A Visit to the Mansaka Tribe
Posted by: Rhon / Category: Comval Province, Culture, Indigenous People, Places, Travel
We drove our way to Comval Province at 6:54 in the morning with Mrs. Norma Gonos (IIPE Director), Mrs. Josephine Calag (IIPE Project Officer) and Mai Gevera (PIA) and Manong Jun (Company Driver). We are heading particularly to the Golden Valley where the “Mansaka” Tribe is residing.
We are to make a Video Documentary about the tribe to be registered to National Library; the idea is to preserve the Cultural Heritage of the Tribe since some tribes were already accustomed to modernization.
Going to Panamin, Comval Province is quite difficult; you need to pass by a rough and bulky road before you can even get yourself to reach the place. Not to mention the threat of a landslide. But then we all resolved to get there whatever it takes…
Alas we arrived at the place after 4 hours of travel… we had our lunch at the area and right after a ritual is performed by a balyan, it was said that she is the only “Balyan” left. Hmmm… it made me remember Sherad Sanchez’s Film: “Ang Huling Balyan ng Buhi” I heard he went to the place and do some research… maybe this is where he got his film title. Well anyway… my documentation started the instant the Huling Balyan performed her ritual, which they termed as “Panawagtawag”.
The fun of documenting never stopped for me… I feel the need to know more about the tribe and the place… I figured there is a story to tell in that place… in spite the fact that majority of the residents does not live by traditions anymore… still, there are a few who live by these traditions. And just for you to know? Their story is worth telling… and I am indeed looking forward for that moment where I can show the world the beautiful and colorful story of different indigenous tribes in the Philippines. Dreaming again (lol) but who knows… it might just happen =)
June 15th, 2009 at 12:24 am
i will, hope you continue reading
June 16th, 2009 at 9:01 pm
guyz can you please give more details and please be updated. thanks ^_^
March 20th, 2010 at 5:02 pm
I’ve been to Panamin twice and I really love the place. I went there for our church activities because we have a church there.