Produced by Urios University as part of a collaboration with AUDRN

2. The journey to the site of Dumalongdong 2011
is a joint venture of Father Saturnino Urios
University and AUDRN-Miriam College. It aims to
document the event to get a glimpse of the
Higaonon culture from the different Talugans or
tribal settlements with reference to the different
major rivers found in the four provinces of Agusan
del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Misamis Oriental and
Bukidnon through their dasang or chants.

3. Being new to the place and first-
time participants of the festival, the
research team asked the help of Ms.
Ana Marie Lidanhug, a Higaonon
whose lineage is from the ininay-
inamay or the noble class of the tribe.
She gave a short overview of the
Dumalongdong. She also shared to the
team that there are some activities
where taking pictures or videos is
Ms. Ana Lidanhug
prohibited.

4. They were also told
that aside from the
personal provisions the
team had to prepare,
the tribe also required
some offerings for the
acceptance and
cleansing ritual. These
included a pig, chickens,
bottles of gin, candles,
a piece of red cloth and
a needle.

5. The team also familiarized themselves with
the different pieces of equipment to be used
for documentation.

6. Everything was set. The research team was ready to
go…
The first trip was an hour-long bus ride to Bayugan City.
Jojo Lidanhog, a Higaonon whose lineage is
also from the ininay-inamay, was tasked to bring
the team to Bunaguit, Esperanza, Agusan del Sur.

7. The researchers took
a tricycle from Bayugan
Rotonda to the
municipality of Esperanza
where they travelled for
about thirty-five minutes.

8. The next trip was
a ten-minute pump
boat ride crossing the
Agusan River to
Barangay Hawilian.
Some Higaonons
from Brgy. Bunaguit
accompanied the
team in crossing the
river.

9. The next stop was the Hawilian HAMODA
terminal.

10. From Hawilian, the
researchers were off
to Barangay Bunaguit.
They were told to
cover themselves
with improvised rain
ponchos. Their packs
were also wrapped in
large plastic bags.

11. Single motorcycles called Habal-habal took
them to Barangay Bunaguit.

12. It was not easy getting there. There were
slippery paths where the motorcycles got
outbalanced. The researchers fell and sustained
minor bruises and sprains…

13. …but they were determined to get to their
destination. They got back up and went on with
the journey.

14. They walked where
the Habal-habal could
no longer carry them
because of the steep
road.
They ran and stumbled but these did not
stop them from moving on.

15. It was 6:30 in the evening when the team arrived
at Purok 5, Brgy. Bunaguit. They were offered to rest
in the house of one of the datus to regain strength
before going to Purok 3, the site of the
Dumalongdong.
The next step was more challenging and exciting
- crossing the river amidst strong currents. They had
no idea where their steps led them. They entrusted
their safety to the Higaonons who guided them in the
dark.

16. After more than an hour, the team arrived at
the site. It was almost 8:00 o’clock in the evening.
The barangay captain and the datu of the
tribe welcomed them and led them to the Tulugan,
the tribal house where most of the activities of the
Dumalongdong were held.
Then, they were led to the house where they
stayed for the duration of the festival.

17. Hospitality was
very evident. The
women were busy
preparing food.
They served their
guests with sardines
and native rice with
taste and aroma
beyond compare
from the commercial
rice in the city.

18. After dinner, they were led to their room to rest.

19. Taking a bath was different from the usual
routine. It became more exciting because they had
to do it in the river.

20. On November 26, 2011, the participants from
the various tribes of the Talugans started arriving.
Chants for permission and acceptance were performed
by the Datus and Babaedans or tribal leaders.

21. The next days were spent for rituals and
discussions on tribal issues and concerns. The
researchers were prohibited from taking pictures
and videos on the major parts of the celebration.

22. The series of events showed a community
where sharing, respect for elders and defined
gender roles were evident .

23. The Dumalongdong depicted a well-organized
division of labor among the youth, women, young
adults and elders as well as their roles during the
celebration .

24. Part of the celebration was the giving of tokens
to the participating groups. The team prepared a
piece of red cloth as token to the host of the
Dumalongdong.
In return, a kaldero
(cooking pot) was given to them
as their sug-ot or share of the
blessings and wealth of the tribe.

25. The tokens were offered in the Bangkaso or
altar during the rituals for the blessings of
Magbabaya (God). After the celebration, each
offering was distributed to the guests as their
sug-ot and as a way to strengthen the bonds
between the tribes in the four provinces. Thus,
they could expect more blessings to offer and
share in the next Dumalongdong.

26. On November 29, the researchers packed
their things and bade goodbye to the people in
the community. This time, they took a boat in
crossing the river.

27. Then, they hiked a half-kilometer rough road to
reach Purok 5.

28. They were no longer bothered by darkness and
strong water current but by their heavy bags.
Fortunately, the Datu asked some of his young
members to help them.

29. They reached Purok 5 and were ready to take
another motorcycle ride back to Hawilian. They did
not take the Habal-habal but the Skylab, a
motorcycle with wooden wings to carry extra loads.

30. They rode the Skylab back to Bayugan City
and took a long bus ride bound for Butuan City
bringing with them an experience worth
remembering, worth repeating - a challenging
task in search of local knowledge.

33. Researchers
Mary Joy O. Yamson, DPA
Rex B. Makinano, MA Socio
Giovanne Melvin R. Sanchez, MSIT (CAR)
Robert Aplacador, MS EDMEV
Editors
Shirlene Medori T. Alegre
Pearsyl T. Maclang

34. Special Thanks to the following:
Most. Rev. Juan De Dios M. Pueblos
Rev. Fr. Carlito L. Clase
Rev. Fr. John Christian U. Young
Rev. Fr. Randy Jasper C. Odchigue
Dr. Maria Lourdes Q. Baybay
Dr. Gaudencio C. Petalcorin, Jr.
Ms. Ann A. Lidanhug
Mr. Jonjie Asis
Mr. Jojo G. Lidanhog
Ms. Inday Lidanhog
Mr. Junjun Dumaguing
Pinili, Lambungan Youth
AUDRN- Miriam College
Father Saturnino Urios University