Pusaka declared

Apo forests now sacred grounds

CERTIFIED TRUE.
( From left) National Commission for Indigenous Peoples ( NCIP 11) Chief Admin Officer Marlon
Juezan and NCIP- Davao City Provincial Officer Cristito Ingay were present to act as witnesses to
the Pusaka declaration.
ANOTHER conservation milestone was reached last March 7, 2016 as a result of the facilitation
by the Philippine Eagle Foundation ( PEF) to conserve the Mount Apo Key Biodiversity Area
( KBA) — home to the IUCN “critically- endangered” Philippine Eagle and ancestral lands to
three Indigenous Bagobo sister tribes.
The Indigenous Obu Manuvu tribe took the first step by declaring a number of forest- covered
mountains within the Apo KBA as “Pusaka”.
Pusaka is the traditional Bagobo- Manobo practice of sanctifying entities, living or non- living,
as “precious” or “sacred” because it has become,
from the perspective of an individual, a family or a clan, priceless.
But Pusaka is more than just the act of consecration. It is the embodiment of fond memories and
emotional attachments resulting from long years of use, benefit, or close interactions by
individual family members with the entity being sanctified. Additionally, it also entails
accountability and commitment on the part of the family to take extra care not to violate or
degrade what they have publicly declared as their Pusaka. Getting ostracized by the community
or, worst, getting cursed by malevolent spirits, are enough disincentives. Little known to the
mainstream society, the traditional practice of Pusaka is embedded in a system of knowledge,
belief and practices unique to the Indigenous Obu Manuvu worldview.
In their effort to contribute to sustainable development, the Obu Manuvu leaders got together and
brainstormed on how they can engage their Indigenous knowledge systems and practices in
helping manage Mt Apo’s finite natural resources. They recognize that most of what is left of the
Apo KBA’s natural forests overlaps with their ancestral domains. But more importantly, the
forest and its biodiversity is also the bedrock of their Indigenous culture. Its conservation
therefore would mean the survival of the Obu Manuvu cultural identity into the future. In so
doing, all of the biodiversity within the sanctified forests, including its resident Philippine
Eagles, and the many ecological and economic services that these watersheds, airsheds and the
forest ecosystem provide get preserved as well.
Indeed, there is ample space for integrating Indigenous knowledge systems and mainstream
scientific knowledge in managing our natural resources.
As elaborated by Lipatuan Joel A. Unad, one of the Obu Manuvu elders and leaders, during the
ceremony, he said what they are doing is trying to merge the best of their own knowledge
systems with those from the outside. “We are very open to learning from our non- Indigenous
partners like the government and PEF, but we also want to make practical use of our own
philosophy in our development programs. Engaging the Pusaka practice is one step towards this
healthy and equitable cooperation” he added.
Lipatuan Unad and Datu Luis Lambac led the Obu Manuvu Council of Elders of Davao City
( Barangays Marilog, Marilog Proper, Dalag Lumot, Dalag, Salaysay, Magsaysay, Tambobong,
Malagos, and Carmen) and Arakan, North Cotabato ( Barangays San Miguel, Katipunan, and
Dallag). The symbolic ceremony was held at the Philippine Eagle Center in Malagos, under a
Balite ( Ficus sp.) tree which to the Obu Manuvu is home to forest spirits. The event was
facilitated by PEF Project Manager Rein Navarro and witnessed by PEF Executive Director
Dennis Salvador, and Research and Conservation Director Jayson Ibañez. NCIP Region 11
representatives Cristito Ingay ( Provincial Officer- Davao City) and Marlon Juezan ( Chief
Admin Officer- Region 11) were also present.
The Pusaka declaration is the culmination of a series of workshops by the leaders and elders to
put into writing for the first time the Pusaka tradition and its underlying philosophies. How the
Pusaka practice would be used as a rallying point for Indigenous- managed natural areas was
also deliberated.
On March 7, the final draft of the Pusaka document was reviewed and affirmed. A Panuvad-
tuvad, a ritual with prayers and offerings, was one highlight of the event. Each attendee placed a
coin on an Indigenous altar ( Tambaa), which also held betel nuts ( Areca nut), betel leaves, and
lime. A native red rooster was then bled above the Tambaa by an elder who also recited prayers
in their native tongue. After this, everyone present dipped a finger into the drops of chicken
blood on the altar, which is symbolic of one’s commitment to making the Pusaka work. The
event culminated in a luncheon where participants jovially shared stories, and also plans on how
to further strengthen Indigenous forest management across the KBA.
These activities are part of mainstreaming Indigenous people participation in the management of
natural resources within the Mt Apo KBA. It is one component of the “Enhancing Biodiversity
Conservation in the Unprotected ( NonNIPAS) Regions of the Mount Apo KBA” project, which
is supported by the Philippine- American Fund through the Gerry Roxas Foundation. The project
is a collaboration with the following partners: LGUs of Davao City and, Arakan and Magpet in
North Cotabato; DENR and NCIP Regions 11 and 12; Datu Tomonas Sicao Sr. Tribal Council of
Indigenous Bagobo Klata of Tamayong, the Indigenous Forest Protection Committee of
Indigenous Obu Manuvu of Carmen, and the Unified Obu Manuvu Council in Davao City; and
the Pan-uangdig Lumadnong Panaghiusa in Ganatan and the Manobo Lumadnong Panaghiusa in
Arakan, North Cotabato.