DAVAO City prides itself with its 11 recognized tribes living harmoniously and peacefully for decades.
But what happens if slowly, one by one, these tribes will fade its identity? Can the city still claim as the melting pot of Mindanao’s culture?
In a regular City Council session last Tuesday, November 20, 2018, Kessia Carol Tar, a young Bagobo Klata tribe leader appealed before the council to help their tribe preserve its culture which, for them, seems to be slowly diminishing.
She underscored that the city can be of big help if its supports the project that her tribe is pushing – The El’lom project.
El’lom is the project of the Bagobo Klata tribe to preserve, promote, and sustain the cultural heritage of the Bagobos. It also aims to provide sustainable livelihood to the tribe.
The project will also prioritize the tourism attractions including weaving houses, social houses, museum, ritual ground, souvenir shop, kubos for overnight stay, classroom, and kubo for accessory-making.
For the project to be realized, it initially needs at least three huts for weaving.
“Untana tabangan mi nila sa establishment man lang kahit pila lang ka kubo. Kahit tulo lang ka kubo for weaving basta maka-start lang mi (We hope that the City Council] will help us build an establishment for weaving for us to start. Actually, three huts will do),” she added.
It is but sad to hear stories like this – accounts from indigenous people hinting their tribe’s culture is on the brink of extinction.
But today is not the time for dwelling into regrets and frustrations about what the tribe and the government could’ve done to preserve their culture, but rather, a time to recognize the problem and do something about it. Focus on what we still can do and not on what we can’t undo or redo.
The good news is - the tribe is not dead, yet. Bagobo Klata’s culture is still here, not as vibrant and rich as what it is years ago, but still alive and that in itself is something all the stakeholders can work on– from the government, the Dabawenyos, and the tribe itself.
The tribe is in need of help, they are asking three huts, and we see no reason – given the budget available- why the government can’t give them. After all, the tribe is part of the 11 tribes.
But with Davao City’s track record, it has been very supportive to the IP community and hopefully the tribe can still get the support now, when it is greatly needed.
For the Bagobo Klata and other tribes, play a role, do a part. If there is any group that can help them most, it is the tribe members themselves.