WRITING GUIDE

LAYOUT TEMPLATE 2 – FESTIVALS AND RITUALS

with writing notations

TITLE: Obu-Manuvu
SUB-TITLE: Sacred mountain, sharing home with the spirits

(INTRODUCTION)
Apo in Manobo either means a grandparent or a grandchild.

At their yutang kabilin (ancestral domain) blessed with forests, streams and rivers,
and animals at the highest peak of the country, the Obu-Manuvu call their sacred
mountain Apo Sondowa, which since the earliest times has been their
grandparent―a physical and a spiritual home shared with the unseen spirits whom
they commune with through rituals and festivities.

Note: I chanced upon this information from online research in my need to develop a
proper introduction for the festivals and rituals of the Obu-Manuvu. In declaring
Pusaka, they held a ritual and festivities. Again, you can cite specific data in terms of
hectarage, number of species, etc.

(SUB-TOPIC 1)

Pusaka
In 2016, after the Obu Manuvu and seven other Bagobo-Manobo peoples declared
the state of Pusaka (biological heritage) over the lands and wildlife, including the
critically endangered Banog (Philippine Eagle Pithecophaga jefferyi), of their sacred
home, Apo Sondowa, to rehabilitate and conserve it. They held the Panuvad-tuvad
and later the Allo Ta Obu Manuvu (Obu Manuvu Dat) festivities.

In the Panuvad-tuvad, a traditional thanksgiving ritual with prayers and offerings,

each leader places a coin on the Tambaa (altar) that has betel nuts (Areca nut), betel
leaves, and lime. An elder bleeds a native red rooster above it while reciting prayers,
then each leader dips his finger into the chicken blood to symbolize his commitment
to the Pusaka.

A traditional Bagobo-Manobo practice, the Pusaka sanctifies living or non-living

entities to be protected for their priceless value to an individual, a family or a clan.

Note: I just built this based on the introduction based on news reports from SunStar
Davao.

(SUB-TOPIC 2)

Spirits
The Obu Manuvu believe that spirits guard places and animals at all times. These are
the spirits of Ponoyangan (birds); Timbawong (animals); Alimogkat (rivers);
Gamowhamow (watersheds); Mohomanoy and Tohomaling (forests); and Kay’ag
(plants).

Spirits can also be called for these reasons: Pamolingan (protection of blacksmiths
or tosoyavan); Kalayag (land preparation); Pommuwa (planting); Ivavasok (innate
diligence or pagkugi of humans); Karang (leadership/courtship/essence of being a
man and woman); Tohomaling (punishes people with bad intentions); Mondangan
(strength and courage, especially for heroes and warriors); Pontivug (unity, marriage
and creation); and Tohovika (for peace negotiators, facilitators, and initiators).

Note: I got the information from the data sent me.

(SUB-TOPIC 3)

Three kinds of rituals

The Obu Manuvu have three types of rituals. The Soho ka-an for marriage is held
three times a year within November and December; Suksuk to komanga poka-at
tolog, (description), is performed between January and March; and Sawit or Gotting,
thanksgiving for a good harvest, is held three times a year between August and
September.

Note: This can still be improved with specific descriptions.

(SUB-TOPIC 4)

Panuvad
For the Ovu Manuvu, any endeavor begins with a Panuvad (also Panubad), a ritual
invoking the divine intervention of the Magbabaya (god) and the spirits, whether
asking for spiritual guidance, healing of the sick, or driving away evil spirits such as
the Mondolingan, a bad spirit that possesses people to make them do wild things.

The Panuvad is led by an Anituwon (a highly respected elder) or a Walian (healer)

using a manuk (chicken), tabaku (tobacco), mamaon (betel nut), and buyo (pepper
plant).

(SUB-TOPIC 5)

Daily life
The spirits led by the Mementoran, the highest among them, are believed to help the
Ovu Manuvu in their daily life. Mahomanoy leads them when they are lost in the
forest. When hunting, Timbawong helps them catch animals. In planting, Pamulingan
blesses their tools, Ibabasok infuses them with energy to plant, Pamuwa nurtures the
seeds, and Kalayag or Kay’ag gives them abundant harvest. Living under water,
Gamo-hamow helps them fish. Du hangan nu karang, the spirit of love, blesses the
newlywed; Inanid corrects and punishes the disobedient; Mandangan serves justice;
and Dohobeka nourishes talents.

Note: I got the information from the PPT presentation of Lipatuan Joel Unad.
----------

Primary references:
1. NCIP Region XI – Obu Manuvu narrative
2. NCIP Mobile Team – field interviews

Additional references:
1. A Voice from Mt. Apo – Oral and Written Essays on the Culture and
World View of the Manobo by Manuel Arayam, Mantaona Bangcas, Melchor
Bayawan, Tano Bayawan, Enagaro Bugcal, Pablo Iyong, Olinan Landas,
Badette Pescadera, Montira Sia, Alunsu Suhat, Nelson Tula, Julian Tungcalan,
Retchor Umpan, and Romeo Umpan
2. Conserving raptors using culture-based approaches: The case of the
Philippine Eagle Conservation Program by Dennis I. Salvador and Jayson C.
Ibanez, PhD Philippine Eagle Foundation
3. The Manobo Tribe: Then and Now - An Ethnography by Abraham L. Masendo
4. Pusaka PPT presentation of Lipatuan Joel Unad
5. https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/116079 - The Obu Manuvu declare land,
wildlife as biological heritage by Adam B. Morrell
6. https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/64490 - Forests of Apo now sacred
grounds (Philippine Eagle Foundation press release)

Submitted by:

Edwin P. Galvez

April 30, 2020