Manila – The recent industrial developments in areas of Mindanao have endangered the lives and the very existence of various tribes in Mindanao, especially for the Manobo tribe in Bukidnon. Located in the area of Barangay Mikasili, Damulog, Bukidnon, is the centuries old sacred burial site of Apo Mamalu, the supreme ancestor of the Manobo, T’duray and other Lumad tribes in Mindanao. He was the brother of Apo Tabunaway, the ancestor of the Moro tribes.

According to oral traditions, Tabunaway and Mamalu were Manobo brothers. The former being the skillful forest gatherer and recognized as the Datu while the latter led the fishing chores of the village. The Manobos occupied the lower valley of the Pulangi River in Central Mindanao, which is Cotabato City. In the 14th century, a Muslim missionary Shariff Kabungsuan, arrived and propagated Islam in Mindanao. Tabunaway was converted into the Islam faith while Mamalu remained with the Manobo tribe. Mamalu then moved into the highlands of the Pulangi river because he did not want to be converted. The Mamalu clan then became known as the Manobo, while the Tabunaway clan became the Maguindanaos.

The cause of deaths of Apo Mamalu and Apo Tabunaway were unknown. But tribal leaders from then up to now, believe that Apo Mamalu was buried in a Stonehenge-like formation, with hundreds of burial rocks and located near the riverbank of the Pulangi River.

The Manobo tribe considers this site sacred, the root of their existence and the foundation of their culture. Recently, the tribal communities initiated a tribal declaration to publicly announce the cultural and historical importance of this site. Moreover, such public declaration established the fact that the Manobo tribe has considered the site as a sacred ground, the need to protects the root of their culture and existence is essential.

But negotiations are underway for the First Bukidnon Electric Company (FIBECO) to construct a massive hydro-electric power plant. Not only it will inundate at least 22 villages from Bukidnon and Cotabato provinces, but it will also annihilate the entire Manobo communities including the sacred site of Apo Mamalu.

The LRC-KsK/Foe, being a strong advocate for the Indigenous Peoples rights and welfare believes that such conditions mentioned above will not only be detrimental and tragic to the at least 22 communities but will also annihilate beyond point, the culture, ancestry and homeland of the Manobo tribe.

Wilmar Ampuan, chair of NATABUK, inc (Federation of Southern Menuvu Tribe) appeal to National Historical Institute (NHI), National Commission on Culture & Arts (NCCA), and National Museum through an official letter assisted by LRC-Ksk. “Being a policy-making body mandated by law to develop Filipino culture and arts and to preserve Filipino cultural heritage, to aid us in making the Apo Mamalu Burial Site of the Manobo-Pulangihon tribe be declared a national cultural site. Such declaration from your office would greatly help us in preserving the Manobo way of life, their root culture and their home. As the Apo Mamalu burial site is sacred and is forbidden in their culture from being transferred, your aid will one way recognize and protect the Manobo tribe and that proper procedures shall be applied for the facilitation of the dam-building without violating the rights and ancestral domain of the Manobo tribe”, NATABUK Chair.

Carl Cesar C. Rebuta
Team Leader
Legal Rights & Natural Resources Center
Cagayan de Oro Regional Office
Cocoy.rebuta [at] lrcksk [dot] org