack of interest
of anyone who wants to perform or learn the
basics . On the part of the masters, lack of
Mabal Tabi ( Weaving) interest and time, no individual is willing to
Basketry learn due to lack of motivation.
Sloray
The need for sustainability and support in
terms of provision of materials, though available
but slowly gone, due to no preservation of the
materials.

The need for support for the masters, though

they have willingness to transfer the skills but
due to the lack of financial assistance and the
area for the gathering of the prospective
individuals who are willing to learn is not
available. Materials are delicate and has to have
a place for preservation.

Instruments are available however, some of this

were just neglected due to lack of interest on
the part of the masters due to the influence of
ready-made music from the media.

The need for assistance if in the future these

materials are available to the market.

A. Performing Arts
a. Sangir Dance The need for recognition of the masters within
b. Sangir Rituals the community for them to be motivated to
c. Flalok ( Blaan Story teach and transfer their traditional performing
Telling) skills like dances, and other crafts. Giving them
d. Blaan Dances identity as masters in their field would give
e. Tmotok Slage ( them courage to perform
Blaan Traditional
Music Using Agong The need for proper transferring of skills
f. Komokon ( Blaan through regular meetings and classes so that
Traditional the young generation could be properly taught
Melodies) by them.
g. Dalmondon ( Blaan
Traditional Song ) The need for step by step teaching from the
h. Odol Playing ( masters so that prospective learners would
percussion absorb the skills.
instrument
i. Tangungo playing ( The need for assistance from the community in
set of metal gongs ) terms of preservation of the skills and crafts.
j. Faglong Playing Some young generations are not interested due
to lack of motivation from the environment and
sometimes deprived by their friends.

SLT FIVE YEAR PLAN

ENHANCED MASTER PLAN DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP
ON JANUARY 30-31, 2016

Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5

MAT WEAVING, BASKETRY, HANDICRAFT & COOKING
*discover and gather all *all of the *produce - -selling and
living cultural masters raw materials finished promotio marketing the
-planning must intact products n of finished
-meeting or prepared 1. products products globally
-trainings 1. Plants Standardizati for
-seminars propagation on of price generatin
-workshops that can be 2. quality of g income
-identify all cultural used for the finished to sustain
arts that can be weaving products the
performed and revive (abaca, project
for the future romblon or -engage
-create pandan, to exhibit
organization/corporati bule, sadsad,
on kluge,
-construction of knalum,
training center lagehkunel)
-can train starting 30 2. The start
students of making
handy-made
such as mat
weaving,
beads,
baskets, and
embroidery
MUSIC, PERFORMING ARTS, STORY TELLING & RITUAL
*gather the materials *music: the -start of -the -can join
needed in the art form masters will training/wo master international
-masters introduce rkshop for students show/competition
-members their piece new can -can accept
- one by one students perform invitation for any
recruitment/motivation -classifying -refreshing into local occasion
-venue their for old activities -documentary film
-orientation expertise students like in -
-categorizing of the -masters will -at the end school, attached/coordina
skills perform to of the year, barangay, ted with tourism
the public the masters municipal
activities like will ity and
in school, determine province
barangay, -the master -can post
LGU students to social
Masbol will be media like
Festival multiplied in
*instrument in every art facebook,
players form youtube,
-12 players etc.
from Sangil
tribe and 12
players from
Blaan tribe
*dance and
songs
-20 dancers
from Sangil
tribe and 40
dancers from
Blaan tribe
*story telling
-at least 5
story tellers
from Sangil
and Blaan
tribes
*ritual
-13 Barangay
Chieftains

MASTERS PROFILE

NAME : PAHENG PATONG

BORN : 1957

Skills : Performing Arts, Agong Playing

 ADDRESS : Cogon, Mabila Sarangani Davao
Occidental

Pahengs way of Sangir Dance is said to be one

of the best. He discovered his talent when he
was ten years old. He loves Sangir Dance, for
him being able to perform the traditional Sangir
dance in the public is a big accomplishment
since, only few people are endowed with
traditional talent like him. Aside from
performing arts, Pahenng has also the talent in
musical instrument like gong.

He had been invited also by the NCCA at Manila

to perform. Paheng is happily married to his
wife named Linda who also has talent in
cooking native delicacies. He live in Sitio Cogo,
Barangay Mabila Sarangani Davao Occidental.
He said that, being able to transfer his talent to
the young generation is an overwhelming
situation because he could be able to help
preserve the Sangir culture. Paheng used to
perform Sangir dance in some occasions like
Kaweng and gandeng baptism. Pahen
suggested that, Sangir dance must be performed
gracefully to be able to capture womans
attention.

NAME : MENDOSA FAUSTO

BORN : NOVEMBER 19, 1959

Skills : Performing Arts / Faglong Playing

ADDRESS : Mabila Proper, Sarangani Davao Occidental

Mendosa is blessed with wonderful talent in playing Blaan musical instrument

Faglong, the Blaan guitar.Faglong is a wooden guitar with only two strings
with 8 t 12 knots. Mendosa started learning musical instrument when he
was 10 years old. Mendosa is very much eager to transfer his talents and
skills to anybody who is interested and has passion in learning instrument.

NAME : LINDA PATONG

Age : 57

Skills : Cookery

Address : Cogon, Mabila Sarangani Davao

Occidental

Linda is married with her loving husband Paheng

Patong. Her skills is cooking Sangir native
delicacies like Amik a delicacy made of rice,
Babongkol, panyalam and bebengka a rice
cake. All these delicacies are available in her small
house in which she used to cook every time when there is maulod and during
feast and last day of Ramadan.

For Linda, being able to share her cooking skills to

the young generation is a great opportunity.
Learning to cook native delicacies is very
challenging but if the learner is very passionate it
would be very easy for him or her.

Name : LINDA BAUTISTA

Address : Konel, Sarangani, Davao Occidental

Age : 47

Skills : Mat Weaver

Linda started to learn mat weaving when she was

20 years old. She was taught by her mother.
Lindas skills in mat weaving has been her bread
and butter. Her skills in weaving is very exceptional, some of her products had
been sold to other neighbouring place outside the Municipality. Linda is
hopeful that her skills in mat weaving could be transferred to the young
generation so that her rare skills would not be forgotten.